Christmas: How to make a mountain out of a molehill

DoubleHardBastard · 26/12/2025 12:23

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:13

Hoping to hear some more light-hearted Christmas 'problems' as I sit here clockwatching waiting for my brother-in-law to come home so we can finally open presents!

We used to do it in the morning like most people, but then BIL got a gf (how unreasonable of him) and now he spends Christmas morning with her and her mum, meaning the presents are sitting there, unopened and waiting to be unwrapped, until 3pm at the earliest 😭. I know I'm being U and I'm an adult and all, but I am an impatient adult and I think I'm regressing back into a 5-year-old.

I want to know what DH got me as well because there are four presents there from him and he normally only gets me one or two so this is intriguing.

What did DH get you, OP?

Original poster

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 15:54

Skybluepinky · 25/12/2025 15:39

I doubt he is interested in watching you unwrap your presents no idea why you are bothering to wait, just open your presents.

He is actually interested though, we love doing this together 😅 it's part of the magic for us. If he wasn't bothered it would be different.

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Skybluepinky · 25/12/2025 15:39

I doubt he is interested in watching you unwrap your presents no idea why you are bothering to wait, just open your presents.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 25/12/2025 15:29

ChannelLightVessel · 25/12/2025 13:42

At DB’s house, and my oldest niece and her girlfriend are wearing matching outfits. They bought each other about 900 presents, many of which were identical. They are currently sitting under a ‘Hello Kitty’ blanket together. I find it amusing - I just hope I wasn’t so bad in my first serious relationship - but I think it’s pissing off younger niece and my DD (who has ASD, and doesn’t like PDAs) somewhat.

Urgg are they very young? Shades of loves young dream, blinded to reality! aww as long as they’re enjoying their totally wrapped up in selves time, and hopefully move on soon!! (Not at all jaded and jealous here…😆)

Howardyoudo · 25/12/2025 15:17

Sounds like you are all kids. What a bizarre tradition. Just open them!

ThisElatedShark · 25/12/2025 15:15

Wait. I’m a northerner living in the south and my DP told me no one opens Christmas presents until the evening here. Is he talking 💩?!

Silvertulips · 25/12/2025 15:11

DD moved out this year and came round mid morning.

She opened presents at her house and then came here.

We didn’t open the gifts from her, we waited but others are fair game!

Original poster

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 14:55

He's here! I could never do it without everyone here, especially because I'm not the host and so it isn't even up to me. Anyway, the wait is over 😆

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SpinningaCompass · 25/12/2025 14:38

ChronicallyMum · 25/12/2025 13:18

Why are you waiting on them? Just open your presents if you want to.

Im slightly miffed that it’s sunny. The first time I’ve seen blue sky and sunshine in probably 2 months, I wanted snow or rain or even the standard miserable overcastness would have been fine but it’s bloody sunny. The only reminder that it’s winter outside is the fact that it’s -2*c.

Same

Just open them.

And I told my husband that it looks like spring: sunny and green, not Christmas-y at all.

Tooty78 · 25/12/2025 14:14

ChronicallyMum · 25/12/2025 13:18

Why are you waiting on them? Just open your presents if you want to.

Im slightly miffed that it’s sunny. The first time I’ve seen blue sky and sunshine in probably 2 months, I wanted snow or rain or even the standard miserable overcastness would have been fine but it’s bloody sunny. The only reminder that it’s winter outside is the fact that it’s -2*c.

I also dislike it being sunny on Christmas Day, its so much cosier when its dull and overcast. A bonus is that the Christmas lights look better, more twinklier!

Anywherebuthere · 25/12/2025 14:11

YABU to be waiting until then.

BadgernTheGarden · 25/12/2025 14:08

Open yours in the morning open his when he gets there, simple.

GarlicRound · 25/12/2025 14:06

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:36

I didn't actually know this wasn't the done thing! I thought everyone opens presents together simultaneously. Shows what I know!

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Always been the done thing in my households, OP. Only an hour to go! ⏱

H0ldmybeer · 25/12/2025 14:03

Traditions evolve - his obviously have!
Open your presents

nutbrownhare15 · 25/12/2025 14:02

I'm not sure why you would need to wait for your brother to open presents from your DH

yeesh · 25/12/2025 13:59

So odd. Just crack on 🎁🎄

AngelinaFibres · 25/12/2025 13:50

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:36

I didn't actually know this wasn't the done thing! I thought everyone opens presents together simultaneously. Shows what I know!

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Absolutely batshit. He's got a girlfriend and is going somewhere else ( for however long he chooses presumably) first and you are putting your enjoyment on hold until he decides to rock up. He'll have opened presents from his girlfriend and from her mum already and you are all just sitting there letting someone else dictate your day.Just open them. Anyone who comes later can open theirs when they arrive.

Original poster

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:46

Littletreefrog · 25/12/2025 13:43

Well yes the people who are in the house. We wouldn't open presents until everyone is downstairs in the morning but if someone isn't arriving until after lunch we wouldn't wait. Would you wait if he wasn't coming until the evening? Or tomorrow?

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That wouldn't happen! He cares a lot and always arrives at the same time each year, he's not wishy-washy about it at all. I'm just impatient and I've been staring at this mountain of presents all morning! His GFs mum is very old and would otherwise be alone, so this way he gets to spend time with them whilst not missing out on Christmas with us. I try to sleep in, but my dog woke me at 8.30am so that plan failed.

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Littletreefrog · 25/12/2025 13:43

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:36

I didn't actually know this wasn't the done thing! I thought everyone opens presents together simultaneously. Shows what I know!

Show quote history

Well yes the people who are in the house. We wouldn't open presents until everyone is downstairs in the morning but if someone isn't arriving until after lunch we wouldn't wait. Would you wait if he wasn't coming until the evening? Or tomorrow?

ChannelLightVessel · 25/12/2025 13:42

At DB’s house, and my oldest niece and her girlfriend are wearing matching outfits. They bought each other about 900 presents, many of which were identical. They are currently sitting under a ‘Hello Kitty’ blanket together. I find it amusing - I just hope I wasn’t so bad in my first serious relationship - but I think it’s pissing off younger niece and my DD (who has ASD, and doesn’t like PDAs) somewhat.

TigerRag · 25/12/2025 13:42

Bizarre. My sister and her DH are visiting Saturday. I've opened my presents from my brother and parents

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 25/12/2025 13:41

blankcanvas3 · 25/12/2025 13:25

My BIL has bought my 3 year old A DRUM KIT!!!!!!! I am deaf and it’s only been an hour. I’m going to poison his beer I think

This is actually an open declaration of war. No sane person does that to their own relatives. He's be getting horse poo in a box for his own birthday for about ten years.

gamerchick · 25/12/2025 13:39

Traditions change. He obviously doesn't care about it.

Send him a message, tell him you're all opening in half an hour whether he's there or not. You can still do it amongst yourselves.

Original poster

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:36

Radiosn · 25/12/2025 13:31

Not a chance I would entertain such bullshit.
No way would I be waiting.
How absolutely narcissistic to expect the house to wait.
Messed up.

I didn't actually know this wasn't the done thing! I thought everyone opens presents together simultaneously. Shows what I know!

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Original poster

Crimbocracker · 25/12/2025 13:35

ChronicallyMum · 25/12/2025 13:18

Why are you waiting on them? Just open your presents if you want to.

Im slightly miffed that it’s sunny. The first time I’ve seen blue sky and sunshine in probably 2 months, I wanted snow or rain or even the standard miserable overcastness would have been fine but it’s bloody sunny. The only reminder that it’s winter outside is the fact that it’s -2*c.

We make an entire thing if it where people fetch a present from under the tree and give it to the recipient, and then we all open them, it's part of our Christmas traditions so I couldn't picture doing it any other way. In our family it would be like having Christmas dinner without him. As I said, this isn't some major issue, but it's low-key so annoying!

Yes, I also wish it was more miserable out. SIL just threatened me with a nice walk outside, so I'm hiding in a different room with a mug of Bailey's 😅

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