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AIBU?

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MIL wants to arrive 6AM Xmas day

702 replies

Countrybumpkin19 · 23/12/2025 18:53

My MIL lives on her own and close by.
The last couple of years she has arrived at our house at 6AM on Christmas day as she likes to see my DDs open their stockings. She has never asked me if that's ok (though presumably spoke to my husband about it). I find it far too much - I don't want to have to talk to any visitors at 6AM when I'm half asleep (least of all my MIL) and see it as an invasion of privacy. As far as I see it stocking opening is intimate family time and I feel she enroaches on this.
This year I sent her a really nice text message asking if it would be ok if she arrived at 9AM so that we have a little bit of time first thing to get ready and prepare for the day (I'm doing all the cooking/hosting). She is then welcome to spend the rest of the day with us. She is really upset by this message and my husband thinks I'm being unreasonable (it has opened up a big argument between us). AIBU?

OP posts:
BeforeSigourneyWeaverTheyWoveTheirOwnSigourneys · 23/12/2025 18:57

Yanbu at all, in fact, 9am would be a no go from me as well so you're being very reasonable.

Tell her you'll send her a video of some of the stocking unwrapping, and tell your husband if he wants to be with his mum at 6am he can go round to hers instead.

fiorentina · 23/12/2025 18:56

Her expectation to arrive at 6am is entirely unreasonable. If she was staying the night it’s slightly different, but there’s no need. Do all your kids presents go in their stocking? We used to have smaller Father Xmas gifts in stockings opened first and other presents later when guests may have arrived. Depends on your tradition? Would she get to see any present opening at 9am?