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!)

Could you add something like a comic, puzzle book or DVD to the stockings so if they open them first before pil wake up, there is enough for them to do in them for an hour or two until pil wake up then they open santa's present in the morning once they are awake and then undo pil/sil presents once sil arrives.

I agree that it's unfair to change what you do, especially at this age! However, I wonder if this would show a lot of compromise on your side and would still let your dc get lots of early presents... And you could then use as a bargaining chip later when you need them to compromise!

No one is saying they have to have every prezzie first thing - just the Santa loot.
We stagger gifts too.
It goes like this for us...

First thing - Santa loot.
Daytime - Granny and Uncle gifts after Christmas dinner.
Evening - Gifts from under the tree.

That's our way - people will do it however they like, and unless they are forcing it on someone else's Christmas, it's grand.

Part of the excitement of Christmas is getting up early to open presents! Maybe your children could open some Santa presents then and the ones from the PILs later.

This is crazy! Let the kids open the presents whenever they want - they have been waiting ages on Christmas to come and now have to wait until the bingo bus wakes up!!! Talk about giving kids amo for not "liking " granny ......

4-5 am I used to pull my sister out by her ankles saying "he's been!" We used to go into the lounge and open our FC sacks, parents were welcome to come and help if they wanted! We used to put on cartoons on the video and eat chocolate at a completely unsuitable hour. Duvets used to come too. Hot chocolate etc until you felt thoroughly sick. Gran used to get up to be shown what the great man had brought us! Then we'd get up properly and get dressed and feed the animals, muck out etc. Christmas ride on pony sometimes for me - sister wasn't interested, then back in and aunties and cousins would visit about 10am to exchange gifts. Shower before lunch and get dressed in proper smart Christmas clothes. Pub for a drink where all the kids would show one pressie that FC had brought. Lunch was at 2 ish and we'd watch the Queen at 3 while finishing. Everyone would help clear up, no other presents until cleared, Mum's rule. Back out to bring in the animals feed and bed down, then veg out doing family presents and watching telly afterwards completely exhausted

As above - I intend to have the same relaxed attitude with my DC as soon as she is old enough! My DM was saying the other day how she was looking forward to FC at 4 am again!