The Christmas present that you never got.

claire16c

Person_one wrote: »

It'd be interesting to know how old the posters are who were refused things because they were the wrong gender.

I was born in 1984, and while my parents did tend to get me the 'girl' sets of lego (stables and cafes and other nonsense) and the girly colours with bikes/roller skates etc. there was no way they'd have denied me something I wanted just because it was intended for boys and no other reason!

Yeah I had the paradisa Lego, I loved it as you could make houses with swimming pools - still want one of those now

But I had normal Lego too.

My sister loved cars so she had a car mat, toy cars & a dumper truck. I remember thinking she was weird as I just wanted to play with barbies and my other favourite toy one of those heads where you styled the hair!

jackieblack

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I wanted a Raleigh Chopper desperately but my parents said it was only for boys

Me too!
Although I did have a Raleigh Chipper (smaller version for younger children, but without the gearstick on the crossbar)

Birdie85

Callie22 wrote: »

I desperately wanted a pair of the Clarks 'Magic Steps' shoes - the ones with a key in the sole. Unfortunately the didn't make them in a wide fitting and I never got a pair

I really wanted these too.

I had a Mr Frosty and it really wasn't very good! I remember having to bash the ice up before putting it in because the crusher was so crap it just jammed on the ice cubes!

I really wanted a play kitchen. No particular model, I just desperately wanted one with tiny play food. I got a Post Office instead because it took up less space!

Laurajo wrote: »

I used to get barbies but I played with 'shaving foam ken' (who comes up with these things?!) more than them - he was usually kidnapping barbie and holding her hostage!

Oooh I had Shaving Foam Ken! Loved the 90s Barbies, such silly ideas but I had to have them all! I loved Ultra Hair Barbie with hair down to her feet... then cut it all off! :rotfl:

Cre8tor, your story nearly brought me to tears. So glad you finally got your Barbie doll.

heartbreak_star

Cre8tor, what a beautiful story, that really made me smile

I'm a 1979 baby, and admittedly as an only child and grandchild I did get a bit spoiled Mum used to say I was a lovely mix of girl and tomboy - one year I asked for both Lady Lovelylocks and a toy sword and shield (though funnily, I now have waist-length hair and go LARPing!)

I remember being very disappointed with Mr Frosty when I finally got him!

HBS x

hawk30

The_Cre8tor wrote: »

What a great thread! I've read it from page one and have loved it.

My 'never got for Christmas' gift, was a Barbie. I SO wanted one and asked Father Christmas for one every year, until one year I made a new best friend and went to her house. They were a 'posh' family and had a very posh house which I was in awe of, and when I went up to her bedroom to play, she not only had a Barbie, but also the house, the pony and the car, and a ton of Barbie clothes too!

That was it! I was furious with Father Christmas! I remember I wrote a very stiff letter to him telling him that I was very upset that I hadn't been given the Barbie I so wanted, when other girls got what they wanted every single year.

That year I got a 'type' of Barbie doll and a lot of clothes for her. All the clothes were wrapped up individually - which at the time I didn't understand. Now, however, I realise that my parents just didn't have the money to buy me the Barbie with all the things I was hoping for. So I got one of those 99p pretend Barbie dolls and a selection of clothes, all individually wrapped so that it looked like I had a lot of presents.

I did eventually get my Barbie doll. On my wedding day. She was dressed in a wedding dress ... and when it came the time for people to give the bride (me) those horse shoes and rolling pins etc etc ... my Dad came to me with his hands behind his back and quietly said ... "Do you remember when you were little, you never got a Barbie for Christmas? ... well chicken, you've finally got her" ... and from behind his back he produced this wondrous doll, with a ribbon tied to her so that I could 'hang her' with all the horseshoes etc. My eyes were as wide as saucers, and I burst into tears.

At the wedding reception, when the meal was over and everyone was busy doing their own thing, I quietly picked her up and just for a few private moments I sat, and became the 5/6/7/8 year old little girl I once was, and played with her. I'd finally got my Barbie.

I still have her - over thirty years later. She's stored with my wedding dress.
.

That made me cry

embob74

I also wanted a Mr Frosty and never got one

I was quite spoiled as a child as ours was one of the few families where both parents worked so we had disposable income.
I think I pretty much got everything I asked for so can only think the reason for not getting Mr Frosty was not the cost but the mess it could make?
Parents were very good at not being sexist and so I had lego, a skateboard and a remote controlled car.

I always wanted the fisher price garage with the helter skelter road and the lift. I never did get it but then I'm not sure I ever asked for it - I must have been very young when I wanted one.

I think the only real disappointment I had at Christmas (apart from getting dodgy jumpers that were more mum's taste than mine!) was when my parents decided to go all retro and get all wooden toys. I'm sure they spent more than they would have on the plastic tat I would have wished for but opening a present to find you had been given a wooden top and whip was utterly devastating. I remember thinking that I hoped my smile and thank you sounded far more sincere than I felt them :rotfl:

juliethemuse

I desperately wanted roller skates but Mum was adamant I wasn't getting any as they were 'dangerous'
I did however, get a Chemistry Set which I loved, will always remember me and a friend in my bedroom trying to create gold. (anyone remember that Blackadder episode?) and mixing them all together then running out the room panicking because something was threatening to explode.
Great memories, thanks for that OP.:)

miss_zazu

I was born in the late 80s, I was lucky enough to get a Mr Frosty, he wasn't very good at crushing the ice though!

I really wanted Dreamphone, a board game where you would get phone calls off "guys" asking for dates and such...
I also wanted RSPCA giant animal hospital set with lots of little animal figures! Never got either, but did get lots of things like Barbie camper van, Fashion wheel, and a post office!

Georgiegirl256

sweetcheekz wrote: »

[URL] Some of the things people and mentioning are bringing back great memories, i'm feeling quite nostalgic for paper decorations, and balloons in the corners of the living room :rotfl:.[/url]

Ah, I remember them too! My Mam and Dad put them up every year, when I was little, those concertina style decorations that stretched from corner to corner and the paper chains!

Reading this thread is reminding of more things I wanted but never got. Being a bit of a tomboy, I wanted a woodwork kit one year, and for quite a few years in a row, I wanted a drum kit, but never got one....I wonder why?!

I was lucky enough to get the roller skates and a barbie house though. I remember my Dad snook in with it into my bedroom so it was there when I woke up on Christmas Day!

Birdie85

miss_zazu wrote: »

I was born in the late 80s, I was lucky enough to get a Mr Frosty, he wasn't very good at crushing the ice though!

I really wanted Dreamphone, a board game where you would get phone calls off "guys" asking for dates and such...
I also wanted RSPCA giant animal hospital set with lots of little animal figures! Never got either, but did get lots of things like Barbie camper van, Fashion wheel, and a post office!

Oooh I really wanted Dreamphone too! Although I remember going to a friend's to play it one day and being disappointed that none of the guys were that good looking!

I also got a Fashion Wheel and the Barbie Camper Van. Loved those toys! One of my big regrets is getting rid of all my Barbie stuff as I'd love to still have it now... I'd probably play with it all too!