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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be cheesed of about wrapping paper?

152 replies

LuckyLopez · 07/12/2014 22:09

Yes yes I'm very ungrateful blah blah blah....

Relative has given a birthday present (via someone else) to ds1 fir tomorrow.

It's wrapped in Christmas paper. I think that's so rude and lazy.

Of course I won't say anything but I'm sure it wouldn't happen to anyone's birthday in another month of the year so I'm peeved on behalf of ds.

OP posts:
Honeydragon · 07/12/2014 22:25

UANBU, it is slightly annoying.

Plain Xmas paper (like the foil ones) fair enough it is a outs in Supermarkets to get birthday wrap and cards if you're in a hurry. But Xmas wrap just sends the vibe, your birthday was an annoyance in my Christmas preparations.

WidowWadman · 07/12/2014 22:25

YANBU. My daughter's birthday is close to Christmas, and it's important that it remains a separate thing which doesn't get subsumed by Christmas. I'd be just as cheesed off.

furcoatbigknickers · 07/12/2014 22:26

I agree, have 3 dcs with birthdays in nov/dec, its mean. Also any xmas related gifts, just no. That goes for easter eggs for my march born dd.

Original poster
LuckyLopez · 07/12/2014 22:26

He'll be 11 if that makes a difference. Plenty old enough to notice and care.

OP posts:
BeyondRepair · 07/12/2014 22:27

Also any xmas related gifts, just no. Grin

Oh dear looks like I have made a huge faux paux and I was so excited about the gifts too.

I just thought presents were presents and one should be happy to get anything?

WidowWadman · 07/12/2014 22:28

Assumption that the nephew would prefer Christmas over sparkly fairy paper is also slightly depressing. Why wouldn't he like fairies and sparkles?

TenMinutesEarly · 07/12/2014 22:28

Also old enough to realise that the paper goes in the bin and that it's the thought that counts.

Takesalongtime · 07/12/2014 22:28

My bday is Xmas eve & it may seem for those with birthdays not near Xmas ungrateful but it doesn't take a little thought to make a bit of extra effort. Yes it's very hard tk get bday cards in dec I know!! But it's not necessary to turn all to Xmas. My ds bday is near Xmas too & I make sure it's not at all Xmas related! Although he did request Santa on his bday cake!!!! So maybe more of an issue for adults than for kids!

Original poster
LuckyLopez · 07/12/2014 22:30

True. Just feeling Sad

Not sure why.

OP posts:
hugoagogo · 07/12/2014 22:30

YANBU

It's my birthday in a couple of weeks too.

This is lazy and poor manners.

Lovelydiscusfish · 07/12/2014 22:30

Oh, I do this too. Am aware it might annoy some recipients, but am v disorganised, so I just sort of risk it.

threepiecesuite · 07/12/2014 22:33

I'd be cheesed off.

It's my mum's birthday next week. She likes a nice card with a verse in, as mums do.
So I always try and get her one in Sept/Oct before all the nice birthday cards get shunted to a tiny shelf at the back of the shop.

WidowWadman · 07/12/2014 22:34

Why is it hard to get birthday cards in December? It's not as if they get discontinued, yes there's more Xmas stuff about, but all retailers that normally carry birthday cards still do it in December.

TenMinutesEarly · 07/12/2014 22:34

Don't let your ds see that you are annoyed, if he notices just say "well it only goes in the bin anyway". Prepare yourself that it is probably a Christmas jumper Grin

iwouldgoouttonight · 07/12/2014 22:35

I bloody hate having a December birthday and having birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper annoys me. Obviously I'm grateful to get the present, would never say anything to the giver, etc but December birthdays do tend to get subsumed into Christmas and you get less thought than normal.

My DS (summer birthday) had a birthday present wrapped up in newspaper because they'd not got wrapping paper. This is absolutely fine. As would be a plastic bag or a page out of Take a Break magazine. Christmas paper is not.

I realise, as does the OP I imagine, that is not that big a deal. But it is fecking annoying

Binkybix · 07/12/2014 22:44

YABU. I've had a June birthday present wrapped in Xmas paper before!

nic013 · 07/12/2014 22:48

I don't think it matters what paper or material the present is wrapped in. I wrap presents in whatever I like. Sometimes I make drawstring bags to put gifts in or sometimes plain paper with loads of ribbon. I also use Halloween or Christmas paper out of season. Beat to your own drum and don't be a slave to paper wrapping conventions.

Pasithea · 07/12/2014 22:49

This is why unless it's for very little people we have occasion neutral paper.

irregularegular · 07/12/2014 22:50

My DS had his 11th birthday at the beginning of November. One of his friends gave him a Christmas card - with Happy Birthday written inside. I just thought it was funny. They'd obviously had a minor card crisis and that was all they could put their hands' on - life's like that sometimes.

Chill.

IAmNotAPrincessIAmAKahleesi · 07/12/2014 22:57

YANBU

as others have said it wouldn't be acceptable at any other time of year so why for a December birthday? People with christmas birthdays already get the shitty end of the stick with 'joint' presents and few people being able to celebrate with them without rubbing it in by not even bothering to use birthday wrapping paper

hagarthorne · 07/12/2014 22:58

I give many lovely presents and I use Christmas paper all year round, often recycled, and anything else handy too. Including coloured magazines, customized packing paper, brown paper and string. I am not bad mannered. I am very sensible to be recycling so efficiently. If you want a planet left for your one year old to enjoy then I advise you to start doing the same.

QuickSilverFairy · 07/12/2014 23:00

My Christmas Day child get her presents wrapped in whatever I have on hand..up to and including aluminum foil.

mamasilla · 07/12/2014 23:02

I'm so glad you are not my friend OP!

BeyondRepair · 07/12/2014 23:04

I used old wall paper samples and off cuts to wrap one year.

I can see why you have noticed, and it did cross my mind when buying and wrapping these gifts...unless its from the childs father, or immediate family I would forget about it.

The person has gone to the effort of buying the thing and wrapping it

I talk as someone whose main relatives, dont go to any bother to buy my dc gifts at all....none Sad if we got a gift wrapped in loo roll it would be nice.

Fluffyears · 08/12/2014 01:30

My friend has a birthday less than a fortnight who're christmas. She couldn't give a shiny shit what her present I'd wrapped in and it's the thought that matters more to her. She recycles gift bags as well so I've had a christmas gift bag for my summer birthday and didn't care at all. It's not that people don't care but it's an d pensive time and there is wrapping readily available even if it is christmas stuff. I do try to buy Christmas wrapping paper that comes with three tolls where one is usually, plain gold, red or silver and use it as birthday wrap.