To wish people would play with their kids and not just sit and photograph them

[UndramaticPause]

I'm without my dc this Christmas so feeling pretty shit. But Facebook is winding me up. Endless streams of photos of children with their new toys, posing with each individual present.

Ffs let the kids just rip them open and play!

Aibu or a grinch to wish people would put the cameras down for one day?

Last year OP, I was you. No children on the big day and I was working too. I allowed FB to piss me off unnecessarily. In the end I reigned myself in, celebrated others happiness (and the fact I was earning double pay ) and have gone nuts over the children this year Big hugs to you.

Frankly I think your being condescending (I get that you're in a dark place and truly I'm sorry but that doesn't make it right to judge others)

You have no way of knowing how much time people at me spending with their children on top of photo time

I mean this as nicely as possible get your head put of your backside walk away from Facebook but importantly go and treat yourself or do something nice for yourself.... its horrible to feel bitter and down you deserve to treat yoursrld

woman i know puts photos constantly of her kids (two teens and a 10 year old). every nuance of unwrapping a present. blurred photos or in focus photos. her family live within a 3 mile radius and see the kids often.

i know that some people do do the photos thing for far flung family, but often i think it's a case of the more photos you put on facebook, the more fun you are having. (said sarcastically) empty vessels make the most noise

People have always taken loads of photos like this. We just never saw it before social media.

You're judging the entire family dynamic from their facebook posts?

I bet the op isn't a perfect parent herself

YABU - taking a photo and playing with your kids aren't mutually exclusive!

I put photos on of dcs when on days out etc as family and friends all over the world. But today There are none as I just have not had the time, I've only just opened my presents and sat down for a poo! I'm not a fan of the photos of piles of presents but each to their own.

But how will we have photos of Christmas day if we don't take photos?
I don't do FB so not incolved in that particular "show and tell" competition, but I see nothing wrong with taking photos.
In fact I'm quite annoyed I took none as my phone ran out of battery!

Ah well, sorry you are feeling lonely. Let me send you a big Christmas hug
[hug]

"Kids don't generally play with their presents until they've unwrapped them all."

Naught, not in my experience. We space out the unwrapping throughout the day, precisely because so often they want to go and play with something. In fact, there are still presents to be opened tomorrow.

(And we have taken some pictures of them opening their presents.)

YANBU in my opinion! My in-laws have posted lots of photos of my DC today, but spent not one single second actually playing or interacting with them in any way! Dutiful and generous relatives, giving gifts but no time.

u2 its been same here. the little ones have pile sof toys because they are younger so things cheaper.

the older ones smaller pile but cost as much/more. leading up to xmas i was feeling bad thinking thr kids have much more to open than the others. and my teens were saying its ok as theirs cost more. but
i was like a kid saying but thats not the point. hahaah. but they are all happy :)

I know it is ridiculous isn't it, what with it taking so long to fetch the box brownie, set up the tripod, get everyone to pose and stay still for ages - I don't know how anyone manages to do anything else on Christmas day when taking photos is such a laborious task....

.......oh for the day when someone invents a device which is always to hand, and can be picked up to snap a photo in seconds

Why are you posting this ignoring your kids?

Whoops just reread, you are without your kids today. Ignore me instead!

I do see where you're coming from, I take a heck of a lot of photos of my two and have thought in the past that while I'm trying to get them to smile or a non blurred photo I'm missing out in being a part of it and it must be frustrating sometimes for my 2 year old to be having my phone aimed at her so much.

Today though I took two of her with the presents one short video when she first saw the presents then nothing until 5pm tonight when I tried unsuccessfully to do a family selfie and I do feel like I've participated more and not been a by stander behind the camera, on the other hand I'm a bit peeved not to have more of a visual record of dd1's first Christmas.

Do you have kids OP, if so then maybe get off Facebook and play with them. Or just stop judging people maybe

RTFT

Dolly that's really fucking harsh and cruel given the OP

I can see both sides. I sat down this eve and had a flick through Facebook and loved seeing the pics of smiling children and grown ups with their new gifts. However the pics of santas been present piles and endless albums full of blurred pics opening presents is a bit ott and quite show offish imo.

I took a few pics today and wish I had got more but there's always tomorrow

I can't understand why you would have any thought other than "oh lovely, all my friends are having lovely Christmases"

Other than rampant insecurity.

NOT insecurity. Just adds to the sadness and envy of others who have their DC with them, when the OP doesn't and is feeling sad about it.

Yabu. I played with my kids loads yesterday but still took a few snaps of them to send to relatives who had sent them nice things. Taking pictures doesn't take all day