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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
I only have one kid and I'm incredibly confused about how to handle Christmas!
My husband and I both agree that we want to focus on giving rather than just getting for the Christmas season. We already know that we want our daughter to pick a charity and donate money she saves during the year to the charity at Christmas, just like we already do. I don't know how to work Santa into the traditions we want to establish now. Do you kids get the majority of their gifts from "Santa" or you?
My husband thinks we should have Santa bring her a few (no more than 3 things) and have any other gifts come from us to reinforce the idea that she is fortunate already and santa needs to bring things to other kids who are in need. We have also considered having her make a list for Santa to donate for her. I don't know how I feel about this but I don't know what other way to go.
Any input on how you established your Christmas Santa protocol would be great! Thanks in advance!
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Posted 11/9/13 12:42 PM  |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
99% of my kids gifts come from Santa. We reinforce giving by donating to families in need. Picking a kid off the angel tree, etc. I would nix the Santa donate list, only because they will question Santa doesn't bring toys to ALL girls and boys. My kids did, and so far I've dodged that one, as I really don't have a good answer to give.
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| Posted 11/9/13 1:14 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
We give one gift from Santa.
Nothing from us.
Small gifts from family (Santa brought to them for DS).
Giving comes later.
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| Posted 11/9/13 1:32 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
In our family we focus on giving money and time to others all year round, as often as we find opportunities to do so.
For Christmas we always participate in Toys For Tots and donate to various food banks, in keeping with our usual thinking of others mentality. We place no emphasis on "this is for Christmas." It's just what we do.
Santa is completely seperate from that in our home. It's one magical day where they are rewarded for their kindness and good behavior and their every wish (within reason) comes true. All gifts but two are from Santa. One gift is from their dad and me and the other is a gift they select for each other.
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| Posted 11/9/13 2:53 PM |
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Naturalmama
Love my boys!!
Member since 1/12 3548 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
When I was growing up, every gift was from Santa. Including the one's we got at our grandparents house. My older DS is only 2.5, so this is the first year we are even doing Santa, and I doubt he will really get, but we plan on making all gifts from Santa as well.
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| Posted 11/9/13 3:04 PM |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Posted by Naturalmama
When I was growing up, every gift was from Santa. Including the one's we got at our grandparents house. My older DS is only 2.5, so this is the first year we are even doing Santa, and I doubt he will really get, but we plan on making all gifts from Santa as well.
All of my gifts were from santa when I was a kid too. I'm so conflicted about if that is the way I want to go or not. Thanks for replying
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| Posted 11/9/13 3:14 PM |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Posted by PatsBrat
In our family we focus on giving money and time to others all year round, as often as we find opportunities to do so.
For Christmas we always participate in Toys For Tots and donate to various food banks, in keeping with our usual thinking of others mentality. We place no emphasis on "this is for Christmas." It's just what we do.
Santa is completely seperate from that in our home. It's one magical day where they are rewarded for their kindness and good behavior and their every wish (within reason) comes true. All gifts but two are from Santa. One gift is from their dad and me and the other is a gift they select for each other.
We contribute to things all year too. We usually make Thanksgiving and Christmas donations larger and give more thought to where the donations go by sponsoring families at the Church etc.
I like the idea of the kids giving something to each other but I only have one!
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| Posted 11/9/13 3:16 PM |
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LiveItUp
Love my babies!
Member since 8/11 4096 total posts
Name:
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
When I was growing up my parents would give us a few little gifts from them on Christmas Eve and then we got the majority of our gifts from Santa Christmas morning. I think I will do it the same way for dd. I also love the idea of doing something charitable during the holidays too.
I don't know of anyone else feels this way, but I'm so worried I'm going to slip and ruin Santa for my dd. Last year we got on video me saying something like 'daddy picked this out' about a gift that was supposed to be from Santa. Luckily dd was only 2 months old but now we can't even show her that video until after she doesn't believe anymore. So ditsy and dumb of me!
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| Posted 11/9/13 8:55 PM |
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hope316
LIF Adult
Member since 8/07 1085 total posts
Name:
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
I teach my little ones that Christmas is a celebration of the gift of Jesus. So one of the ways we celebrate is by giving gifts to those we love. St Nicholas was a man who gave to the less fortunate. So the majority of the gifts are from us because we love them (don't teach naughty or nice, "cause God loves us either way) and one from St Nick since that's what the rest of the family believe
Message edited 11/11/2013 2:50:00 PM.
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| Posted 11/11/13 1:59 PM |
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
I would do 1 Santa gift... and the rest should be from you.
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| Posted 11/11/13 2:20 PM |
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Millie3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/13 1280 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Santa gives all the gifts. If we separate our gifts from santa's gifts, the kids would catch on. So we only give santa credit. We give them whatever during the year so they basically get stuff all year long from us.
In the past, we said santa gives to "good" children, etc. now it's backfiring (see my other post!) I don't want them to think because they didn't get 25 gifts, they were not good. I think the way you set it up, that santa gives what is needed is a great idea. I think I need to try that
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| Posted 11/11/13 2:28 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Growing up, Santa was the only one to give us presents.
What I'm considering doing when DD is old enough, is to leave some small presents from Santa, the rest from us or family. For the past few years, I've "adopted" a kid and purchased clothes and/or toys and I would like to continue that as well.
In my family, Christmas is purely secular. We will keep it this way but try and focus more on the giving.
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| Posted 11/11/13 3:21 PM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
We do a 50/50 split.
As a PP mentioned, Santa is separate from family gift receiving. We roll good-will, donations, and family gifts together and keep Santa separate.
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| Posted 11/11/13 3:26 PM |
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Depending on what they ask for, Santa may get all the gifts and then we get stuff that we know that they would like and forgot to put on the list.
For example, my DS is 7.5 and has been asking for a telescope for 2 years now. He hasn't put it on his list so we are getting that for him.
We try and buy the big gifts from us.
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| Posted 11/11/13 3:47 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Santa gives all the gifts except for one. Growing up our parents gave us one gift on Christmas and that usually our "big gift". Jewelry, playstation, computer...things like that. We are doing the same for DD. I think you have to give at least one gift from the parents to your child because how would you explain getting a gift from your DC and your spouse and you not giving anything back? We also try to promote "giving back" at all times of the year not exclusive to the holidays.
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| Posted 11/11/13 4:03 PM |
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mnmsoinlove
Mommy to 2 sweet girls!
Member since 3/09 8585 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
We do all toys from Santa on Christmas morning under the tree. We give the girls clothes and books from us.
This year since my oldest is 3. I had her help me pick out some toys at TRU that we are going to donate to children who don't have a lot of toys. She was really into and got it. I think its a great way for kids understand the meaning of giving.
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| Posted 11/11/13 4:55 PM |
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NASP09
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Member since 6/05 6030 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
About donating old toys- I saw a Pinterest post about making "Santa sacks" where kids fill up a sack of old toys to leave for Santa. Santa takes them and brings to kids in need. I think that's a nice idea.
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| Posted 11/11/13 5:57 PM |
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JenMarie
One day at a time
Member since 11/07 7397 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
DD gets one big gift from us and the rest are from Santa. Every year we adopt a child to donate gifts to (there's a thread on FHF for LIF children who need this holiday season). And now that DD is two and understand a little more, she's going to pick 5 of her toys to donate to a charity.
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| Posted 11/12/13 9:05 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
All the gifts on Xmas morning are from Santa. I love the magic of Xmas, I love that one day a year I can spoil my kids rotten, I love the anticipation my DD feels during the holidays waiting for his arrival, and I love seeing the excitement on her face Xmas morning when she sees that Santa got her all the things she wished for.
We teach her all year round to be thankful for what she has and we explain that some children aren't as lucky. We want her to appreciate the life and opportunities she has and we reinforce that all year. She's only 5 but she helps others by donating her old clothes and toys and we like to buy gifts at Xmas for other less fortunate children to make their holiday special.
That being said, there are so few years where they believe in Santa and I want to enjoy that wonder and magic to the fullest. So right now, in our house, it's all about Santa. Later, when she's older and no longer believes, things will be different and the emphasis of the holidays can be different too. But while she and my DS are young, my focus is on making their holidays amazing and magical just like mine were. I want them to experience the same belief in Santa as I did and to have a strong sense of Xmas tradition as I do.
There are plenty of years for life lessons, for now, I want them to experience Xmas with complete childlike wonder and excitement.........Xmas is one magical day a year and I want that one day to be amazing for them!! 
Message edited 11/12/2013 9:52:05 AM.
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| Posted 11/12/13 9:47 AM |
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hopingforbaby
We made a wish & you came true
Member since 2/10 2695 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Establishing Santa and holiday traditions…input please!
Posted by NASP09
About donating old toys- I saw a Pinterest post about making "Santa sacks" where kids fill up a sack of old toys to leave for Santa. Santa takes them and brings to kids in need. I think that's a nice idea.
I really love this idea!
DS is only 19 months, but my plan is to have the majority of gifts be from Santa. He will probably get new PJs and maybe one or two smaller gifts from "us".
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| Posted 11/12/13 10:16 AM |
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