Mum’s plan to teach child a lesson with hidden Christmas gift branded ‘mean’

A mum has caused a stir online after asking fellow parents if a plan to hide a child’s Christmas gift until the evening and pretend Santa didn’t bring it would be ‘mean’ or not

When it comes to Christmas as a parent, it can be difficult to bring your children’s expectations for the festive season to life – especially during the current cost of living crisis.

With little ones still hoping Santa Claus will bring them expensive toys and the latest gadgets, it can be a key time to teach your kids about the value of money and have honest conversations.

However, one parent’s potential plan to teach her child a lesson about what they can and cannot afford has been branded “mean” after the mum asked the internet what they thought of the idea.

Taking to Mumsnet’s Am I Being Unreasonable forum, the unnamed woman explained that her nine-year-old had asked for an iPad for Christmas.

They had told the child that they couldn’t afford an iPad, but the little one insisted that it didn’t matter because “Santa would get it” for them.

The mum claims the child has since proceeded to tell everyone they know that they are getting an iPad for Christmas, which has caused a bit of a dilemma.

The family now is buying the nine-year-old an iPad, however the parent wants to teach them a lesson on Christmas Day – but she wasn’t sure if it was an acceptable thing to do.

She wrote: “You have decided that to teach them to be more humble, you’re going to pretend that Santa hasn’t brought the iPad when you all open presents in the morning. And you’re going to ‘find’ the iPad at the back of the tree at some point in the evening and give it to them then.

“Full context, you also have a 6yo and 7yo who will be receiving their Santa present in the morning (Barbie Dream House and Switch).

“What do you think? Mean? Or fine?”

More than 400 people have responded to the post, with many branding the plan “mean”.

One person replied: “This may be the last Christmas they believe. You also have two younger ones… why would you ruin the magic?”

Another asked: “Why would you do that?”

A third said: “That would be a s****y thing to do. This is likely their last year believing anyway.”

While someone else blamed the parent for letting the child think Santa brings expensive gifts in the first place, writing: “Mean, and they created the situation by pretending that Santa brings anything other than stockings.”

A different user agreed, adding: “Despicable. F***ing cruel. Why would you want to cause them so much pain and the distress of thinking Santa didn’t think them worthy, even if only for a short time? Why people pretend big gifts are from Santa and cause this issue in the first place is beyond me but that’s a different issue.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.