Christmas is inching closer every second.
Have you done your shopping? What is Santa bringing you and your loved ones?
Ah, Santa, a subject up for debate over time.
Parents have a conundrum on how to properly represent him and how to best hand out his gifts.
Case in point…
Redditor snowballthrowaway01 wanted to discuss her story for some feedback. So naturally she came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
She asked:
“AITA for insisting my Children know the bulk of their gifts are from me and the rest of the family and not Santa?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“So I am a Mother of a six year old son and a four year old daughter.”
“This year I want to only give a couple of cheap gifts as from ‘Santa’ for each child, the rest of their gifts will be clearly marked as from me, my husband, and other family/friends.”
“My thought behind this is it’s not fair on kids whose families can’t get them big presents to hear of other kids getting big things from Santa.”
“This has caused an argument between my husband and me, and other members of the family are taking his side stating I’m ruining the magic for my children and that they don’t mind the kids not knowing what gifts are from them.”
“I’m not against them believing in Santa and having that childhood wonder, but I don’t agree with it being more than a few small gifts… but I also don’t want to ruin their fun and Christmas.”
“Am I the A**hole?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Redditors declared our OP was NOT the A**hole.
It’s a tricky situation.
Let’s hear some thoughts…
“No, you’re NTA.”
“Santa doesn’t have to deliver a mountain of presents for the myth and the magic to come across to the kiddos.”
“I agree completely that more harm will be caused by one kid going to school and announcing Santa brought him a PS5 only to make his friend who got a small toy and maybe some clothes wonder why Santa didn’t deliver equally.” ~ RoamingAmber
“So true… my son gets a stocking filled with little toys (probably $5-10 each totally maybe $30?) the rest is labeled from mum and dad.”
“He also asked for socks and undies from Santa so that even easier! Lol”
“We could give him expensive stuff from Santa but I read a post years ago about how a kid was asking his mum why Santa only gave him something like a board game or books or something small but his friend got a PlayStation?”
“And that always stuck with me.”
“I want to keep it as fair as I can. I’ve also been telling my son that Santa had asked us, Nana, granny to get something from the list etc.” ~ shambamalama
“When I was a kid in the 1990s my parents told me that they ordered the presents from Santa and paid for them themselves, so to me Santa was basically just a flying Amazon delivery driver.”
“(I wouldn’t have phrased it that way at the time, because y’know, 1990s. I’m pretty sure my parents mentioned having some kind of catalogue they could order from lol).”
“Looking back, I like this approach as it meant I got to keep my belief in Santa Claus but knew not to expect wildly expensive gifts.”
“It also meant I had some understanding of why some kids got massive gifts and others didn’t.” ~ flyingfoxtrot_
“NTA. My kids are teens now, and we were literally having this exact conversation the other day.”
“If I could go back in time, I would 100% never have the ‘big’ gifts come from Santa.”
“They were always good with our ‘anything can go on the wish list but there are no guarantees what will arrive’ rule, but one year I commented that most of my youngest’s wishes were so so expensive and she said to me ‘that’s okay mama, Santa can pick from that list’ – she was 6!'”
“I instantly regretted the way we did Santa and we all agreed to doing it the opposite way when it starts all over again with their own kids lol.”
“Plus, bonus, if Santa isn’t the one that brings the super duper fantastic gifts each year, it makes it much easier for them to accept his non-existence when that day comes (and trust me, THAT can sometimes be a whole different set of problems lol).” ~ Pixiestar7
“NTA. There’s a movement of people trying to do this, I see it all over social media.”
“Santa gifts should be a couple of small fun toys and a book. Something any child might receive.”
“Otherwise kids like me grow up wondering why Santa would bring the rich kids a motorized jeep mini-car, a bike, and a telescope, and would only bring me an off-brand barbie and some socks.”
“Santa can still be magic even if the kids know where most of the gifts came from.”
“Edit: You can tell everyone who voted the other way never went to school after Xmas and had to hear about all the expensive stuff Santa brought other kids.”
“Their privilege is showing. You are very DEFINITELY NTA!!” ~ smokey_flutterby
“NTA. I’ve read a lot of stories from parents whose kids have come home saying that Santa got their friend/classmate ‘insert huge/expensive item here’ and why doesn’t Santa like them as much.”
“It really sucks for the parents who can’t afford to ‘keep up with the Joneses.'”
“You do you, your kids won’t care who the gift is from on Christmas day. You’re a good mom.” ~ kimothy92
“I have a lot of feelings about the whole ‘Santa’ thing and your point is one of them.”
“Santa originally was to bring ONE toy to children, and morphed into parents buying everything their kid wants from Santa.”
“Not to mention children growing up in less savory home situations can seriously freak out over the idea of some fat guy breaking into their home.”
“I think you can do the magic of Santa and the fun Santa day without making it all about what Santa can bring you.”
“One gift, or a few cheaper gifts, or a stuffed animal or something is perfectly acceptable.”
“NTA. Also, they’re 6 and 4 and getting gifts. They’re not going to give two shits who the gifts come from as long a they get fun presents.” ~ SpaceCrazyArtist
“NTA .You’re doing the work. Why give the imaginary dude all the credit?” ~ EzHedgehog
Well, our OP certainly has plenty of support out in the world.
Feels like a lot of people are either over it or have a different view of the Santa situation, than in generations past.
Hopefully OP and her family are able to peacefully shift the focus of the season from gifts and Santa, to family and joy.
HO-HO-HO!