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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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!

I'll go with the majority !

OP posts:

Shona52 · 19/12/2016 22:17

I like leaving it till Christmas Eve before I put the presents under the tree. I just feel it gives Christmas morning such a magical feel when our DS comes down his face lights up

weeza13 · 19/12/2016 22:33

TrollTheRespawnJeremy I doubt even stunt presents under my tree would last more than 5 minutes with my two year old in the same room.

WanderingStar1 · 19/12/2016 22:35

Agree with PPs - all families do it differently. We have a stocking each from Santa and as many of their 'list' presents as I'm happy not to claim, coming from him (sorry, her..... ) and none of those appear until the day. But there are also presents from aunts and uncles, and the animals, which do appear under the tree, as do the kids presents to us and some from us to each other etc. But I might also keep back some of their other presents from us, to make the pile seem bigger on the day, and avoid too many prods! My twins are 8, we've done it this way for 3 or 4 years but hid everything prior to that! (and yes - Sandra has different wrapping paper from the rest of us - what a logistical nightmare....!).

Bettyspants · 19/12/2016 22:37

Put them away. We put the odd present that dc may get from a friend or for. Example child minder other wise it's a Christmas Eve job. Father Christmas leaves then a stocking each by the fire place. Age 5 &7 big believers and the 18 yr old comes home and gets the same fc treatment!

Bettyspants · 19/12/2016 22:38

Plus I think the presents look lovely. Your DC will appreciate them rather than tearing off wrapping from piles of presents and end up being overwhelmed

steppemum · 19/12/2016 22:39

I clearly remember as a child that feeling of coming down on Christmas morning to a tree with presents that weren't there when we went to bed. It was lovely. We didn't really believe in Santa, but it was such a wow moment on Christmas morning.

Kids put their presents to other people (each other) under the tree before they go to bed, and one or two others appear if visitors drop them off, but the bulk from santa and us appear on Christmas Eve

Bettyspants · 19/12/2016 22:39

This is what I mean by pressies from friends

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 19/12/2016 22:41

No matter who they're for, no presents under our tree until we go to bed on Christmas Eve.

Lovely tree OP.

I still believe in Sandra.
Am so stealing that phrase

tooclosetocall · 19/12/2016 22:44

It doesn't look bad (and lovely tree btw) but I'm with you on the hiding it for the big reveal. They are only 3 and 6 which will give them too much temptation.

And wtf is he thinking?

Allthewaves · 19/12/2016 22:44

Our presents have been removed as little fingers have been ripping holes AFTER ONE DAY

ArcheryAnnie · 19/12/2016 23:06

For two kids that's a lot just from you and your DH. They are little - they are going to be impressed by that! (Don't start thinking that's not enough at this point otherwise by the time they hit ten, they will be utterly jaded and you won't be able to open the doors to your own house.)

But agree, hide it away until the day, out of temptation.

Italiangreyhound · 19/12/2016 23:12

Hide, hide, hide.

But we aren't as our youngest is 6 now.

And your tree is fabulous, way better than mine.

Merry Christmas

MadisonAvenue · 19/12/2016 23:13

I love to see presents under the tree and I used to wrap random boxes from around the house and have fake presents there until Christmas. Can't do it since we had a dog - he can't resist a nicely wrapped present!

CakeNinja · 19/12/2016 23:24

I always put presents under the tree once they're wrapped.
FC brings one stocking (sack, left on beds) and one main present left under the tree with all ours.
But they do get lots under the tree from us and my family (presents from dps side go to MILs for Boxing Day).
3dc and haven't had any problems with anyone unwrapping anything they shouldn't.
Also, not bothered about a 'wow factor' - there's enough excitement, they get to open the presents they've seen for a long time building up under the tree, plus they've by the stage they come downstairs, they've already opened a lot of their santa presents in their stockings and are already really excited and happy.

oobedobe · 19/12/2016 23:34

We hide all presents from us, family, santa until Christmas Eve, when I put them under the tree. I think the kids love coming down to a big ta-da pile of gifts, when there was nothing the night before 'makes it feel like Santa brought them'. They are 4 & 8.

But when they are older say 12/13 I will do what my Mum did and bring a handful out here or there in the week leading up to Christmas. Then me and my brother would delve in and play 'touchy feely' and try and guess what we had and read the tags, it was very exciting to see how many were for you! She always waited until Christmas Eve to put the bulk of them under there, so you were always surprised at how much the pile had grown by Christmas morning.

I look forward to this as I am really tired of finding multiple hiding places every year and keeping track of everything!

ruthie2k · 19/12/2016 23:44

Sorry, I'm little Miss anal who was brought up by daddy ocd.
We never put gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve when we were all home, and I don't.
Sad but true.

Biffsboys · 19/12/2016 23:52

I'm 46 and would still poke and shake a present under tree

SarfEast1cated · 19/12/2016 23:58

bunnyfuller I 48y and DD 9y both have pillowcases at the end of the bed - must have satsuma and nuts in too - containing a few presents, then down to tree for presents under tree, and then boxing day we open tree presents. 3 opportunities for surprises!

Patriciathestripper1 · 20/12/2016 00:03

It looks lovely. We have always hid the presents and put them under tree xmas eve to keep the excitement of santa coming.

SuffolkBumkin · 20/12/2016 00:06

We have presents under the tree now, as I find it builds up the excitement as they are in sight and look wonderful. Father Christmas will bring a shocking and leave it at the end of their beds. Plus we leave them each a present for later on after dinner.

worrierandwine · 20/12/2016 05:21

I love to see presents under the tree but as a child the suspense is the most exciting part. If they've already seen some of their presents it takes most of the fun away. Also, they're too young (especially the 3 year old) to be able to leave them alone. It's almost taunting them. I completely agree with you, if hubby can't be arsed to carry them upstairs then you do it and find your own hiding place for them. This is the kind of thing I wouldn't even debate with him, just do it!

Pocketangel · 20/12/2016 05:49

Hide them all - bring them all out on Christmas morning - spread them out so it looks like loads (if that makes you feel better) - with all the excitement the kids will neither notice nor care!

DancingPenguin1 · 20/12/2016 06:11

All our presents are under the tree, our 3 yr old has been fine. FC brings the stocking on Christmas Day. I love the feel it brings. That is plenty of presents.

EccentricPickle · 20/12/2016 06:25

I think presents look lovely under the tree, although I hide the DC's presents and Santa brings them so they wake up to a pile of presents, in the living room, on Christmas morning.

I put the ones for other family under the tree - nieces, nephews, my mum etc.

I always feel a bit sad on Christmas Day when all the presents have gone from under it. It doesn't look as nice .

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 20/12/2016 06:32

Presents that arrive from friends and family go under the tree. So far, DD isn't interested in them. If she was trying to get in them, I'd hide them. The ones from us are hidden, but mainly because they're not all wrapped yet and because there isn't loads of space under the tree. Father Christmas fills stockings on Christmas Eve here, the wrapped presents are from friends and family.

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