In my family growing up everyone got gifts from Santa, but in DH’s house only kids did. I’m wondering what other families did/do. This is the first year that DD has any concept of Santa, so we need to decide what our rules are going to be.
-
Santa only gave to kids in my family growing up, and that's what we are doing for our family too. Adults give gifts to each other. So, everyone gets gifts, but to adults they aren't labels as from Santa. My parents would give a couple gifts to me and my sister on Christmas Eve, and then all the gifts to us on Christmas morning were from Santa. My husband's family was similar.
-
Santa does the stockings for everybody but only brings a present for the kids.
-
Santa fills stockings for everyone and a small gift or two for the kids. I love getting some fun goodies on Christmas morning.
-
Growing up only kids got Santa things (including stockings) except maybe a few random food gifts to share. DH’s family did stockings for everyone, but I had zero interest in doing that here since the work would be on me to do my own as well as DH’s. My MIL always did her own and I just found it strange but it worked for her. Although I guess I could get myself nice stuff!
I’d go with what you are willing to do or what sounds fun for you! Definitely no right or wrong.
-
At our house Santa brings the kids one or two gifts and fills everyone's stockings. Sometimes the adults might supplement each other's stockings. That caveat is helpful when someone inevitably slips up and says something like "I got that at Target."
-
Santa only brings the kids gifts. We haven't had Santa "rules" in the past and DH thinks Santa should bring everything for the kids. I disagree with this and think that Santa should bring a couple things (plus stockings), so that's what we're doing this year. But it's literally a point of contention between us and he rolls his eyes at me every time I mention what Santa is bringing vs what "we" got them ("we" is in quotes because it's really "me").
-
Thanks for all the input. DH and I have been doing stockings for each other for a while so we’ll continue to do that. But we’re actually on opposite sides vs. what our families did on whether Santa should bring a present or two each for adults. He thinks it would make more sense if everyone got Santa gifts, but I feel like it’s unnecessary and kind of don’t want to bother. I told him last night if he wants to be adult Santa that’s fine with me, but it’s a multi-year commitment 🤣
-
Santa does stockings for everyone but only brings gifts to kids.
Santa only brings one or two relatively small gifts though. Everything else is from us, family, and friends.
-
Stockings and most gifts are from us… Santa just brings what they asked him for, usually 2 items and just for the little kids that believe. (My 18 yr old step daughter just gets gifts from us also).
Part of it is that I dont want my kids going to school saying Santa brought so many presents when the other kids might only get 1 or 2. I’m just waiting for when DS comes home saying Santa brought his friends a Switch and why not him. 🤦♀️
-
Santa brings our kids one (affordable) gift, new mittens and hats, and stockings filled mostly with personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, bandaids, etc) and maybe a tiny (<$10) lego set. And an orange and some nuts (DH's fam tradition).
Santa will also bring a stocking stuffer or two to DH and I
FWIW We specifically make Santa gifts affordable and more "necessity" type items to avoid the type of thing @josina: described. We do get them other gifts, but they are from us, not Santa.
-
@josina: This is our worry too! The #1 thing my seven year old wants is a phone. It's nonstop "I want a phone". All he asked Santa for was a phone. He's NOT getting a phone but we did get him an iPod touch which I'm hoping he'll consider the same thing but I didn't want him going to school saying "Santa brought me an iPhone!" We've been deliberating what to do for weeks and, I think, have settled on Santa bringing him something else but putting a "phone" case in his stocking so when he sees that Santa didn't bring him a phone we can say "Ok, but look what Santa DID bring, maybe he knows something about what other people got you!"
Anyway, this is a long way of saying that it's so tough when they get old enough to want expensive things but young enough to still believe in Santa.
-
Santa only brings gifts for the kids in our house. My husband and I exchange with each other. I really like the idea others have mentioned of doing less expensive gifts from Santa and everything else from us.
-
@erinbaderin: DS did ask for 500 Pokemon cards from Santa and says next year he's asking for 9,000 cards.
I just tell him Santa has a LOT of kids to get presents for so he can't always get stuff that is very expensive. I'm actually surprised he didn't ask Santa for a phone because he wants one too!
-
Santa brings presents for the kids and fills their stockings. Mom and Dad exchange presents and fill each other's stockings. We have started giving some presents from us like a trip to Great Wolf Lodge or other bigger ticket items to help with the issue of potential disparity compared to other families. Growing up we didn't seem to get as many gifts or big ticket items as our friends did and I remember questioning it to some extent.
-
@josina: I tried that line with DS1 and he told me that it's not a problem b/c the elves make it.
-
We do the same as many mentioned - Santa brings a few small gifts for kids and stockings for everyone. But Santa brings gifts to everyone at my inlaws house
and did so before grandkids were in the picture. They are quantity over quality people though.
-
@Clementine12: Lol, my parents are definitely quantity people as well, but I think my dad also used “Santa” as like a cute mechanism to spend too much money on things no one needed. 🤣
-
@karenbme: totally same. And then I feel bad bringing like 2 presents over for them to open.
-
@Clementine12: @karenbme: Lol, I so identify with this. My parents are the same way and I feel bad bringing them just a present each. But I recently realized that it's going to fall to me and brothers to take care of their insane quantities of junk when they pass and I'd rather not add to it unnecessarily.
I just tell him Santa has a LOT of kids to get presents for so he can't always get stuff that is very expensive. 
and did so before grandkids were in the picture. They are quantity over quality people though.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
19 comments