PIL and Christmas

[MrsGaryKielhofner]

It's a Christmas and PIL one! Sorry!

Have two DC aged 7 and 5. This will be the first Christmas we have spent with PIL since DC1 was a small.

Today, MIL said that the plan is presents are to be opened just before lunch when SIL (child free) arrives. DH said he thought Santa's presents should be in the morning . MIL was unhappy and apparently expressed some concern about what time DC will get up. PIL are not early risers.

DH and I are planning on sticking to our guns and putting Santa's presents out when we go to bed. We will tell DC no earlier than 6.30 but then open presents.

So, is it unreasonable to do this or do others leave ALL presents to later in the day? Family presents will be done when SIL arrives.

Also, should we wait for PIL to get up if we do morning presents? If we do it will be after 7 and DC will be climbing the walls. (A pre 6am wake up isn't unusual on a normal day!)

Ours are opened in the morning but normally some time after 7am

Could you do stockings first thing and leave other presents till after 7/7.30am?

Dcs open stockings only first thing. Then we have coffee and breakfast and then open our presents (father Christmas only brings stocking and one present per child). Then mil pops in and dcs open her present. Then we go to my mother and all family presents are opened while we have bucks fizz and smoked salmon. Then lunch at 2-3ish.

Times when we have been elsewhere, the opening of stockings and one present has staved off the desperation. Also means it it done in stages rather than game show style panicked and indiscriminate unwrapping.

At age 7 and 5, your children are old enough to wait until a more reasonable time e.g 8am.

Stocking is opened at bout 7am. Rest of our presents at 9ish. Mil at 10ish. Family presents at my mum's at about 1ish.

It's bloody Christmas. PILsare grown-up, why do they even need to be 'concerned' about when their gcs get to do the thing they've been waiting for for weeks?

Why are some people such controlling nobbers where children are concerned?

After 7 is perfectly reasonable, and not before. I wouldn't keep them waiting until Sil arrived though, that would be a bit unfair.

DC have got one "big" gift from Santa each which was the one and only thing on their list . Stockings about 8 further gifts. We had planned to do these first thing.

I suppose 6.30 is early but we get up at 6 for work and DC often awake we may have lost perspective.

Our gifts to them which aren't v exciting (Santa gets the glory!) and PILs gifts will def be given when SIL
arrives.

Why is it 'reasonable' to wait? Truly truly don't get it. Whose benefit is it for?

Let them open the stockings at 6.30. If PIL want to see them doing so they can jolly well get up in time to watch. It's only one day in the year ffs!! They should be glad to get up and watch!!
But keep the "big" presents etc. until later.

Stockings opened first thing.

Anyone who expects a small child to wait in bed quietly for their presents Xmas morning is a wanker who needs a slap.

I say they get to tear into the Santa prezzies at daybreak! Sod hanging about till grandparents get up!
Come on! They're kids and have been waiting for the moment for weeks!

Wow.

We do presents after lunch.

DS opens his stocking from Santa when we first get up but we do the rest later. He's never minded waiting.

Or what cranberry said.
They are being self important dicks.

Let them get up at six and they can open their stockings in PILs bedroom. What GP wouldn't love that?
Or stay in your own home like any sane parent of young children.
6.30 is not at all unreasonable. I would consider my Christmas prayers answered if my dcs woke up then (ok, they are younger but still, I on't thonkit's that early, especially for kids on Christmas morning)

Ah yes.well put cranberry

Christmas is about the kids. Sod the PIL if they want to sleep in thats fine, but the kids will be up early opening presents.

Christ, I'd never make DD wait. She's usually up at about 5am on Xmas Day, although I've been known to accidentally tickle her at 6am because I was tired of waiting

She has stocking in bed (ours), eats her first chocolate by about 0530 and is downstairs by 6.

I love it and wouldn't stop her fun for anyone.

Open Santa's presents when they wake up. We have early risers too and 6.30 is a lie in here. Ask inlaws the night before if they want you to knock them up.

When my dgc stay at Christmas they pile onto our bed with their stockings [last year they were 9, 13 and 15!!!] and we open them together Dgs aged 15 arrived at 7am with mugs of tea and we had a great time. Then they went in to their parents and we all got up at 8.30 for presents after breakfast :)

Seriously wait for Santa's presents until after lunch? There's no way I'd make my children wait until after lunch to open their stuff, it's one day a year where they get their hearts desire.
As kids my Mum and Dad were just getting to bed and we were in the room asking if it was time to get up, once it got to about 6am we were up and off to see what Santa had brought us, It's Christmas...

I don't see what difference it makes to them tbh? If they want to be part of it then get up, if it's too early for them then don't if it's how you normally do it.

I agree it sounds nice to do stockings first etc and wait, but for me xmas morning is about kids. Whilst it's good to teach kids patience/compromise I think it's ok to revolve things around them sometimes and not the adults.

Let the DCs get up andvopen them. If the PIL can't be arsed to get up early for one day, to see their Grandchildrens delight then fuck them.

I'm making ours wait till 8:30pm till my parents arrive but no later.....I certainly wouldn't wait until your SIL arrives. Your ILs should be able (and willing) to get up early one bloody day.