Christmas Present Dilemma

emslovesmickey

Seeing as how the wii u controllers are so expensive why not suggest to the oldest son to get a controller and have the rest of the money towards the piano? That way, with his brothers permission of course, he can play the console, and they can play multiplayers as well. Plus he has some money in his kitty for the piano, and have something to open on christmas day.

Bennifred

quantumleap wrote: »

What! What do you mean Santa isn't real!

Don't worry - Father Christmas is real.

I don't think Santa is, though :think:

notanewuser

jellyhead wrote: »

Does all of this discussion about money and presents mean the 7 year old knows Santa isn't real?

My daughter is 2 and we don't intend to ever tell her that Santa is real!

quantumleap

notanewuser wrote: »

My daughter is 2 and we don't intend to ever tell her that Santa is real!

Now there's a whole new thread!

19lottie82

Ok, IMO....

I can see why DS2 might be a little bit miffed BUT I don't think it's fair that DS1 should be denied what he wants at christmas just so DS2 can feel better, thats just mean.

If I was DS1 and I aksed for a specific gift and on Christmas day I got cash and my brother got that gift, I would be a bit gutted (and with good reason)

There is still 2 weeks to go until Xmas and kids change their minds all the time.

You said when DS1 originally wanted to raise £1k for a piano you said he could raise the ££ by doing jobs around the house. If your DS2 wants somethign in future before DS1, then explain to him that we get things that we want by working ahrd and making sacrifices, so encourage him to save his cash and assist him by offering the opportunity to earn extra.....

silvercar

Person_one wrote: »

Ideally, yes, but you can't buy one child a present and then tell them its actually for all of them and not their own. That would mean that oldest gets £250 cash AND use of a wii, while the middle one gets use of a wii but not ownership of it. Hardly fair.

I do think consoles are better bought as 'gifts to the whole family' not for one member at Christmas or for birthdays, but now that the OP has given them a free choice she can't rescind it based on what they've chosen. Maybe, with three boys relatively close in age, they both want the chance to have something that for once they don't have to share?

I disagree. If a wii-u is what one son wants then they understand that it is a console and as part of a family his siblings will be able to use it. If he wanted a "don't touch its mine" present then he should have chosen something else.

But the rules of owning the family console would mean (in my family at least) priority usage, no-one else is allowed to take it to their room, when they all have friends around the owner gets priority etc

margaretclare

I haven't read through all of the thread, but...

Before requesting an informed opinion on this, why didn't you explain first what is a Wii-u?

Lifeforms

Does the second son have a TV in his room now?
I know the 1st does, but as you said the 2nd cried when the 1st got one, because it's what he always wanted. So for a long time there's been problems with gifts.

If he does not have his own TV it'll get used on the family one, and I'm guessing he's already worked out that although "his", it'll technically be the family one, so as much as you're trying to give him something first, it'll end up being the one everyone uses, so frankly he'll have no choice in the matter, and realises this, hence he is fine with it being for all, so long as he gets it first.

If your 1st doesn't want to compromise on what he wants to buy (and yeah it is a bit like could you give me a bit of cash towards that, so I can get much closer to buying it, whilst thinking maybe, just maybe they'll buy one for me instead) then providing the chance to do "jobs" to make money (presumably he gets pocket money?) is good way to go, however expect to see the other one(s) (2nd/3rd) at least question why he gets paid to do chores, when 1st doesn't.

Frankly that never washed with us as kids. If we wanted something, tv in room, video, keyboard and it was outside present time we would have to buy it, then it was ok to have a tv in the room because we paid for it. Naturally parent monitoring etc still went on. But we were lucky as kids as we had daily pocket money (actually lunch money), but once a month got an amount of dad too. So Dad's would be seen as the bank of lending In exchange for our goods. Not the best lesson learnt, but we both took damn good care of our items, and they still came up under the mess with the parents lose the privileges rule.

I never understood birthdays till I was a few years old, but till then on my brothers birthday I would get one little gift "from him" and vice-versa. That just carried as tradition for a few years till I knew why I got it, to end jealousy that I couldn't understand as a kid.

No real suggestions, except buy the family the console if the 2nd doesn't have his own TV.

silvercar

margaretclare wrote: »

I haven't read through all of the thread, but...

Before requesting an informed opinion on this, why didn't you explain first what is a Wii-u?

It is generally assumed, on the internet, that if you don't know what something is you can google it.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=wii-u

pulliptears

princessdon wrote: »

Wow. - Xmas list off my 3. Eldest is perfume, middle is Lego and youngest a cuddly dinosaur. No high price presents or masses on their list.

I don't own a games console, no tv in bedrooms - masses of board games, craft items etc.

Where does this come from? Is it their peers

How jolly marvellous for you! Spiffing really!

Meanwhile OP will spend HER cash on HER children how she see's fit.

I knew as soon as I opened this thread there would have to be one condescending post, I wasn't disappointed