Writings by me

One of our annual traditions is to sit down with Christmas stickers, paper, pens and write our Christmas lists. 

We normally write two, one for the big FC and one for family members.

We forgot this year and only made one for Father Christmas, and hence the wrangling begins.

Harry created a rather modest list with highlights such as water bottles and super Mario stickers alongside a ‘small robot’ – how delightfully vague – we can have fun with this one and potentially can get the whole list for under £50 – oh sweet (young) Harry.

Freddie on the other hand… armed with the Schleich catalogue, and recent memories of our latest Lego store trip, wrote a detailed, specific list, coming in at at least £200. Oh sweet (and canny!) Freddie.

We frequently warn the boys that these lists are not legally binding (husbands a lawyer) and the eventual stocking may contain some of it, defnitely NOT all of it, and a few wild cards so as to manage expectations. 

Don’t get me wrong we are so pleased to still be in Father Christmas territory – Freddie’s friends are dropping like flies into the non-believer precipice and I dread that day. But here’s the 20 minute (extremely circular) conversation  we had yesterday when discussing what to get and how to divvy it up…

Me: so the problem I see is that because Harry’s list is so modest, we could get all of it but then Freddie will get funny if we get all of Harry’s but not his 

Jon: but Freddie’s list is way more expensive and I reckon he’ll understand 

Me: it’s not about the cost, it’s the ‘not treating him equally’ thing

Jon: we can’t get all of Freddie’s stuff – we’ll distribute the ideas with friends and family as well 

Me: I think we should leave something off Harry’s list so it doesn’t seem like Father Christmas is playing favourites. 

Jon: well what do you propose we leave off of Harry’s? 

Me: the water bottle, maybe the Mario stickers

Jon: but they’re so cheap! I reckon it’ll be fine. Freddie will understand – his list is too expensive.

Me: it’s not about the money, that’s not how he will see it…

And around and around we go. These are conversations I never could have predicted but fairly typical of life with kids. So then again, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if someone let slip that it’s actually us footing the bill, not the big guy. 

Merry Christmas everyone!