What would be your excuse?

When I was growing up, I never looked, but often, my gifts I got early, so never really needed to look. Likewise now, if I had kids, they'd probably get their gifts early, and it'd be up to them if they wanted to open it when they got it or waited till christmas eve/day. But to play along for the sake of argument, if I had to come up with an excuse, it'd probably something like: "Well kids, it's like this, your grandmother's cousin is married to the brother of the cousin of one of the elves, so when Santa asked for help because he couldn't fit all his toys in the sleigh, this particular elf piped up and said he knew where there was some extra closet space till Santa came and got the gifts to distribute, but you kids are not to touch them, because I peeked at the labels, and they're gifts for the flood victims that we recently saw on the news, so Santa has to park his reindeers and grab a boat before he could collect these gifts. Now if you kids want to add to this pile of gifts, I'm sure Santa would appreciate your help...."

Oh yes, the kids found the hiding spot this year. We were looking for something and the kids were helping...well, this year, I hid the gifts behind the door by the sofa and wouldn't you know it Christian looked behind the sofa and behind the door...darn!! At least they were still in the plastic bags, so that is all that he saw. I have since found a different hiding spot..they will never find this one!!

eh they wouldn't believe me, I'd just tell them to get out of there before I return everything!

10 and still believes in Santa? I'd probably tell him the truth at that point. I know my oldest was around 8 when I told him. My twins are 8 now, my daughter figured it out for herself that there's no Santa.. but her twin brother still believes, but hubby is thinking about telling him soon. Yes this has happened to me. My son, when he was like 6, found a shirt I planned to give him for Christmas. I told him I bought it for charity, and when he opened it on Christmas I told him Santa must have known he liked it so he got him one too. I had to do my shopping with my 4 year old in tow.. I had a girlfriend with me so I kept telling him all these cool things were for my girlfriend's son. Though I hope he doesn't figure it out when he opens the coat I had him try on at the store, LOL. I guess it doesn't matter.. I've had my fun with the Santa thing, and it's such a headache trying to hide it from them anyways. If they figure it out, I don't try to fight it.

It happen to the best of us. I have aproached it in every form. As they get older..they get sneakier..LOL...I think that the most memorable is telling them that santa left them early and oh how they had messed up by hunting them..lol..that santa would come back and get them and might not have time to leave anything else...hehe.

Honestly, this happened to me not once, but twice this year and both of the items were gifts that were supposed to be from Santa. Well, with the first one, I had it in the trunk of my car, I told my daughter that it was to donate to a family that wasn't as lucky as our family. The second was wedged in my closet and I was able to convince my kids that I had no clue what it was. They didn't have a clear view of it so they really didn't know what it was.

If I will be in your situation I am going to tell the truth. Since the gift is for your child so all you have to say is "baby, this is suppose to be a surprise gift for you, but since you saw it already, you can open it now or later". Since the gift is already been exposed, the next thing you need to do is buy a new gift and make sure you hide it in place where it can't be found until the perfect time comes. In this way, you are telling the truth. Another thing I am going to advise. If you put into child's mind that Santa is real then there is no difference from lying about the gift. If the child finds out that Santa is not true, then imagine the frustration the child can get and worse, the child might be mad at you for making him or her believe that Santa is real for 10 years of his / her life. I know it is already a tradition but sometimes truth can be hard to accept. If your child is starting to love Santa then imagine the pain he / she can get if he / she finds the truth. If I will be in your situation again, I am not going to tell him / her about Santa and if time comes he / she wants to know about Santa, I can explain to him the truth about Santa in a way he can understand.

hi bounce little kids that age are pretty clever too. I once hid a gift too cleverly that I myself co uld not find it but a month later my mom was looking for somethingf and found this box and it was a very pretty brush and comb set and she was so thrilled with it. my mom was so funny as she would keep all the perfume I gave her to use just on speial occasions and I wanted her to have them for every day. I finnaly got her to use the ones she liked the best. me I like a gift I will use it all the time.

Hey bounce! I have to tell you that your discussion definitely brought back some memories, but of my brother (RIP Ricky) and I "snooping" for our gifts! My parents were not that creative, especially as we got older, smarter and they ran out of places to hide gifts for 2 older kids in a a samll 3 bedroom apartment.lol I remember one year they hid our gifts under their bed! We would be on the floor squeezing, shaking, mauling the packages. I knew one was a stuffed snake for me (yipee)! (not a real stuffed snake, a stuffed animal)I think it was some sort of ugly green color, I forget, but I hated it! I think I also got a "Magnus Organ" so I was ok then! Funny how things sort of "jolt" a memory! Thanks, I'm missing my bro' as always this time of year and at least I got to smile~

You came up with a great escape though! Yes, you'll have to rewrap the gifts so they're not onto you too bad! Luckily I knew my kids would be rummaging through EVERYTHING if I left the house so I learned very early to put a lock on a closet door and keep everything in that locked closet!

I had to be very astute as well and I always managed to come up with an excuse one, year I said, Oh gosh Santa dropped some off here on his way, to hold, as he had an increase in families this year so he had to start early. He did however tell me that if my children were too sneaky he would make his drop off here while came to pick these up. LOL.. They so believed it and well, I had to do some re-wrapping and they never caught on. Too funny... Oh something else that one year my daughter secretly put on her Santa letter that she wanted a pretty dress to enjoy for New Years. So one year I told her we have to go shopping for a pretty dress, as I wanted her to look so nice for New Years, so she said oh no we can't as I told Santa that if he could not get me the special gift then I would love a nice dress. I told her why do we not help Santa out and go shopping for one this way Santa would know that some other little girl's family would not be able to afford to buy one therefore, he would be so happy to get it for that girl. ahahaha.. She was so happy and said, great so he will believe how good I have been and get me my special presents I asked for. My lame excuses always worked like charms. LOL

haha .... finally found out, had wanted to give a surprise but instead already known by your children. so that it becomes no longer surprising. but come on do not give a damn if it is in place how else would, and it can motivate you to hide something that will be provided for people on special days.

Oh my bounce,it's hard,yes,especially if we have to lie about it,lol! I guess I would do the same,I will re-wrap it so they wont think it's the same gift they saw. I suggest next year you tell them the truth about Santa anyway you said your kid is already 10yrs old now,I wonder why his friends are not telling him the truth about Santa,haha! See you around!

OK, I think that you can still pretend to be Santa for this year. But later, it is supposed that your children will finally know the truth. I prefer telling them the truth by myself directly reather that they get it theirselves. You should admit that you not only is their mother(or father??) but also their Santa Claus, doctor, teacher, etc. You should let them know you have many posts in your family. And so teach them their different responsibilities in the society but adopting the same thoughts.Maybe this time just tell them it is the gift for your friends! Good luck !