Christmas stockings at more than one house?

glasgow_girl

We only have to deal with DH's family for the holidays (mine live overseas), which is fine, but it has meant that over the years, we haven't really had to compromise with what they want to do.

What has happened in past years (bear with me):

DH and I get up and do our stockings, and personal gifts to each other.
We head to MIL's house and do gifts with MIL and SIL (they are crazy gift givers - we usually have a room-full of presents)
Next we go to DH's grandmother's for breakfast - yes, it's only about 9am by this point...and do gifts with DH's uncle and cousin.

Christmas lunch is usually at an extended family members house, no gifts involved.

I know we are going to have to change things up a little, and I've rambled on a bit, so congrats if you have stuck with me.

My real question is, MIL wants to have a stocking for DD at her house. This year, I don't see a big issue, she's really not going to know what's going on.  In the years to come though, I think we should just have stockings at our house.  Especially if it's a "Santa" stocking. 

I don't have issues with MIL giving gifts, but I think that Santa should just leave you gifts at the house you live in.  Thoughts? (Apart from, "My head is going to explode after reading all that.")

hterry85

No, I agree with you. She can just as easily make the gifts be from herself rather than Santa. But I guess you could tell her (when she's old enough) that Santa left her stuff at both places. That's what we do with SS between our house and BMs. But you're her parents, if you don't want it done that way you shouldn't have to.

Blue1299

DD will have a stocking at more than one house. My MIL has one for her, but it's usually just stuffed with paper & more for decoration than gifts. I think she's put candy canes in them (for the older kids) in prior years, but it's not supposed to be something from Santa.

ETA: When your LO gets older I would just say "mommy & daddy got you a stocking & Santa put things in it. Grandma also got you one & she filled it with *insert items here*."

jennybeams

Santa fills the stockings and he only comes to the house the child lives in.  That would be my reasoning to MIL.  If you let her do it this year, she'll want to do it every year since "she already has the stocking."  Can't you just hear it already   I'd nip that in the bud now.

nealbl

DH, LO and myself all have stockings at our house, IL's house and my parents house. My MIL makes a lot of gifts from elves, my parents are form themselves....Never santa. I would think as long as your MIL isn't trying to say that the stocking at her house is form Santa I don't see an issue with it.

erin922

I always grew up with a stocking at my house and my grandmother's, where we did Christmas with the whole family.  We were told that santa stopped at both houses and I never thought twice about it.  My grandmother has made every single family member's stocking for her house and DD is no exception.