Mil opened presents with toddler while I was at work

I think it was a dick move but this is MN where noone's allowed to care about anything ever so I imagine I'll be a minority!

If she’s going to be there Christmas morning she could of waited.

When did your toddler turn 1? I have an 18 month old who I know won’t care about opening presents and will be more interested in the wrapping paper/ boxes so if it makes you feel any better you probably didn’t miss out on much excitement (maybe different if they are closer to 2).

I think you’re being unreasonable as MIL had bought the presents. It’s not like she came round and opened presents other people had bought. I wouldn’t be annoyed, you’ll get to see her open loads tomorrow :)
Re Santa, I always hid most presents until arranging them near the tree when they were in bed on Xmas eve, filled up their stockings and labelled one extra gift from Santa. It’s worth bearing in mind that some people won’t be able to afford much or anything to give from Santa and kids talk at school :(. Totally irrelevant but thought I’d add it on as some people say Santa brings all the presents 🤷🏻‍♀️

I much prefer Santa. It's not American, it's Dutch, and been used in the UK since medieval times so pre-dates America.

Also much easier for little kids to say and dyslexics to write.

Don't sweat the small stuff OP !! In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter and will have given your MIL a great deal of pleasure too -

I don’t think you are being unreasonable, especially as MIL is around tomorrow. What if you don’t want DD opening any presents until Christmas morning? Did she check with DH beforehand? I don’t let my DS open any presents until Christmas Day and would be pissed off if a family member gave him presents to open on Christmas Eve.

YABU

It's regional. Your region of England isn't the entirety of non-american English speaking world, and aren't automatically more traditional than the rest of ours.

I agree. In any case, if the little girl has only had one birthday she won't have bought into the Santa myth anyway.

I’d be pissed off given she’s there in the morning too. This is your child, not hers. DH should have stopped her.

Make sure DD opens her other presents before MIL gets there tomorrow.

Maybe open a couple of presents with toddler before she gets there?

Haven't RTWFT but I don't think you are unreasonable, after a day at work, to feel a little deflated and left out and disappointed to have missed your DC opening her first Christmas presents this year. It's just a bit immature on the part of your MIL to have done that and DH and then I don't like the gaslighting about you making a fuss about nothing.

Things like this can easily be overcome by someone admitting that they've been a bit thoughtless and understanding why you feel like you do, simply saying sorry and trying to make it up in some small way: it really is that simple. But if they're not willing to meet you halfway, it's just crap.
But, the important bit is that won't make Christmas with your DC tomorrow any less wonderful, I hope you enjoy it very much.
And I would definitely have DC open all their presents on my bed first thing in the morning without MIL.

MIL was being spiteful. She had her turn when DH was a child. She should have waited until Christmas Day to open presents.

Just to add - as I am a MIL and if I had opened presents with my GC without my DIL being there - I would suspect that would be the end of our relationship.

I’d be annoyed but let it go. Santa brings all of the presents here but she’s young so will soon forget for next year.

I’d say you are being unreasonable, we spread our gifts out a few days before from family so that my toddler isn’t overwhelmed by all the gifts at once and it also gives her a chance to appreciate each gift !

Granny will be there tomorrow morning.

What a fuss.

None of this stuff matters this much.

Such rigid rules around Christmas and gifts is just so unnecessary.

People need to relax and enjoy themselves rather than getting caught up in pettiness. Words like ‘hijack’ and ‘steal’?! This wouldn’t have bothered me a tiny bit when the kids were young.

After reading your first post I thought you were being a bit unreasonable, as I assumed this was the only time MIL would be seeing her granddaughter over Christmas, so thought of course she should get to see her open the prezzies she’s bought, and it’s not her fault you weren’t there.

But after realising she’s coming back tomorrow, I now think MIL has been weird. Why couldn’t she just wait until tomorrow? I find that really bizzare I’d I’m honest. Like fine if she wanted to pop round and visit today, bur was there any need for her to do gifts? Why couldn’t she just wait until tomorrow? She’s being odd.

I don't think you are being unreasonable. If your MIL will be at your house tomorrow morning, why on earth did they let your DC open their presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, particularly as you weren't there to see her?

I would let it go as in not have a big fight about it, but definitely make sure she knows for next year, all presents will wait til Xmas morning to be opened, no matter how impatient the MIL feels about wanting to give them early. Your house, your rules. In fact I would wait til next year, just before she arrives, to assert this.

There was a thread about this a few weeks ago.

To me, growing up, he was always Father Christmas. But a number of posters pointed out that it's not just an American thing; he's always been Santa in Ireland and Scotland too.

YANBU. I would be absolutely furious.

I don’t get why Father Christmas is called “Santa”
Father Christmas is more traditional- Santa sounds so Americanised.