A mum-of-six has admits she doesn't let Father Christma s take credit for the presents she buys her children every year, and she puts them under the tree weeks before the big day.
Cheryl Cooper, 40, from Colchester, Essex, has spent £3,000 on gifts for her brood as well as family and friends but she hasn't finished shopping yet, and she doesn't hide them away until the night before Christmas.
Instead, Cheryl wraps her presents, then places them under the tree for weeks before December 25 - to avoid the little ones trying to find them. The mum-of-six, wants Lewis, 23, Mason, 21, Millie-Leigh, 17, Lacie-mae, 14, Cassius, six and Lennox-Bear, three, to know that both 'mum and dad' have worked hard to provide their gifts.
Cheryl told the Mirror : "I purely put presents under the tree as I have no space to store them and I have nosey little ones who would try to take a peek if not!
"If presents are wrapped and under the tree, they can't get to them.
"It works for me and also teaches my children that just because there are presents under there, it doesn't mean they're to be opened.
"They still need to be patient and wait for Christmas Day."
Cheryl believes it's an important lesson, especially when children are talking about what presents Santa brought them when they're in school.
She doesn't think it would be fair for one child to think Father Christmas had given them an extravagant present while another child may have received something of less value.
Instead, her kids know that mum and dad provide the 'bigger' gifts.
Cheryl, who has spent around £3,000 on all her Christmas presents so far, said: "I have always done this with all my children.
"I think we as parents need to remember that children are just children.
"They will go to school and talk about what Santa brought them and for one child to say, 'Santa got me an Xbox' and another child got a colouring book and pens doesn't sit right with me.
"So Santa brings my kids a Christmas Eve box and Christmas Eve presents which are all affordable presents.
"Then big presents are from mum and dad who have worked hard for their gifts and I think that is important for children to remember that mum and dad had to work hard for those big presents."
Cheryl, who is also nanny to 11-month-old Isla, says she appreciates that everyone is different but that she's had a great reaction from people on social media about her decision.
She shared a picture of her incredible new pink and gold decorations and most people commented on the presents under the tree.
She also revealed that most of her decorations, which she buys for around £200 each year, are from high street store B&M and she reuses old decorations around the house.
Cheryl said: "I love having all my family home for Christmas and the build up to the big day.
"I tend to buy new decs every year, this year I spent around £150-£200. I do revamp my old decs and trees though so they don't go to waste.
"I made an arch this year from last year's old tree and decorations and it takes me around four to five hours to put it all up.
"At the moment I've spent around £3,000 on gifts for everyone but I've not finished my Christmas shopping. It will probably take me around 6 hours to do all the wrapping."
One user commented: "Wow, that's a lot of presents!"
While another shared: "Tree looks great. I'd be worried about leaving my presents under the tree."
While another questioned: "Do your children not think Santa brings the presents?"
To which Cheryl replied: "I have never said Santa brings them these presents as I don't think it is right for them to go to school and say 'Santa brought me a bike' yet another child got a colouring book, Santa brings Xmas Eve present which is pjs and Xmas Eve box with small affordable gifts hope this answers your question hun."
Cheryl added: "I've not had bad responses from people on social media but everyone's that bit different and we're all in different situations, some might think there's not a lot and others might think it is.
"Everyone has had nice things to say about my tree and my reason for being under the tree.
"I'm looking forward to my children coming home and us all being together as we don't all live together.
"Christmas to me is 'it's who's around your tree on Christmas Day not what's under it'."
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