https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:02:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904907 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 20:54:41 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2904907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just coming over here to say that I’m super uncoordinated and struggled to learn to ice skate but once I picked it up, I loved it. I took lessons for years and played ice hockey in college and my twenties. But I totally hear you on not wanting to drive her. Maybe tell her Santa will bring her skates next year if she goes and likes it? And then hope she loses interest? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904900 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 19:57:49 +0000 wrkbrk 2904900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow I guess we got lucky. I think my four year old just kind of assumed you make a list of Santa ideas and get SOME of it, but definitely not all. We’ve never really had the discussion explicitly. In your case I’d probably tell her ice skates are a better Santa gift for NEXT Christmas and hope she forgets :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904829 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:36:45 +0000 LCTBQE 2904829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: lord no, she told me because she thought it was hilarious and thought I'd get a kick out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904815 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:12:11 +0000 SweetiePie 2904815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: ummmmm did your SIL really expect that of you?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904811 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:55:58 +0000 LCTBQE 2904811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: my husband's side of the family is huge with tons of kids so we do a christmas drawing for gifts, we got my 8-year-old nephew. his wish list per my SIL from last night: "new, bigger tv, iPad, chrome book, his own Xbox". I told her I was going to get him a jigsaw puzzle of the tower of london :) :) </p> <p>@SweetiePie: we started telling the boy flat-out how much things cost and when we can't afford things this past summer, and amazingly, he totally gets it and it shuts him up so fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904810 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:44:13 +0000 brownepiano 2904810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do santa but I still get rediculous requests. Ds1 has a massive crane truck he got when he turned 3. He, and now his brother too, have consistently asked for more large trucks. Problem is we really don't have space for big toys. So I just keep telling him that I am not buying him big toys but that I do know what he likes and I picked out other things he'll likes. Lists really aren't a thing in our house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904803 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 09:43:53 +0000 SweetiePie 2904803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: lol yes! There are things he asks for that I’m pretty sure he forgets about right away. And for the last 2 christmases and bdays when he was able to understand and ask for things, he never once noticed or cared about the things he DID NOT get. He was so excited about the things he did get. </p> <p>So to the OP, I just wouldn’t give her ice skates and see what happens 🤷🏻‍♀️ If she’s disappointed you can decide to make it a conversation about not always getting what we want, why she didn’t get them (practicality) OR you can decide that she clearly does really want them and if it’s worth adding to the next gift lot (Bday or Easter or whatever you gift for). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904796 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 09:29:15 +0000 graceandjoy 2904796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Totally. Also, every time my 5 year old goes to Target, she changes her mind on what she wants anyway :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904740 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:12:11 +0000 SweetiePie 2904740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve just always told my son he’s not going to get everything he asks for. He can put whatever he wants on his list but it doesn’t mean he’ll get it. He understands. And even if he didn’t, oh well! Haha. You don’t always get what you want, kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904666 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:36:41 +0000 kiddosc 2904666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have them put 4-5 thing on the Santa list and then only buy 2-3 of them. Sometimes they get the other stuff from us, sometimes not. But the excitement of everything they did get has always been enough to ward off any disappointment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904664 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:33:38 +0000 PinkElephant 2904664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: Yup, DH always tells the kids that Santa might have some other good ideas.</p> <p>@BUNBUN: @Dahlia: So true! I actually probably need to get them to ask for more stuff so I can abide by this rule! This year for some reason it's been like pulling teeth to get actual requests from them - which has it's plusses and minuses for sure. I'm glad I'm not scrambling, but I don't want anyone to feel like "oh.....okay...." when we're opening gifts, you know?! I'm a pretty good gifter so hopefully we are set.</p> <p>@Anagram: I totally hear you on being ready to shift the focus. I think if I didn't have a three year old who I feel like hasn't gotten to "experience" Christmas in this way yet, I would also be ready. I'm really enjoying our Adopt-a-Family project, as are the girls, but you're right - in the context of Santa, it's hard for them to grasp the full enormity and importance of what they're doing. Santa leaves so many unanswered questions about fairness, logistics, and equality that it is really tricky, and perhaps it will be easier to enjoy him as simple fun and not a hard and fast truth from the other side. Time will tell! I kind of hate how intertwined all the little childhood things (Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter bunny (I"m over that one), and now this Switch Witch shenanigan...) are - it makes it feel like a bigger loss because when one goes, they all do. It depends on the kid, I guess, but I feel like for my oldest, it's really going to crush her a little. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904658 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:19:03 +0000 Silva 2904658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: it is really her true calling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904655 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:08:41 +0000 PinkElephant 2904655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: OMG you're a stronger person than I am! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904652 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:04:24 +0000 crazydoglady 2904652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: My son is only four, so I just have to hope that he forgets...or finds something else that he cares about more. I think pulling the Santa/parent veto card is usually a good idea. "Santa only gives us things we really need." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904650 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:02:49 +0000 LCTBQE 2904650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: she has her entire adulthood to be a gamer or whatever ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904649 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:02:11 +0000 LCTBQE 2904649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @graceandjoy: agree, my family dropped the santa charade when I was maybe 5 years old, and Christmas didn't get any less fun or magical. my view on Santa rn is that it's (at best) a funny tool to manipulate good behavior out of young children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904645 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:54:14 +0000 graceandjoy 2904645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: total side track but I’m chinese and never believed in Christmas either and never cared either 😂</p> <p>I think you can have Santa tell her something like, how about you learn how to skate first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904641 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:50:24 +0000 Silva 2904641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: girlfriend was born into the wrong family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904640 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:49:46 +0000 LCTBQE 2904640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904637 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:47:06 +0000 Litebrite 2904637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: lol, last time I indulged a request was a drum set, so I get your hesitation that she will actually want to use it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904630 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:38:06 +0000 PinkElephant 2904630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: she’s got rollerskates, and really does love them… She was actually really persistent in learning to use those, although I still wouldn’t say that she skates around independently!And lol on your little one’s request. A year or so ago my middle daughter, who never knows what she wants, asked Santa for a singing pretzel. Yes really, clearly Santa did not come through! This is perhaps the only time I wish that my kids watched more TV/YouTube and ask for a “real” albeit junky things</p> <p>@Litebrite: This is typically my attitude, but I guess I just really don’t want to have to drive her to use the skates, ha ha :silly: You are right… If she persists I will probably get a cheap pair, take her once, and hopefully call it done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904615 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:43:44 +0000 BadgerMom 2904615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: @Ajsmommy: Totally agree. I always stress that the Santa letter/list is just a suggestion and Santa will chose from the list, but you probably won't get everything. </p> <p>As for your skates, I would probably give her a "coupon" for a trip to the skating rink. You can go on a public skate night and rent skates and hopefully that will get it out of her system or she'll move on and you'll never go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904611 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:38:05 +0000 Ajsmommy 2904611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would let my kids ask santa for anything but I always always tell them that they might not get everything or anything on their list. It depends on what santa has planned for them but I assure them that "santa knows and you'll be happy"</p> <p>Luckily this hasn't happened to us yet.. DD has been very limited in what she's asked Santa for and so far it hasn't been anything crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904608 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:23:00 +0000 erinbaderin 2904608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you think roller skates would fill her need? Santa knew that it would be hard for her to get to use real skates very often so he got these instead?</p> <p>My three year old asked for “a dinosaur shooter with a yo-yo attached to it”. I don’t even know where to begin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904607 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:20:40 +0000 bhbee 2904607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: yes we have this conversation about wishes vs demands all the time!! I’m always correcting the language from “I’m getting x from Santa” to “I’m asking for x” and trying to reinforce you don’t get everything you ask for. It’s tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904606 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:19:28 +0000 Litebrite 2904606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will say something vague like 'maybe. we'll see. but I don't know how much use it would get.' Most if the time they won't get it, but I have indulged them a few times.</p> <p>If it's something that's not allowed in the house I will just say no and why not.</p> <p>Sometimes it's fun to get unreasonable stuff. Even if she doesnt use the skates, if you can get them used and cheap, it may be inspiring for her to have them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904604 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:12:16 +0000 Anagram 2904604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest asked for an LOL glammer van, which I am really really really against for a whole host of reasons (it's plastic junk, it's a fad, I don't like LOLs, I think it's too much plastic waste with all the wrapping, I just think it's a dumb camper van in the first place...even the Barbie one is better, my list goes on and on). BUT she has consistantly asked for it from Santa, so I caved and that's her one big gift and we've already starting selling/giving away some other big toys to make room. It's not what I would like to buy, but it's what she would like to have, so I've decided it's okay. We've told our kids in the past, Santa only gives 1-2 gifts anyway, and Santa has a budget, so they won't ask for really expensive stuff like electronics. </p> <p>You can probably tell from my other post, but I'm actually really ready for this Santa stuff to be over. Christmas was so magical to me growing up, and I never believed in Santa. It was magical to me that my parents went out and made my top request happen,. and the whole season with the decorations and the food and the songs was magical. I also feel like my kids get *so much* in general....I'm ready to switch the focus of the whole holiday from getting to giving and it's hard to do that in the context of Santa for me. My kids are 4 and 6. Next year they'll be 5 and 7 and maybe I can let the cat out of the bag by then (I hope). My husband is Hindu and the whole charade seems so meaningless (for us, in our context, with neither of us growing up with the whole Santa thing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904603 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:07:57 +0000 Dahlia 2904603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's okay for kids not to get everything they asked for. Their letters to Santa/wishlists are suggestions, not mandates, and Santa/Mom/Dad might decide they would like something else better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904601 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:03:54 +0000 BUNBUN 2904601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I asked for stuff from Santa that I didn't get growing up. I would just skip the skates, so long as she has other things on her list. If she persists in wanting them next year, maybe look into some used roller skates to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/impractical-christmas-requests#post-2904600 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:02:23 +0000 PinkElephant 2904600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Thank you for making me feel like less of a meanie! If you see my other posts from today, there is definitely a teeny bit of guilt attached to this because it is possibly the last year she is going to be in on the whole magic of Christmas thing, So I am jumping through hoops a little bit to help her stick with it </p>