DC posing with their presents

[mumzuki]

Those pictures that people post, with a grinning child in front of all their birthday presents, carefully arranged - what's that about?

A) Look how lovable Harry is, in this bizarre materialistic world where stuff = love

B) This is how we're teaching Harry to brag about his possessions, because that's a healthy prop for his self esteem

C) We spent loads of money on Harry, which makes us better parents than you

D) Something else, that I'm too much of a cantankerous miserablist to get?

People tend to post things on social media to get some kind of validation. For example, posting a pic of their happy child with presents which family members and nice friends then like or comment on probably makes them feel good in some way.

It's kind of like the same validation that you have sought by posting your opinion on social media and looking for others to comment and agree with you. Ultimately OP you are bolstering your ego as much as your pal on facebook is bolstering hers.

I guess what bothers me is not so much what motivates the parents (although that baffles me), it's what message it gives the kids. I don't mean taking pictures of the kids opening gifts - we all (I think?) enjoy seeing our kids enjoy those occasions, and presents are part of that. It's the 'carefully arranged gifts, child with fixed smile, spotless living room' photo that seems so weird. And I don't unfriend them because these are people I like, and seeing their updates about the other fun and interesting stuff they're doing with their kids is great. So I guess that's also what bothers me - that my view of its weirdness would be equally weird to these friends. Anyway, I'm glad I'm not alone, although I do know it's none of my business what other people want to post!

For most children, what makes birthdays and Christmas exciting is that they get presents. Therefore it makes perfect sense that if you want to capture that, you take a photo of them with their presents.

D) Something else, that I'm too much of a cantankerous miserablist to get?

I think the fact that you think people are boasting probably does say something about how your own shortcomings. People who aren't boastful would see nothing wrong with these pictures, because that interpretation wouldn't really occur to them.

Don't mind the children/present pictures at all but I really dislike the adult equivalent ones...pictures of open boxes of jewellry or whatever gift they've had. Sorry but that's cringey.