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By (user no longer on site) OP 7 weeks ago
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Over the years I've noticed that the amount of gifts I get as a single Dad has dwindled.
This year both my kids had 20 gifts each (they asked santa for pretty cheap stuff). But were it not for a couple of family presents I would have had nothing to open.
A friend said he bought himself a few bits and wrapped them bit what do you do as a single Dad?
For clarity, my ex and I don't do gifts and I did tell my kids not to get anything as we're moving and I'd rather have something for the new place so I would normally have one gift. |
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"Over the years I've noticed that the amount of gifts I get as a single Dad has dwindled.
This year both my kids had 20 gifts each (they asked santa for pretty cheap stuff). But were it not for a couple of family presents I would have had nothing to open.
A friend said he bought himself a few bits and wrapped them bit what do you do as a single Dad?
For clarity, my ex and I don't do gifts and I did tell my kids not to get anything as we're moving and I'd rather have something for the new place so I would normally have one gift."
Now my kids are grown up, Christmas for me is not about receiving gifts, it’s about being able to get together as a family. I hate receiving tat or useless crap just for the sake of gift giving. I told my kids not to buy me presents, I don’t need anything, they need to save their money. Same for my sister and all the relatives. I give gifts but I’m afraid they won’t be novelty mugs, a shit remote control car that is immediately consigned to a toy box after 5 minutes, a scarf that will never be worn or scented candles. My son got from me 4 new tyres fitted to his car for Christmas. My nephew who has started a woodworking college course got measuring and marking tools engraved with his initials. It sounds curmudgeonly, I can’t bear the wasteful consumerism but love what Christmas should be all about (and it’s not in the slightest bit religious). |
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My dad always says he doesn't want anything and my mum used to too. I still bought them small things like a bar of chocolate or a pretty soap. I think we should consider the pleasure other people get from giving gifts. |
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By *a LunaWoman 7 weeks ago
South Wales |
I get what you mean OP. It feels a bit meh.
BUT you have to change how you look at it.
You may not get gifts to unwrap, but your best gifts are sat there with you.
If you want something to unwrap, give your kids some money and ask their mum to take them shopping.
You may just get a wrapped up Mars bar, but it’s something. |
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I don’t think it is a single dad thing - I think it is just a dad thing. I thinks dads tend to get overlooked.
I didn’t really get anything for years whilst the family were growing up - now they are becoming older they are starting to buy things with their own money so I got a few things this year. |
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I buy my own presents to add under the tree with the kids presents.
Kids/family know not to buy me stuff but really treasure home made cards and little gifts.
All kept over the years and the kids are old enough now to go through the collection together.
 |
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Their dad and I, but eachother presents for christmas and birthday from the kids. They would be horrified if they thought we didn't get anything. They are old enough to help pick it out but not quite old enough to pay for it themselves yet so that's our job. |
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I am not single, but we just don’t do presents for us. Christmas has always been about the children. They are gearing towards adulthood now and we had a family emergency (my accident) early December, so no presents. They were all completely understanding and I was the one who got some presents! 
People I chatted to during my hospital stay were all flabbergasted when I said we weren’t doing presents this year. I don’t get it. People just wrap tat the recipients don’t want anyway and it all ends up at the tip/landfill. I completely get presents for the kids, but for adults? |
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"Over the years I've noticed that the amount of gifts I get as a single Dad has dwindled.
This year both my kids had 20 gifts each (they asked santa for pretty cheap stuff). But were it not for a couple of family presents I would have had nothing to open.
A friend said he bought himself a few bits and wrapped them bit what do you do as a single Dad?
For clarity, my ex and I don't do gifts and I did tell my kids not to get anything as we're moving and I'd rather have something for the new place so I would normally have one gift."
I would always buy myself stuff when I was a single mum x then my kids got old enough to buy me stuff. I used to buy my ex husband gifts from the kids x |
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Neither of us has unwrapped a single gift this Christmas.
It's not an issue, we aren't bothered about presents, we don't need anything material and really don't want trinkety gifts for the sake of it, and which will end up on the tombola at the next PTA school event. |
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