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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Looks shit right?!

159 replies

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 18/12/2016 00:06

We just did the bulk of our wrapping and DH wants to leave the stuff for our girls under the tree...

Our DD's are 3 & 6 and totally believe in Santa. I've kind of perpetuated the myth in our house that Santa brings the stuff on your list so they just ask for one or two things. That's in separate wrapping, hidden in a cupboard. (Hatchimal x 2, Lolly maker and paints!)

This is (pretty much) everything else.

My worry is.... it doesn't look impressive anyway... but it's going to look even less impressive Christmas morning when we just add the four Santa presents to it.

Don't you think we should keep it all locked away until Christmas Eve / morning reveal?

(In our defence we have given the best stuff to my mum! As we're going there for family Christmas morning straight after and they need stuff there! Still not loads though!)

DH thinks I'm being ridiculous and we should leave it there. I'm thinking he can't be fucked to carry it upstairs and doesn't care that it's the first year our three year old has cared about Christmas! Hmm

I'll go with the majority !

OP posts:
ExcellentWorkThereMary · 18/12/2016 11:47

it's really interesting seeing how different people do Christmas but it annoys me greatly when people think their way is the only way and use phrases like "no brainer" about a certain way to do something. I have a brain, and I use it to make different decisions to you! Christmas goes down just fine in my house, thank you!

Craigie · 19/12/2016 17:38

Hide it all. It's more exciting for the kids, whoever brought it!!

shillwheeler · 19/12/2016 17:52

I would hide them. I agree with the Santa magic when they are little. That said, now Boy is older, organising the presents under the tree has become a bog thing. It's a little OCD, but the presents are all arranged in small groups depending on the intended recipient.

Yes, it is interesting to see all the different approaches.

And your tree and presents look lovely.

shillwheeler · 19/12/2016 17:53

Sorry "big" thing, not bog, obviously.

Confusednotcom · 19/12/2016 17:54

Definitely hide them all. Then Christmas morning is the big reveal.

BayaGoji · 19/12/2016 17:56

Looks nice to me.

notangelinajolie · 19/12/2016 17:56

Noooooo! Never put presents under the tree, that is Santa's job Xmas Smile

Stillnotslept · 19/12/2016 17:57

I just pop the ones from friends under the tree and then all the rest Father Christmas brings. Even as an adult I love having the excitement of seeing the gifts first on Christmas morning . I'd guess what they were and probably feel disappointed if they were out before hand.

Nipperknight · 19/12/2016 18:02

My presents are wrapped and under the tree. I love it. The kids were interested the first hour or two but now they haven't given them a second glance.

Father Christmas delivers their stockings to the foot of their bed.

I'd say leave the gifts under the tree.

ChocChocPorridge · 19/12/2016 18:03

We've put all the family ones under the tree, along with some stuff from us - but in our house it's mainly emphasised that Santa brings the stockings (which will be stuffed with enough chocolate and tat to keep them amused for enough time for DP and I to get coffee in us hopefully!)

Santa will bring the two big ones which we haven't put out yet, and we'll just point out which ones those are (and wrap them in different paper)

Mine are 3 and 6 too, and that'll satisfy them - they want to believe, so it really won't take much - besides, I want some glory from some of the pressies, and I like building the excitment by letting them see them under the tree for a week - luckily mine can be trusted not to touch

MoneyPit2016 · 19/12/2016 18:05

I can't really compare - have a dog that looooves to unwrap presents (thinks they're all his, it's our own fault) so they only appear on Christmas morning under strict supervision!

Nipperknight · 19/12/2016 18:06

Thebookswere

I'm with you. I have a 10mnth old crawling about not interested in the presents under the tree.

Interesting how different everyone is. I prefer leaving the gifts out it makes the tree seem complete to me.

CoraPirbright · 19/12/2016 18:07

Nooooooo!! Put them all away - nothing beats that "ta-dah" moment on Christmas morning when there are suddenly lots of pressies under the tree.

Nice tree, btw.

FoofFighter · 19/12/2016 18:07

Sandra Grin

HardcoreLadyType · 19/12/2016 18:11

When I was little, we used to leave presents under the tree, and then FC would bring the "main" present, and our stocking presents, and leave them them there, too.

But with our DC, we put all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve, but their stockings at the end of their beds (which doesn't work brilliantly, now they are 17, 15 and 12, and quite often still awake when we sneak in).

Marymoosmum14 · 19/12/2016 18:19

Never mind the amount they look lovely but leaving them under the tree is just a serious temptation.

cometprancerdancer · 19/12/2016 18:26

We always put all the presents out when kids go to bed on Christmas Eve. They are usually totally shocked on Christmas Day. Adds to the fun I think

Purplealienpuke · 19/12/2016 19:48

Monkeywithacowface ..... believing in Sandra! !! 😂😂😂😂😂 my pal Sandra will be chuffed!

Helethan · 19/12/2016 20:25

Hide them, my boys (6&2)wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to have a look. Also, it's fantastic to wake up Christmas morning to a big pile of presents x

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/12/2016 20:29

it's really interesting seeing how different people do Christmas but it annoys me greatly when people think their way is the only way and use phrases like "no brainer" about a certain way to do something. I have a brain, and I use it to make different decisions to you! Christmas goes down just fine in my house, thank you!

I agree.

We have always had presents under our tree. Never been an issue.

FC pressies go in sacks at the ends of their beds.

nokidshere · 19/12/2016 20:31

There are no presents to be found in our house, and definitely none under the tree until Christmas Day - and my children are 15&18 Grin

Bunnyfuller · 19/12/2016 20:33

Do people not do the stocking/pillowcase/sack at the end of the bed any more. I still remember nearly bursting when I moved my legs and heard rustling wrapping paper when I woke up on Christmas Day! Once they get too old for that (wake up as you stagger drunkenly creep into the room before going to bed yourself. Mine are 10 and 11 and there's still an as yet unseen sack of pressies from 'santa' even though they know Santa=us. Pressies under the tree are ones openly from each other, or from people outside the home

Ellasshitholekitchen · 19/12/2016 20:37

I believe in you Sandra

Lules · 19/12/2016 20:44

Obv there's nothing wrong in doing things differently, but I'm surprised my family is so unusual in always having presents under the tree. I did spend a lot of time as a child poking them but it never dawned on me to open them. And only stockings come from FC. I did notice the wrapping paper was the same but assumed FC and Mum got it from the same place!

erchissick · 19/12/2016 21:57

My kids are 18 and 14. NOTHING goes under the tree until Christmas Eve. I'm 43 and hubs has to hide my gift for the same reason.