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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think hopefully we are not the only ones

55 replies

Dollymixtureyumyum · 24/12/2015 21:49

DH and I have just put the presents out for Ds who is 2 and a half.
We looked at them and then each other and both said "fuck"
We have gone totally overboard and made the mistake both buying stuff and even though we did tell the other what we had bought I didn't sink in how much we had
30 presents for a two year old plus a stocking. Would I be really mean to put some away for his birthday?

OP posts:
cariadlet · 24/12/2015 21:51

I wouldn't just put a couple away for his birthday - some of them would probably be ok for next Christmas. Just don't forget where you've hidden them!

lighteningirl · 24/12/2015 21:52

No at 2 he's only going to play with the boxes anyway

Gliblet · 24/12/2015 21:53

Sensible, not mean! DS is 3 this year but last Christmas, as a 2yo, he wanted to play, properly, with everything he unwrapped. Between presents from grandparents, aunties, uncles etc. (and trying to make sure he unwrapped stuff while the giver was there to see it) he didn't unwrap our present til about 10 minutes before bedtime and still had wrapped presents under the tree on boxing day.

wickedwaterwitch · 24/12/2015 21:53

Put away at least half of them, I would.

MoMoTy · 24/12/2015 21:55

Sounds like you both have totally missed the point about Christmas.
That's a crass amount of presents for a tiny child.

Sgtmajormummy · 24/12/2015 21:58

Very wise OP.

CheshireDing · 24/12/2015 21:58

30 !!!! We have a 2 year old and a 4 year old - they have 6 presents from Father Christmas each plus their stocking (which has 5 little things in). They will be super pleased with theirs.

30 will completely overwhelm and he will probably not end up opening them all (certainly not on Christmas Day anyway). Def put some away.

lighteningirl · 24/12/2015 21:59

Harsh judgemental and unnecessary MoMo

CryHavoc · 24/12/2015 22:04

Can you afford what you've bought? Will he have a lovely time opening and playing with the presents? Then don't panic. Put some away if you want to, but we've done this every year, and always laugh about how ridiculous we have been. It's Christmas, enjoy his face in the morning.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 24/12/2015 22:07

Wow! 30 is a lot. Surely you had an idea you'd bought too much?! Last year DD was 2. She took the first thing out of her stocking and refused to put it down. No interest in opening anything else. I'd seriously keep some back for birthday/ other occasions

BillBrysonsBeard · 24/12/2015 22:12

Hey it's easy to go overboard but you've realised now, put some away for his birthday Smile He is only 2, he will spend all day playing with a few.

I'm the opposite extreme- not got anything for my 20 month old! Other people have got him loads so I'm making the most of not spending anything before he becomes aware of it all.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 24/12/2015 22:12

If you think there are too many and that he'll be overwhelmed, then put a few away.

If you think he'll enjoy all of the presents, without being overwhelmed, then leave them all where they are.

There's no right or wrong IMO.

TimeToMuskUp · 24/12/2015 22:12

I do that exact same thing every year. DS2's birthday is the first week of Jan so I tend to put some aside for that, but the rest I just go with.

As an aside, I don't think having lots of presents means anyone has missed the point of Christmas at all. My DCs are well-versed in the sentiment and point and meaning of Christmas, and the act of giving. They're not spoiled or ungrateful, just fortunate to have lots of family and friends who make a big fuss of them. The two aren't mutually exclusive and to suggest they are is as crass as the behaviour you're judging Momo.

BatsUpMyNightie · 24/12/2015 22:13

Is this a stealth boast? It's somewhat lacking in the 'stealth' department and frankly in poor taste when anyone with even half a brain knows a lot - a LOT - of MN'ers and people in general are struggling this Christmas.
I don't care if this is harsh or judgemental - it's meant to be.

BarbarianMum · 24/12/2015 22:18

Well you can judge me as well then (retrospectively) as I did similar when ds1 was 3. They weren't really expensive (think Matchbox cars etc) but boy, were there a lot of them Blush

OP, I suggest you put half away for his birthday. When mine were small they could really only 'cope' with 3/4 gifts a day - more overwhelmed them. We used to unwrap a few each day b/w Christmas and New Year.

Merry Christmas!

987flowers · 24/12/2015 22:18

I often evaluate as I tend to buy throughout the year when things are on offer then decide what they have for Christmas and what gets saved for their birthday!

BeStrongAndCourageous · 24/12/2015 22:19

I am having the exact opposite problem. I'm so concerned about spooling the kids that I've been unnecessarily mean. DD, who is nearly 4, has a dozen, only four of which are actual toys (the rest clothes and books). DS only 4, including some books, but he's only 1 so that's less of a concern.

I'm so worried DD is going to be disappointed. The poor thing only had 4 things on her list and I only got her two of them. She's such a good girl, she deserves so much more. We're not even short of cash, we've could be afforded loads more. I've really let her down.

BeStrongAndCourageous · 24/12/2015 22:20

Spoiling the kids. Not spooling.

TartanBirdFeeder · 24/12/2015 22:21

I'd put half of them away for next year; just call yourselves super organised. Just remember where you have hidden them.

MizK · 24/12/2015 22:22

Ugh it isn't tasteless or boasts, the poster clearly had no intention of going so ott on gifts so is asking whether to put them away. The instinct of some posters to light into others so readily really is unpleasant and makes MN a less enjoyable place to be.

Yes OP, put some away so your little one cam enjoy the ones he gets rather than being overwhelmed by stuff.

Waltermittythesequel · 24/12/2015 22:24

I'd put at least half away simply because he won't enjoy that many.

Rowgtfc72 · 24/12/2015 22:24

We got quite a few for DD when she was that age. She cried after five! Stash them for his birthday.

x2boys · 24/12/2015 22:25

Ds1 has got about five big things but his main present is a laptop horses for courses really you could have thirty presents but they don't cost as much as one big one its his birthday on boxing day so we have to leave a few aside .

Coconutty · 24/12/2015 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZenNudist · 24/12/2015 22:29

Def store some for later.

I learned my lesson when ds1 was 2 that half the stuff didn't get opened on Christmas Day and lots never played with. I've given up with ds2 and he's getting token gifts so it doesn't look like santas forgotten him.

Still sat here feeling bit guilty about the 3 little pressies under the tree from Santa, ds2 is nearly 2. His big bro (5) has 5 but big. To be fair there are more presents in a bag actually from us, more again from my mum and then a tonne from in laws. I still wish I'd wrapped more in Santa paper for ds2.

Present anxiety - bit of a theme...