How do you explain that FC doesn't bring *everything* they want?

[MegBusset]

Just trying to manage expectations with 5yo who a) still believes in FC and b) has started throwing a few requests that frankly are too late in the day!

I burbled something about there not being enough room in the sleigh but just wondered what everyone else's killer lines were :)

[PacificDogwood]

Mine know they may humbly ask Santa for anything they want, but must not expect to get everything as he sees everything. They know themselves they have not been angelic all of the time .
I also encourage the concept of a 'wish list', emphasis on 'wish': you can wish for the moon, but are not likely to get it.

Oh, and Santa has a cut-off date after which the elves cannot accept any other requests...

[Crikeyblimey]

Yep. All FC letters (including my own) start with Dear FC, please may I have some of the following... or along those lines.

It is indeed a "wish" list. And amazingly FC sometimes brings some stuff that wasn't even on the list! He has never brought a complete list full though.

[MrsPresley]

I thought everyone knows that Santa only gives 1 present per child

[PacificDogwood]

Oh yes, whatever happened to 1 'proper' present + some stocking fillers??

[MegBusset]

His list was actually very modest (monster book, toy gun, top trumps, plant card); I have said that FC uses it as a general guide to things that you might like.

[Longtallsally]

Bit late for this year, but after the same problem, at about the age of 5, we announced to ds1 that FC only brings the presents for your stocking, and that the other pressies come from members of your family - and then started writing thank you letters! FC brings nice stocking gifts to our house but they are smaller items only. We told him that little children believe that all presents come from FC, but that is because they are very small.

FC also writes letters! One year he wrote ds, then about 3, a very nice note explaining that one of the presents he wanted was so popular that FC had run out. FC enclosed a picture of it, and a promise that the elves would be sending one via the normal post, as soon as they had made another batch! DS was very pleased with his letter, and not at all fussed about waiting.

[MegBusset]

Yes that's a good idea (FC bringing stockings). TBH this is really the first year that they have both got the concept of FC so we are kind of making it up as we go along :)

[LineRunnerWithBellsOn]

I told my DC that Santa brings some lovely presents to put in their Christmas stockings, but that Mummy [and Daddy/family] buy the rest.

To heighten this effect I always had different wrapping paper for the presents in their Santa stockings, that I hid in my bedroom.

The presents from me (the fairly expensive ones) go under the tree on Christmas Eve, with labels on from me.

So they grew up knowing that Santa doesn't do xbox.

[DewDr0p]

You do know though that FC doesn't like children being too greedy and asking for too much?

We always write a letter and after that, that's it - you've already asked him

Also he might not bring what you asked for but have an even better idea

[simpson]

My kids know that the presents are not free (so cannot ask for everything) as I have to pay Santa.

Santa also does the stockings in this house and once the letters have been sent,it cannot be changed as Santa won't get it in time!!

[MrsPresley]

So they grew up knowing that Santa doesn't do xbox.

We're the opposite here, Santa brings the main present, everything else from mum and dad/family etc.

One year DD2 (now almost 28 so a long time ago) wanted an orange mouth organ

We eventually managed to get a wee plastic one that cost about 75p and she was over the moon and she swore she would be good for ever didnt last long

[Whitershadeofpale]

All of our presents come from fc but the parents have to pay him for them
(subsidised) that way they realise why some children get more than others even if they've not been better behaved.

[steppemum]

ours know that FC buys somethign form the list, not the whole list.

Also I manage expectations, by telling them that Santa has to buy oresents for all the children, so he can't buy huge presents for one, as someone would go without

[ihearsounds]

Santa does the stocking. Everyone else does gifts. I am selfish and will not allow the man in red take credit for the awesome things I buy. Plus it means when I finally can be arsed to put the tree up, I can wrap present and fling them straight under.
When the dc's have written their lists, they know that santa looks at the list and decides what to get depending on what he has. Once the letter is sent, that's it.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Father Christmas brings stocking presents here, and letters are wish lists not like when you order the groceries online, DD1

[Tinkerisdead]

My dd is four and i've told her that she can ask santa for one thing and she'll get a stocking. However, grandparents/aunts etc may choose to send santa things for her that he will bring.

When she saw a wrapped gift waiting for an exchange with friends, i told her that elves only make toys and so adults have to buy for each other and send to santa or give to each other if its too late. She's fine with it. She wrote her list yesterday asking for a bike saying "just one thing, i mustnt be greedy, the elves need to make toys for so many children. They'll be enough to go around wont there mummy!"

[DumSpiroSperHoHoHo]

Most of Santa's Christmas prep is actually done before letters are sent, based on all-year round surveillance by Malcolm, the head of Santa's Secret Service and his crack team of spy elves.

Christmas lists are used for additional extras if time, supply and behaviour of the wishee permit...

[Startail]

Father Christmas sends Mummies the bill!
Or
Poor Rudolph can't pull the sleigh if it's too heavy.

[Greensleeves]

I have ever explained it, it quickly becomes apparent on Christmas morning.

There are always surprises as well as some of the less- lunatic-- requested items, so it's never a problem. And my kids are always so excited and high on the fact that it's Christmas, they are allowed to use the nutcracker and eat sweets in their pyjamas and Mummy, Daddy and Grandad are all tipsy, it doesn't occur to them to tot up what they've got. It's just a big fuzzy chocolatey twinkly ball of Christmasness

[Bestof7]

We're harsh here: no letters to Santa allowed. He accepts no requests, no emails, no whining. Santa brings what Santa brings, and we are happy with it. And Santa only brings one 'big' pressie and a stocking, the rest comes from Mummy and Daddy, who will listen to reasonable requests.

[SledYuleCated]

When I was younger DM always said we should ask for generic things, like 'a board game' rather than 'Monopoly' because Santa might have an even better board game that he knows we'd like.

And always finish the letter with 'and some surprises'

[bubbles1231]

I tell mine that Santa checks with me about the presents. In our house Santa only fills a stocking with little presents. The bigger ones are given by mum and dad.
Oh, and Santa has a cut off date for requests because he's got so many children to think of.

[baileysontherocks]

We tell our dc that we have to pay father christmas once a week for the presents they receive...we meet up with elf junior to pay the money and if money is tight then we clearly say that you will not be able to have everything on your list as it costs too much and they simply accept it as we nicely remind them that some children have nothing to open at all!!

If they misbehave its as simple as i can get a refund or not pay anymore money towards their presents and up to yet my children have been perfect
They get money from my grandparents and presents of their choice from my parents then presemts from everyone else who as all asked me if there is anything on their list they can buy for them and they know these gifts are nothing to do with fc.

[OnTheBottomWithAStringOfTinsel]

One year I told DD that Santa only brings a certain limited amt of presents to everyone because the elves have to make presents for everyone & if she got too much another child would get less. She then proceeded to cross a few items off her already quite modest list (value about £15) "so that maybe a poor child could have an extra present" (I then got something in my eye).

Same child at age 5 raided her money if when she heard me talking to a friend about how much/little I could borrow to buy a house and handed me £5 to help buy our new house! (I did give it back to her - after I'd rubbed my eye to get the 'dust' out!

[abrotherfor]

We tell them that we buy the presents and send them to him, so he's the post man really

My eldest is the only one old enough to really understand and she's pretty good, she knows that we have a budget and that presents cost different things so if one pile is big and another small it doesn't mean we didn't spend the same. It's sweet when she explains it to her little sister!