To not understand how not only does she not have ANY of her kids presents by now never mind have wrapped them.....

[SophieU]

One of my very close friends has a friend, who I see occasionally when we all meet up for coffee or lunch, we aren't close or anything. She has posted on Facebook this morning that she hasn't wrapped any presents, each to their own and all that but I asked her why, and she said that none of them have arrived yet! Aibu to think that by Christmas Eve eve if you want to call it that, that most people would have all of their presents bought or maybe just a few last minute bits to get? I cannot believe how unorganised she is considering she has five children to buy for, I'd be seriously pooping myself now if I hadn't had bought a single thing or had them here to wrap.

When DS1 was 3 we didn't do any Xmas shopping until Xmas Eve.
We were utterly skint and had to wait for payday.

We rushed in to town, got all the presents, then to tesco for the food shopping. We were home and wrapping things by 3pm, feet up at 5.

There's really no need for the rush.

Yes I can understand that not everyone is well off (me included) and may have to wait until the last minute to buy gifts but for the three or so years I've know this person, she has done this every christmas. She doesn't work and is a single parent but she gets a lot of maintnece from the kids father plus benefits, so the money is there, she just doesn't seem to be that bothered about Christmas.

For some people Christmas isn't a massive deal. So what?

Well there's no law that says you have to be bothered about Christmas. Sounds like she has got presents and she still has two days.

Maybe she gets good last minute bargains?

Sounds like a clear case of none of anyone else's business to me; if she's done it for three years then it works for her. YABU.

So she does what suits her. Why does it bother you?
And if you're not a close friend how do you know her financial circumstances?

I've got presents but not wrapped yet as DH working until tomorrow and kids always around. I will send him off with them tomorrow while I do a frantic wrap. If she's not bothered you shouldn't be.

It is Christmas Eve tomorrow

I don't know all the ins and outs, only what she has told me and our mutual friend. Last minute shopping may be the way some people like to do it but to me it's not just about that. She has five kids and instead of giving it a bit of careful thought about what each of them would like she instead panic buys at the last minute and is spending Christmas Eve tomorrow hitting the shops instead of spending the day with her kids, I think it's kind of sad.

Nothing wrong with having presents but not having them wrapped but to not have a single present in the house for each of your five children in my opinion is terrible.

Oh for goodness sakes, of course it isn't terrible.

The children don't know or care when the presents were bought!

I'm a Christmas Eve shopper myself

why would she care what you think? It's her Christmas. Concentrate on your own.

You are very judgemental

Oh who cares?

So you'd leave it until Christmas Eve to buy all of your presents for five children? If she gets them say 10 things each that's a hell of a bloody shop and she'd spend God knows how long wrapping, I just don't understand how anyone can be so aloof.

Usually I'm not but Christmas is important isn't it? Now I know that for all people Christmas has a different meaning but for kids I'm sorry it's about the presents and I just don't see how she will pull this off now with less than 48 hours to go so I do feel a little sorry for her kids.

She's not being aloof, she's just a bit disorganised and relaxed about it.
Why do you think that worries you so much? Are you mega organised and stressed? Have a and a sit down.
It's the sort if thing I'd say rather than go through everything I'd bought and join in all the 'oh my days I've done so much and I've so much to do still!' drama.

I just can't get over this interest in someone else's business. It's not as if there's a safeguarding issue here.

Why are you even giving this headspace? You think Christmas is very important, and that for kids it's "all about the presents". Her kids are getting presents, she has a wrapping schedule that works for her.
And none of this has anything to do with you. How can there possibly be a problem?

Oh God the non - judgmental types are in. If you met this woman in RL every single one of you would raise an eyebrow and you know it!

And as for "spending the day with her kids" what about those bad, bad parents who work on Christmas Eve? It's a normal working day.