‘My daughter told me her presents weren’t as good as last year’s – I need perspective’

A mum was left wondering whether she’d done something wrong after her daughter told her she wasn’t too fond of some of her presents, and last Christmas was better

Buying presents for your children can be really tricky at Christmas time – that’s why getting them to write a wishlist to Santa is imperative. But sometimes, kids change their minds and decide they no longer want something, which can leave parents in a pickle when they’ve already purchased said item.

One woman took to Mumsnet to explain that she was gutted after her daughter told her she doesn’t like most of her presents – despite her buying the majority of things on her wishlist. The seven-year-old also stated that she thought last Christmas was better, leaving the mum to wonder whether she was bad at gift-giving, or her daughter was just acting ungrateful.

The mum listed some of the things that her daughter had on her list, including a cuddly koala that talks, a Barbie aeroplane, a history book, a lego set and lots more.

Off her list, she received the aforementioned items, along with some surprises that her mum had lovingly chosen for her which were a Playdoh set, an arts and crafts set, a fluffy lockable box, a Barbie, a Polly Pocket set, sink n sand game, a puzzle and some clothes.

The heartbroken mum wrote: “She’s just told me she doesn’t like most of her presents and this year isn’t as good as last year.

“She’s told me she isn’t that keen on the Barbie aeroplane now, Santa got the wrong history book (it’s an age-appropriate lift the flaps Usbourne book), she never wanted Polly Pockets (already has some and asked for more about a month ago), doesn’t like the crafts set…

“Am I being unreasonable for thinking I’m s*** at choosing presents or do I have an ungrateful child? I need perspective.”

People were shocked by her daughter’s attitude and said that it wasn’t that the mum hadn’t bought lovely gifts – it was that they weren’t nicely received.

One wrote: “She is ungrateful and even if the presents are from Santa so she doesn’t know she is being ungrateful to the gift-givers face she needs to learn to appreciate what she has been given. I wouldn’t be impressed by that attitude.”

Another said: “She’s ungrateful. I have a 7-year-old and can’t imagine her saying those things even if she thought it! Mine didn’t ask for anything this year so everything was a ‘surprise’.

“However, Christmas Day can be a bit overwhelming for some kids. All the hype and excitement. If she’s not usually like that I’d cut her a bit of slack.”

Someone else commented: “Is she tired? I would be really offended if my daughter said this, I would tell her she’s being really ungrateful.”

A Mumsnetter asked: “Only child? The pressure of being the centre of attention on Christmas morning could be a reason if so.”

How would you feel if your child had said this to you? Let us know in the comments.