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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Fluffyears · 08/12/2014 01:30

Ah fat thumbs....

TheNewStatesman · 08/12/2014 02:23

People run out of paper at the last minute, have busy lives with too much to do and so on. I'm pretty sure I've given birthday gifts in Xmassy paper and vice versa.

I think you are being very unreasonable, sorry.

Bulbasaur · 08/12/2014 02:48

Pssh.. I just re-use old gift bags for everyone's birthday gifts. Honestly, I think it's pointless to spend money on something that's going to be ripped and thrown away. Same with cards that will be tossed or thrown in a box and forgotten about.

My brother to date has gotten his birthday gifts in bags that said "Happy Anniversary", "Congratulations", "It's a girl!", "Merry Christmas!". Actually, I sort of go out of my way to find bags that match the least now, as it's become a bit of an ongoing joke. I've tried finding "My condolences" bags at stores, but apparently funeral gifts aren't the done thing.

I try my best to match family and friends to the occasion, but since I've had a baby, it's a lot of baby gift bags for everyone. They'll never remember the paper anyway, the gift is what matters.

I do buy Christmas paper though. I like seeing all the pretty boxes under the tree and making a mess Christmas morning. :)

Thumbnutstwitchingonanopenfire · 08/12/2014 03:25

No I'm with you on this. DS1's birthday is early December, and when I was wrapping his presents I had a headsmack moment when I realised I was inundated with Christmas paper but not enough birthday paper to do different wrapping for the presents from different people (I live in a different country from my family so usually wrap present from my Dad, sister and DS's godmother in different paper to each other and us).

I managed to find enough to do 3 different types though so presents from my Dad and my sister were wrapped in the same paper. At no point did I think "oh it's ok I'll just use Christmas paper". It's hard enough making a birthday in December separate from Christmas as it is!

I do appreciate that some people don't have the extra cash for birthday paper, but tbh I'd sooner it was wrapped in newspaper or even given in a plastic bag than wrapped in Christmas paper for his birthday.

Original poster

LuckyLopez · 08/12/2014 04:05

In response to a couple of the replies, again HE'S NOT TURNING 1 HE'LL BE 11.
And it is a 'main relative'. (Though not Mil!)
I sort of get that it doesn't bother some people but they should also get that it does bother some people. He's a child, my PFB

OP posts:

RubySparks · 08/12/2014 04:16

For those saying it's the thought that counts, well isn't that the problem? The thought seems to be, that will do rather than making any effort, effort that would be made for those with birthdays not near Christmas. So the message is you don't matter (as much as others).

KoalaDownUnder · 08/12/2014 04:28

No, the message is not 'you don't matter (as much as others)'. Why do people insist on reading 'messages' into random, trivial acts?

as others have said it wouldn't be acceptable at any other time of year so why for a December birthday?

I think it is acceptable, though. My birthday is in October, and I couldn't care less if the present was wrapped in Christmas paper. I'd just think, oh, how funny, that person had no birthday paper to hand so they used Christmas paper, ha ha'. And move on with my life.

This is such a petty reaction to someone who cared enough to give you a present, honestly.

waithorse · 08/12/2014 04:33

My dd has a beginning of Feb birthday. He often gets gifts in Christmas paper. He loves it. I couldn't care less. We are both grateful for the present.

KoalaDownUnder · 08/12/2014 04:34

...and this...how do you expect people to know this?

I'm sure there are people who would say, 'Oh, they could have at least wrapped my present in something, not just left it in the bag, how lazy and rude!'

It's this kind of nit-picking that takes all the joy out of giving and receiving presents, IMO.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 08/12/2014 04:58

It's my birthday in December and I really don't care.

As a child I got very confused though, if the elves wrapped the presents for Santa how did I get Christmas wrapping.

December is a busy month and I appreciate anyone that goes out of thier way for me.

EugenesAxe · 08/12/2014 05:20

I can see why people think YABU but I have two close relatives with birthdays near Christmas and unless I am getting them one big present for both occasions, I always make a point of differentiating.

Thumbnutstwitchingonanopenfire · 08/12/2014 05:25

Yeah well LUCKILY for me no one else has to worry as I have to wrap ALL his presents apart from the ones from MIL, so it really isn't that much of an issue.

FixItUpChappie · 08/12/2014 05:56

This has to be one of the most trivial things I've ever heard of people being irked about.

Who cares if it's a bit lazy of the giver? They went to the effort of buying you a gift and wrapped it with whatever was on hand......your not the sodding queen are you that your standards are so lofty?

WhereHas1999DissappearedToo · 08/12/2014 06:03

YANBU.

JeanSeberg · 08/12/2014 06:32

but they should also get that it does bother some people

Any child of mine who even raised an eyebrow over wrapping paper would be given very short shrift.

Whippet81 · 08/12/2014 06:33

Just be thankful his birthday isn't in January like mine and my mums - we get all the tat people didn't want at Christmas.

Ungrateful yes but when you put thought in to presents all year it grates rather to get a Boots 3 for 2 re-wrapped. It is really obvious.

My mum has a friend with a Christmas Day birthday and she always buys her a separate card and present and puts it in birthday paper - it really used to upset her as a child to have 'Happy Birthday and Christmas'.

You won't get any sympathy on here however as you're meant to be grateful for the crumbs out someone's toaster.

YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx · 08/12/2014 06:40

I think it is dickish and lazy. Christmas birthdays shouldn't be treated differently to any other birthdays IMO. It just makes me think that they took one pressie out of the pile of stuff that was meant as Christmas gifts, and gave it to someone a few days early, whether this is the case or not.

You won't get any sympathy on here however as you're meant to be grateful for the crumbs out someone's toaster.

^^ This.

LadyLuck10 · 08/12/2014 06:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

sandgrown · 08/12/2014 06:46

Have used fairly neutral Christmas wrapping paper mid year if I have forgotten to buy paper or been skint but only for close family who won't hold it against me!

Original poster

LuckyLopez · 08/12/2014 06:53

Ha you can tell all the lazy present givers who've come on and says Im whinging and pathetic. You're probably the people who do this sort of thing. It's lazy. Card shops sell paper, you just pick it up at the same time.

We get this person gifts too so I don't feel their doing anything out of the ordinary. I might wrap their June birthday gift in Christmas paper- she'd be bound to comment on it.

OP posts:

chilephilly · 08/12/2014 06:55

He's very lucky to receive a present, regardless of what it may be wrapped in.
I give and receive presents wrapped in Christmas paper. No big deal.
YABU. I'd be gently suggesting you might like to fuck off, I'm afraid.

BlueberryWafer · 08/12/2014 06:55

My DP's birthday was a couple of days ago. I wrapped his presents in Christmas paper. YABU - it is wrapping paper, it gets thrown away. Why waste money on buying more when you have loads of Christmas paper?! If anyone moaned at me for using Christmas paper it would be wrapped in newspaper next time!

musicalendorphins2 · 08/12/2014 06:58

They could have forgotten gift wrap until the last minute, like I have often done. I usually have some coloured and white tissue papers for gift bags, so have used that in a pinch. The worse paper I used was dark blue and green tartan for a little girl's bd present. I bought the wrong size bag and being me, waited until her dad was on his way over to wrap it. Luckily, her mum likes me and didn't bat an eye.

YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx · 08/12/2014 07:02

That is a good point. If somebodies birthday present was wrapped in Christmas paper in June it would be definitely be rude and stingey- looking. What is the difference near Christmas?

It isn't so much about the paper. It is the message that it says- 'I don't care enough to make that much effort,' and 'Your birthday is a burden for me, this will have to do because Christmas prevails and trumps all'

YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx · 08/12/2014 07:06

I have a designated place where I keep my assortment of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons etc, a bit like Monica from Friends

I like to add streamers and glitter where possible, so people who do half-ass wrapping are alien to me haha

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