AIBU to want my kids to open their presents on Christmas Day?

[whatwouldaudreydo]

I LOVE Christmas! I start buying presents very early and very rarely pay full price on anything, so by Christmas I've usually spent about £300-£400 on each of my two DC, including stocking presents from Santa and tree presents from me.
(Not looking for judgment on spending level - each to their own I say, and I don't really buy them anything throughout the year, apart from a bit on birthdays.)

We'll be staying with my DPs for xmas. My brother, his partner and my niece are also coming on xmas day (they alternate between our DP and her DP so get 2 xmas days each year in effect). They have just spent a fair whack on my niece's birthday last week and also bought themselves a big ticket (6 grand) 'luxury' item a few months ago - don't want to out myself so staying vague if that's ok! With this in mind they decided they'd have a more 'frugal' xmas (again no judgements please, frugal means different things to different people) and have spent about £150 on my niece.

My dilemma is, my DB has asked that my DC are not given all their presents on Xmas day so as not to make their DC feel 'bad' she's not getting as much.

My argument is that it's not anything to do with me what they've chosen to spend their money on, it's none of their business how many presents my DC will be getting and I want my DC to open their presents on actual Xmas day in front of me, not Boxing Day, when they'll be with their dad for most the day.

Also, practicality-wise, I wrapped them all ages ago so have no idea what are the more expensive things, or what are the cheaper things in order to make sure that they'd have their 'main' presents on xmas day iyswim!

Apparently I'm now the selfish mean Aunty who'll be ruining xmas!

AIBU to think that I should be able to give my DC their presents at the same time I would on any other Xmas day and not comply with my DB's requirements just because they've cut down this year?

And when did this all get so bloody complicated....?!

Please be gentle with me, it's my first AIBU and I just want some different perspectives from non-family!

which everyone knows is done first thing and in the bedroom

Er. No. Our stocking are over our fireplace and usually get forgotten till last!

Haven't RTFT, but -

ask how many gifts your niece will be receiving. (Kids of age 6 work on a fairly simple "quantity" basis.)

If it's the same number as your kids, just of an overall lower cash value, hooray. Niece won't know if something cost £20 or £200 - not at that age - so you can carry on.

If your kids will be getting, say, 10 gifts each to your niece's 7 - tell your kids they get a big treat this year and can open one gift each on Christmas eve. (We always used to do this anyway.) Then I'm sure you can squeeze in the opening of two more gifts each in bed, or first thing upon coming downstairs.

You should bend a little here. I think my suggestion is win-win. Your kids will love it and you'll get to see their excited faces. Your brother will be grateful (or at least, not put out!).

Merry Christmas!

Sorry if I've missed this but how old are your DC? Do they have more boxes to open, as if you've 'only' spent more, kids often don't notice?

Yanbu at all.

This type of shite is exactly why I insist on staying at home every year, so we can do exactly what we want.

Me too tobysmum. Or on the odd occasion we have been elsewhere its always been later on. Present opening at home

He hasn't given you enough notice tell him
He does need to manage her expectations explaining all the presents she had last week and will get tomorrow etc.
Have lovely xmas