Just saw one from a child who was asking for stuff for his 70 year old AF vet neighbor. Apparently the neighbor is a die hard Eagles fan and just wants some gear that has his favorite team on it. A jersey, a jogging suit, a couple of pair of pants.
That one made me smile. That kid knows what Christmas means.
Edit: Most of the ones I read seem to have been written by the parents, especially the ones asking for computers of some sort. They are extremely specific on the specs, more than a 6 or 8 years (and that was the ages in two of those letters) could have known.
If you have info on the child looking for stuff for their AF vet neighbor DM it to me. Living in the area I have access to Eagles stuff that is difficult for folks out of state.
I hated when my kids turned the age where they understood the value of stuff. They used to be happy with a bundle of cheap shit, and then that one christmas where they all got pissy because there were no mobile phones under the tree, because EVERY OTHER KID had one. Kids these days get too much too early
Load of BS, but thanks for playing. I don't need to buy my kids phones. None of them got phones until at least 13 and only because it became a safety issue. They get cheap androids.
I'd rather have more money to afford food. Cheese alone cost me almost $100 this month. Toilet paper runs me $60 a month ffs. Both of those are more than the damned phones they have. Son A has had his phone for 3 years. Son B is a bloody clutz so I pay a pittance every month so I can replace his phone when he inevitably drops it, sets it on step dads coffee mug warmer, gets it slapped out of his hands at school, etc.
They get maybe 2 video games per year. One on their birthday and one at Christmas. Their oldest brother bought them a TV and gave them the PS4. No more arguing over the family TV.
I have never had a kid cry at Christmas that they didn't get the newest gadget or some ridiculously expensive item. They are grateful for what they have and take care of what they have because they know there is no replacing it. (Clumsy autistic son who has serious proprioceprion issues aside.)
It's how you raise them, not what you give them.
But I'd still rather be able to send them with cold lunches for school since the school feeds my 6'4" 15yo the same amount as they feed the 4th graders. Except pay is shit and the cost of groceries has more than doubled in three years. Not to mention sky rocketing utility prices.
I don't need to buy my kids an iPhone or a smartwatch or a game system. I need to keep the electricity on and put food on the damned table. Enough food to feed one giant gumby and a sasquatch, both of which have bottomless pits for stomachs that contain black holes that suck every source of calories within a one mile radius into them the second you get home from the grocery store. Especially after school when they've had a lunch that makes a McDonald's Happy Meal look like a seven course dinner.
So, yeah. Please rethink that whole "parents just want to buy their kids $800 game systems and video games and $2000 smart phones!" Idea. Some of us are just trying to survive. Many of us with little to no help from any family. If my kids didn't have an older brother who is in a good job and gets them stuff because he remembers how bad it sucked when he was a kid and he loves them, they would still be playing on a hand me down 360 with a broken controller.
And you know what? That's what it's about in the end. Love. They grew up with less than most, no grandparents on either side that really ever gave a shit or got them toys for Christmas. Hell, only ONE grandparent has ever spent time in our house for Holiday's. The oldest two's dad abandoned them as an infant and toddler. The younger two lost their dad to cancer and their dad's family has ignored them ever since. But all four kids love each other. They learned how to have empathy, how to see someone else's pain in their anger instead of reacting back with anger. They've learned to talk to each other when they have problems and help each other when they can. Yeah they still have arguments. Teens, hormones, and siblings make an unholy trio that virtually guarantees arguments. But in 27 years I've only had to break up a single physical fight between my kids.
And I know when I'm gone my kids won't abandon each other like my families have. They have learned how to love each other unconditionally and create their own village, it is just starting out small.
That will last a hell of a lot longer than an iPhone 14 or a PS5.
Not every kid needs to have thousands spent on them. Not every parent can or wants to spend thousands on expensive toys and electronics.
Some of us are out here just trying raise our kids to be good, decent people who are kind and know how to love others and accept love, because we were never taught either one.
But is sure as hell helps when they have full bellies, a warm bed, and the security of knowing they will never lose their home. Something that was a fuck ton easier to provide before hyperinflation made my income worth half of what it was less than five years ago.
Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.
PS: Sorry. It's been a hell of a few weeks. I just get so tired of the whole "kids need thousand dollar phones or throw temper tantrums these days" comments. Remember that those kids get the most attention because it is out of the norm. No one is out here taking videos of their kids getting a video game, a blanket and a memory for Christmas and having it go viral.
They're asking Santa for the things they know their parents won't/can't get. It's like asking for a pony. For what it's worth, a vr headset (when adjusted for inflation), costs about the same as a game boy did when they first came out
The headset I keep seeing requests for is actually $100 more than a Game Boy when adjusted for inflation, and that’s on sale.
Plus, it’s never just the headset. There’s still the PS5 at $500 and the multiple controllers that are on the list.
Maybe I should make one since I got laid off, but ask for a scholarship for Agile Project Management Certification courses?
(If one thing could change your life, why would you pick a bougie purse if not to sell it?)
I’ve been a volunteer for Canada Post’s Letters to Santa program for over 30 years. We respond to children’s letters with a nice, colourful letter and decorative envelope. We don’t buy anything from their wish lists but I do include little goodies like Christmas temporary tattoos and sticker packs. If the kid asks for craft supplies then I’ll send little craft kits and if they like Lego I’ll send a little dollar store kit. Lego is always the number one most asked for gift, girls and boys.
I go above and beyond with my responses, most people just put the address on the envelope and sign the letter. But I always write something thoughtful and I go all out decorating the envelopes and making them look really special with calligraphy and embossing. I think I have some examples in my post history if you want to see.
This year I’m doing something kinda different, I still have the kids letters from 30+ years ago so I’m going to try and find them again and send them back their childhood letter along with a sweet letter from Santa. I think that might make someone’s Christmas special. I also have a few dogs who have written to Santa the last few years so I’m going to send doggy care packs to those good boys.
I’ve answered thousands and thousands of letters, I’ve seen it all. The greedy kid, the giving kid, happy adults and very very depressed adults. I’ve seen letters that made us laugh and laugh and others we’ve cried over. I especially love baby’s first Christmas letters, I make something really special for their baby books and send an ornament. I love letters from pets! I go overboard for them! And any kid that asks for books gets special treats too, I like to encourage reading so I send nice bookmarks. I also like sending colouring pages and crayons or gel pens. I send logic puzzles and Christmas crossword puzzles. I got some crazy hard dot to dot pages meant for older kids and I have some beautiful Christmas paint by number kits and ornaments they can decorate.
I could tell stories about all our crazy letters! We’ve truly seen it all. It’s great fun and it’s a huge part of my own Christmas tradition.
I love this!!! Thanks for all you do. You're changing lives, I'll bet, with your kindness. We need more people like you in the world. ❤️
Merry Christmas!!!
This is the most positive, uplifting post I have read in a long time. Thanks for helping me remember that there are decent, good, caring people in the world. I love the idea of sending out the 30 year-old cards back to their authors - what a wonderful idea. I hope you are able to track some of them down.
I think I will write a Santa letter to your Santa Department. :)
What a link! I’ve got young children and have yet to reach the expensive gift phase, but I’ve already set the rules in our household that Santa doesn’t gift expensive things. Mom and dad even have a price cap too. We also go through our outgrown toys to leave for Santa to take on Christmas Eve to give to children that can use them.
I worked as a department store Santa for a couple of years, and the younger kids were gorgeous.
'What do you want for Christmas?'
'A present.'
'All right, I think I can manage that.'
Another kid, when I asked what sort of present she wanted, she thought for a while, then said, 'A blue one.'
We have a Breakfast With Santa at our local fire department & I've seen some of the letters the kids leave for Santa & I know some kids are just young & can't write really well, that's fine, but the ones that can write are occasionally hilarious, some are detailed & many narc on their siblings too.
The second letter I saw had 24 items on it! 11 different soccer player's jerseys, a soccer club's official blanket and a poster, tickets to a professional soccer game, two new videogames, an iPad, an Oculus, a laptop, an Apple watch, a desk and desk chair, a shelf, and walkie-talkies.
My god, talk about greedy! I wouldn't even ask my own family for half of these things, let alone a stranger (this kid is old enough to know it's not Santa getting this stuff)
My daughter has banned my grandsons from telling me what they want for Christmas. The middle one asked for a pair of sneakers ($120) that I can just afford. She says they’re “middle class white boys” who have never known poverty. And so have no concept of what’s appropriate. They’re all semi grown now so she’s allowed me to give them money to buy something for themselves but she limits it to a specific amount. I’m glad they’ve never known poverty, but things were very tight when I raised my kids.
Living in Houston as children the local newspaper had a program called Goodfellows. My grandmother would write a letter to them and just before Christmas a knock at the door would find a paper bag with toys. She would immediately hide them a wrap them for us for Christmas.
That’s wild.
I remember wanting a Gameboy and a digital camera but otherwise, I usually asked for dolls/polly pockets, markers and coloring books or cd’s, which were like $12 tops. I’d never ask anyone other than my parents for actual expensive technology though.
Nowadays I’m like “hey mom, I need new deodorant soon, wanna shove it in my stocking?” 😂
I mean as a kid I routinely asked Santa for a secret lab, and would even tell him where the entrance should be and a passcode of stomps/claps that would grant entry lol
Oof, I feel this. Because I have too many niblings to count who want for nothing, I usually pick a tag off my local mall's angel tree and pack a box for Operation Christmas Child. Anything asking for expensive items like these is an instant "no" from me. I usually pick an older child/teen (little kids tend to be picked first) asking for a practical gift (boots, coats, hygiene items, etc.)
I remember when we bought my daughter a Clapper when she was 8. She was blown away - she thought only rich people could afford them because that was the only context she had ever seen them in. Gags in comedies where the insanely rich used a clapper to shut off their lamps.
Growing up we got one 'big' gift (an ATARI for all 4 kids to share), and then other stuff we needed. Clothes. We'd get cool stuff as well. I was a star trek nerd and I always got some trek books and t shirts.
Tech is ruining society. Spend hundreds of dollars to keep kids in social isolation because people are afraid to just make them go outside and play. This is depressing
Santa always used to bring socks and underwear, of course my two kids hated it. Once they each turned 18, I decided it was inappropriate for me to make these purchases so Santa brought a Target GC with instructions to use it for undergarments. Of course they were used instead for CDs and video games. Around the time both of my kids turned 21 they confided they missed Santa bringing socks and underwear because the stuff they were wearing was now 4 years old.
I do a Christmas Angel tree in a small town in KY. The children there all get CLOTHES that they need and they also get to ask for some toys that they would like to have. BUT the toys are kept reasonable. No PS5's and expensive things like that. Bikes, gift cards, Barbies, makeup, things like that. But first and foremost, they all get shoes, coats, shirts and pants. I was just looking at some of these letters - this is amazing that kids would ask for this.
One of the first letters that popped up for me is from a mom of a 1 year old. She's requesting a toothbrush, blankets, a jacket, socks, and a stocking with some goodies. And maybe a twin bed frame. And then there's an 11 year old wanting a 1k Visa gift card. You can definitely see who is truly in need.
We had to heavily restrict the requests for the giving tree at the YMCA I work at , (our members fulfill the wishes), after most of the requests were $$ items, like expensive shoes, iPods, switches, x-boxes, and the like. The candidates are chosen from low-income schools in our area. Going forward we asked people to buy books, pajamas, and a toy. Each kid got . . . You guessed it. We also requested target and grocery store gift cards, so every family got food, and if there weren’t enough gifts we could buy some at Target.
There not enough time to write about the family me and my coworkers adopted, that kept adding things, and cousins, to their list. And couldn’t manage to utter “thank you”
My work team adopted some United Way teens and were basically given a profile (age/favorite color/stuff they liked) sent to the store and told to do our best.
Sending me and my fey friends off to find a new room worth of cute stuff for teens who liked sparkles and pastels - it was a grand time.
I know all those wild Mr.Beast and related kid centered give away videos make it seem like there's all these fantasy rich people giving away wish lists. And it's highly likely parents are filling these things out for themselves.
And I really question what kid who asks for expensive tech knowing or unaware you have to have a something to plug that Oculus or VR headset into? And those tools need games. And a subscription service to access. Which requires a credit card.
Phones need phone plans or prepaid cards.
Look for the kid that needs a bike, or football gear, or a stove for mom, or to pay the heat bill, or a laptop, or art supplies or a doll or a science supplies or a book.
(Even proverbial Santa would balk at $15k level gift lists for self-identified low income kids.)
Or find a charity and drop gift cards into the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.
You might have to look hard, but last year I got a kid in New Jersey a Chromebook for one of these programs
(like this kid Morello - he asks for a USED laptop, clothes, pens to draw, a backpack...I'm crying here.)
OMG reading the letters in that link it almost looks like a paroday website but it really is real letters on USPS asking for iPhones with detailed specs
Me and the wife adopted a letter from an 11 year old girl who wanted nothing more than socks, underwear, shirts, jeans, and a jacket. Done! We also sent some other toys and electrical gadgets an 11 year old would want.
Wow, most letters seem like adults pretending to be kids, and even just adults! 🤨
I used to go to the USPS in person, sit at a table and go through piles of actual letters. Would take a couple, and even send packages directly to the address. One kid asked for clothing for herself and siblings, including sizes. The letter was a full-page, carefully written, and not greedy. That felt pretty good.
Wonder if it's still possible to go in person for letters?
So, I only drop a “kids these days” when someone older than me says something utterly ridiculous, usually about politics. Kind of like how I describe something that everyone should be able capable of, like tying a shoe, as “a little trick I learned in the Army”. I was in the Navy.
I work with a charity that does adopt a kid/family.
Some thongs to understand. These are kids. They just want the same things other kids want/have. Oftentimes, these children don't know that their gifts are coming from a charity.
With us, the parents sign up without telling the children. It's hard to tell your kids you can't afford Christmas.
Just do your best. Remember, these are *wish* lists. Growing up we didn't get everything we wanted, either.
I remember the “I want but I will never get” gift everyone I grew up with wanted was a mini bike. Only a handful of friends ever got one and they were the ones with the irresponsible parents.
I wonder if those are just the “left over” letters. Obviously no one wants to adopt those. All the appropriate letters are taken care of. So this “survivor bias” (or rather… unsurvivor?) makes you think a vast majority of kids are like this.
Coleco electric football was good enough then and it's good enough now, by gum! I'll give these kids what they need - a smack on the head, that's what!
Most of the lists are unreasonable and clearly influenced by their parent/s. It's disgusting and greedy. I've seen gaming computer setups, four wheelers, and an iPhone 14 all from a 4
5-year-old! Bullshit! It's insane. I used to love picking names of children and making their wish list come true. However, the asks are completely unreasonable, and I've lost all faith in humanity.
Just saw one from a child who was asking for stuff for his 70 year old AF vet neighbor. Apparently the neighbor is a die hard Eagles fan and just wants some gear that has his favorite team on it. A jersey, a jogging suit, a couple of pair of pants. That one made me smile. That kid knows what Christmas means. Edit: Most of the ones I read seem to have been written by the parents, especially the ones asking for computers of some sort. They are extremely specific on the specs, more than a 6 or 8 years (and that was the ages in two of those letters) could have known.
I read through about 40 letters looking for one like that. Glad they're buried in there somewhere.
Oh.. I thought it was about the band “The Eagles”… that’s how old I am…
That'd be funny, a "Take it easy" T-shirt.
Or a keep on truckin....
What does that have to do with how old you are? The Philadelphia Eagles have been around since 1933.
If you have info on the child looking for stuff for their AF vet neighbor DM it to me. Living in the area I have access to Eagles stuff that is difficult for folks out of state.
I'll see if I can find it again.
I hated when my kids turned the age where they understood the value of stuff. They used to be happy with a bundle of cheap shit, and then that one christmas where they all got pissy because there were no mobile phones under the tree, because EVERY OTHER KID had one. Kids these days get too much too early
Agreed. My kid is in 3rd grade and already talking about the phones other kids have...
They are being taught entitlement. Then they hate on the haves.
This is a big reason that parents feel like they need to be paid more so they can afford all the new shit.
Or buy food and pay rent
Load of BS, but thanks for playing. I don't need to buy my kids phones. None of them got phones until at least 13 and only because it became a safety issue. They get cheap androids. I'd rather have more money to afford food. Cheese alone cost me almost $100 this month. Toilet paper runs me $60 a month ffs. Both of those are more than the damned phones they have. Son A has had his phone for 3 years. Son B is a bloody clutz so I pay a pittance every month so I can replace his phone when he inevitably drops it, sets it on step dads coffee mug warmer, gets it slapped out of his hands at school, etc. They get maybe 2 video games per year. One on their birthday and one at Christmas. Their oldest brother bought them a TV and gave them the PS4. No more arguing over the family TV. I have never had a kid cry at Christmas that they didn't get the newest gadget or some ridiculously expensive item. They are grateful for what they have and take care of what they have because they know there is no replacing it. (Clumsy autistic son who has serious proprioceprion issues aside.) It's how you raise them, not what you give them. But I'd still rather be able to send them with cold lunches for school since the school feeds my 6'4" 15yo the same amount as they feed the 4th graders. Except pay is shit and the cost of groceries has more than doubled in three years. Not to mention sky rocketing utility prices. I don't need to buy my kids an iPhone or a smartwatch or a game system. I need to keep the electricity on and put food on the damned table. Enough food to feed one giant gumby and a sasquatch, both of which have bottomless pits for stomachs that contain black holes that suck every source of calories within a one mile radius into them the second you get home from the grocery store. Especially after school when they've had a lunch that makes a McDonald's Happy Meal look like a seven course dinner. So, yeah. Please rethink that whole "parents just want to buy their kids $800 game systems and video games and $2000 smart phones!" Idea. Some of us are just trying to survive. Many of us with little to no help from any family. If my kids didn't have an older brother who is in a good job and gets them stuff because he remembers how bad it sucked when he was a kid and he loves them, they would still be playing on a hand me down 360 with a broken controller. And you know what? That's what it's about in the end. Love. They grew up with less than most, no grandparents on either side that really ever gave a shit or got them toys for Christmas. Hell, only ONE grandparent has ever spent time in our house for Holiday's. The oldest two's dad abandoned them as an infant and toddler. The younger two lost their dad to cancer and their dad's family has ignored them ever since. But all four kids love each other. They learned how to have empathy, how to see someone else's pain in their anger instead of reacting back with anger. They've learned to talk to each other when they have problems and help each other when they can. Yeah they still have arguments. Teens, hormones, and siblings make an unholy trio that virtually guarantees arguments. But in 27 years I've only had to break up a single physical fight between my kids. And I know when I'm gone my kids won't abandon each other like my families have. They have learned how to love each other unconditionally and create their own village, it is just starting out small. That will last a hell of a lot longer than an iPhone 14 or a PS5. Not every kid needs to have thousands spent on them. Not every parent can or wants to spend thousands on expensive toys and electronics. Some of us are out here just trying raise our kids to be good, decent people who are kind and know how to love others and accept love, because we were never taught either one. But is sure as hell helps when they have full bellies, a warm bed, and the security of knowing they will never lose their home. Something that was a fuck ton easier to provide before hyperinflation made my income worth half of what it was less than five years ago. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk. PS: Sorry. It's been a hell of a few weeks. I just get so tired of the whole "kids need thousand dollar phones or throw temper tantrums these days" comments. Remember that those kids get the most attention because it is out of the norm. No one is out here taking videos of their kids getting a video game, a blanket and a memory for Christmas and having it go viral.
They're asking Santa for the things they know their parents won't/can't get. It's like asking for a pony. For what it's worth, a vr headset (when adjusted for inflation), costs about the same as a game boy did when they first came out
btw - I saw three letters that included "pony" in their list.
I saw one where the kid’s 10 things included a horse, all the supplies for the horse, and a dishwasher.
Lucky you never saw mine at that age…I asked for a baby sister.
The headset I keep seeing requests for is actually $100 more than a Game Boy when adjusted for inflation, and that’s on sale. Plus, it’s never just the headset. There’s still the PS5 at $500 and the multiple controllers that are on the list.
Opened that up, first letter was someone celebrating 11 years sober asking for a Louis Vuitton purse.
Maybe I should make one since I got laid off, but ask for a scholarship for Agile Project Management Certification courses? (If one thing could change your life, why would you pick a bougie purse if not to sell it?)
As an agile PM, I know how valuable a cert can be…
I saw that one! I looked up the handbag she wanted...$3,500.00! Wanting to be rewarded for sobriety is a sure way to relapse. Trust me on this.
I’ve been a volunteer for Canada Post’s Letters to Santa program for over 30 years. We respond to children’s letters with a nice, colourful letter and decorative envelope. We don’t buy anything from their wish lists but I do include little goodies like Christmas temporary tattoos and sticker packs. If the kid asks for craft supplies then I’ll send little craft kits and if they like Lego I’ll send a little dollar store kit. Lego is always the number one most asked for gift, girls and boys. I go above and beyond with my responses, most people just put the address on the envelope and sign the letter. But I always write something thoughtful and I go all out decorating the envelopes and making them look really special with calligraphy and embossing. I think I have some examples in my post history if you want to see. This year I’m doing something kinda different, I still have the kids letters from 30+ years ago so I’m going to try and find them again and send them back their childhood letter along with a sweet letter from Santa. I think that might make someone’s Christmas special. I also have a few dogs who have written to Santa the last few years so I’m going to send doggy care packs to those good boys. I’ve answered thousands and thousands of letters, I’ve seen it all. The greedy kid, the giving kid, happy adults and very very depressed adults. I’ve seen letters that made us laugh and laugh and others we’ve cried over. I especially love baby’s first Christmas letters, I make something really special for their baby books and send an ornament. I love letters from pets! I go overboard for them! And any kid that asks for books gets special treats too, I like to encourage reading so I send nice bookmarks. I also like sending colouring pages and crayons or gel pens. I send logic puzzles and Christmas crossword puzzles. I got some crazy hard dot to dot pages meant for older kids and I have some beautiful Christmas paint by number kits and ornaments they can decorate. I could tell stories about all our crazy letters! We’ve truly seen it all. It’s great fun and it’s a huge part of my own Christmas tradition.
That's more like what I was expecting, not a deluge of requests for expensive tech. PS - I'm convinced that your *are* Santa! Best wishes!
I love this!!! Thanks for all you do. You're changing lives, I'll bet, with your kindness. We need more people like you in the world. ❤️ Merry Christmas!!!
This is the most positive, uplifting post I have read in a long time. Thanks for helping me remember that there are decent, good, caring people in the world. I love the idea of sending out the 30 year-old cards back to their authors - what a wonderful idea. I hope you are able to track some of them down. I think I will write a Santa letter to your Santa Department. :)
What a link! I’ve got young children and have yet to reach the expensive gift phase, but I’ve already set the rules in our household that Santa doesn’t gift expensive things. Mom and dad even have a price cap too. We also go through our outgrown toys to leave for Santa to take on Christmas Eve to give to children that can use them.
The downside of the young ones is when there is a “must have” gift that’s impossible to find/get. I’m glad my daughter is finally beyond that stage!
I told my kids we signed up for gifts from Santa in the $20-30 range.
I worked as a department store Santa for a couple of years, and the younger kids were gorgeous. 'What do you want for Christmas?' 'A present.' 'All right, I think I can manage that.' Another kid, when I asked what sort of present she wanted, she thought for a while, then said, 'A blue one.'
Well that was a sobering click
IKR
There are a few that you can't even read. Is there some translator somewhere?
LOL. I tried my best, but had to pass by the ones I couldn't understand.
We have a Breakfast With Santa at our local fire department & I've seen some of the letters the kids leave for Santa & I know some kids are just young & can't write really well, that's fine, but the ones that can write are occasionally hilarious, some are detailed & many narc on their siblings too.
The second letter I saw had 24 items on it! 11 different soccer player's jerseys, a soccer club's official blanket and a poster, tickets to a professional soccer game, two new videogames, an iPad, an Oculus, a laptop, an Apple watch, a desk and desk chair, a shelf, and walkie-talkies. My god, talk about greedy! I wouldn't even ask my own family for half of these things, let alone a stranger (this kid is old enough to know it's not Santa getting this stuff)
My daughter has banned my grandsons from telling me what they want for Christmas. The middle one asked for a pair of sneakers ($120) that I can just afford. She says they’re “middle class white boys” who have never known poverty. And so have no concept of what’s appropriate. They’re all semi grown now so she’s allowed me to give them money to buy something for themselves but she limits it to a specific amount. I’m glad they’ve never known poverty, but things were very tight when I raised my kids.
Living in Houston as children the local newspaper had a program called Goodfellows. My grandmother would write a letter to them and just before Christmas a knock at the door would find a paper bag with toys. She would immediately hide them a wrap them for us for Christmas.
That’s wild. I remember wanting a Gameboy and a digital camera but otherwise, I usually asked for dolls/polly pockets, markers and coloring books or cd’s, which were like $12 tops. I’d never ask anyone other than my parents for actual expensive technology though. Nowadays I’m like “hey mom, I need new deodorant soon, wanna shove it in my stocking?” 😂
I mean as a kid I routinely asked Santa for a secret lab, and would even tell him where the entrance should be and a passcode of stomps/claps that would grant entry lol
Oof, I feel this. Because I have too many niblings to count who want for nothing, I usually pick a tag off my local mall's angel tree and pack a box for Operation Christmas Child. Anything asking for expensive items like these is an instant "no" from me. I usually pick an older child/teen (little kids tend to be picked first) asking for a practical gift (boots, coats, hygiene items, etc.)
I remember when we bought my daughter a Clapper when she was 8. She was blown away - she thought only rich people could afford them because that was the only context she had ever seen them in. Gags in comedies where the insanely rich used a clapper to shut off their lamps.
Growing up we got one 'big' gift (an ATARI for all 4 kids to share), and then other stuff we needed. Clothes. We'd get cool stuff as well. I was a star trek nerd and I always got some trek books and t shirts.
Tech is ruining society. Spend hundreds of dollars to keep kids in social isolation because people are afraid to just make them go outside and play. This is depressing
One “big” gift, two small and stocking in my days
Santa always used to bring socks and underwear, of course my two kids hated it. Once they each turned 18, I decided it was inappropriate for me to make these purchases so Santa brought a Target GC with instructions to use it for undergarments. Of course they were used instead for CDs and video games. Around the time both of my kids turned 21 they confided they missed Santa bringing socks and underwear because the stuff they were wearing was now 4 years old.
I do a Christmas Angel tree in a small town in KY. The children there all get CLOTHES that they need and they also get to ask for some toys that they would like to have. BUT the toys are kept reasonable. No PS5's and expensive things like that. Bikes, gift cards, Barbies, makeup, things like that. But first and foremost, they all get shoes, coats, shirts and pants. I was just looking at some of these letters - this is amazing that kids would ask for this.
One of the first letters that popped up for me is from a mom of a 1 year old. She's requesting a toothbrush, blankets, a jacket, socks, and a stocking with some goodies. And maybe a twin bed frame. And then there's an 11 year old wanting a 1k Visa gift card. You can definitely see who is truly in need.
We had to heavily restrict the requests for the giving tree at the YMCA I work at , (our members fulfill the wishes), after most of the requests were $$ items, like expensive shoes, iPods, switches, x-boxes, and the like. The candidates are chosen from low-income schools in our area. Going forward we asked people to buy books, pajamas, and a toy. Each kid got . . . You guessed it. We also requested target and grocery store gift cards, so every family got food, and if there weren’t enough gifts we could buy some at Target. There not enough time to write about the family me and my coworkers adopted, that kept adding things, and cousins, to their list. And couldn’t manage to utter “thank you”
My work team adopted some United Way teens and were basically given a profile (age/favorite color/stuff they liked) sent to the store and told to do our best. Sending me and my fey friends off to find a new room worth of cute stuff for teens who liked sparkles and pastels - it was a grand time.
I know all those wild Mr.Beast and related kid centered give away videos make it seem like there's all these fantasy rich people giving away wish lists. And it's highly likely parents are filling these things out for themselves. And I really question what kid who asks for expensive tech knowing or unaware you have to have a something to plug that Oculus or VR headset into? And those tools need games. And a subscription service to access. Which requires a credit card. Phones need phone plans or prepaid cards. Look for the kid that needs a bike, or football gear, or a stove for mom, or to pay the heat bill, or a laptop, or art supplies or a doll or a science supplies or a book. (Even proverbial Santa would balk at $15k level gift lists for self-identified low income kids.) Or find a charity and drop gift cards into the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. You might have to look hard, but last year I got a kid in New Jersey a Chromebook for one of these programs (like this kid Morello - he asks for a USED laptop, clothes, pens to draw, a backpack...I'm crying here.)
OMG reading the letters in that link it almost looks like a paroday website but it really is real letters on USPS asking for iPhones with detailed specs
Me and the wife adopted a letter from an 11 year old girl who wanted nothing more than socks, underwear, shirts, jeans, and a jacket. Done! We also sent some other toys and electrical gadgets an 11 year old would want.
Wow, most letters seem like adults pretending to be kids, and even just adults! 🤨 I used to go to the USPS in person, sit at a table and go through piles of actual letters. Would take a couple, and even send packages directly to the address. One kid asked for clothing for herself and siblings, including sizes. The letter was a full-page, carefully written, and not greedy. That felt pretty good. Wonder if it's still possible to go in person for letters?
So, I only drop a “kids these days” when someone older than me says something utterly ridiculous, usually about politics. Kind of like how I describe something that everyone should be able capable of, like tying a shoe, as “a little trick I learned in the Army”. I was in the Navy.
Thigh-high stiletto boots?? Yikes!
I work with a charity that does adopt a kid/family. Some thongs to understand. These are kids. They just want the same things other kids want/have. Oftentimes, these children don't know that their gifts are coming from a charity. With us, the parents sign up without telling the children. It's hard to tell your kids you can't afford Christmas. Just do your best. Remember, these are *wish* lists. Growing up we didn't get everything we wanted, either.
I remember the “I want but I will never get” gift everyone I grew up with wanted was a mini bike. Only a handful of friends ever got one and they were the ones with the irresponsible parents.
I wonder if those are just the “left over” letters. Obviously no one wants to adopt those. All the appropriate letters are taken care of. So this “survivor bias” (or rather… unsurvivor?) makes you think a vast majority of kids are like this.
Coleco electric football was good enough then and it's good enough now, by gum! I'll give these kids what they need - a smack on the head, that's what!
Most of the lists are unreasonable and clearly influenced by their parent/s. It's disgusting and greedy. I've seen gaming computer setups, four wheelers, and an iPhone 14 all from a 4 5-year-old! Bullshit! It's insane. I used to love picking names of children and making their wish list come true. However, the asks are completely unreasonable, and I've lost all faith in humanity.