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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

10yo DS has hunted for presents... Wibu to make him wait for gifts?

97 replies

YetAnotherUser · 18/12/2016 22:34

10yo DS has hunted for (and found) some presents... Not for the first time either.

WIBU to:
A) Get him a sack of coal to open
B) Make him wait until after lunch to open his presents
C) Both of the above?

OP posts:
Wheredidallthejaffacakesgo · 18/12/2016 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thingywhatsit · 18/12/2016 22:37

Depends on what he found? Were they his big or small presents?

kiki22 · 18/12/2016 22:37

Both Grin

It would depend how easily he found them so if he opened a cupboard and they were there he had a peek I would understand the temptation and thing my fault for not hiding better but if he actually searched the house purposely to find them I would give him a punishment hes old enough to know better.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 18/12/2016 22:38

Just give them as normal.

NorksAreMessy · 18/12/2016 22:38

Can you HONESTLY say you never did this yourself?

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/12/2016 22:39

Presents aren't until after lunch here anyway.

Does he know you know?

Patriciathestripper1 · 18/12/2016 22:40

You should have hid them better!! Your fault.
Every child hunts for prezzies, you are being unreasonable

GeillisTheWitch · 18/12/2016 22:41

Neither. He has spoiled his own surprise. Your best bet is to ignore it and hand him his presents as usual and he will feel disappointment with himself for taking away his surprise on Christmas morning

Agree with this, I did it once and Christmas morning was such an anticlimax it was enough punishment.

user1471548375 · 18/12/2016 22:41

Ignore it and hide them somewhere better next year. DP hides mine at his mum and dad's to stop me finding them. I'm 31.

neolara · 18/12/2016 22:42

Wasn't hunting for presents half the fun of Xmas as a kid?

GooodMythicalMorning · 18/12/2016 22:42

I never hunted, not once. Didn't want to ruin the surprise.

Original poster
YetAnotherUser · 18/12/2016 22:43

He's almost certainly discovered his new crash hat, which leads into the fact he's getting a new bike. The other presents are either quite small or for his little brother.

OP posts:
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 18/12/2016 22:45

I never hunted either. I don't understand why you would.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 18/12/2016 22:46

Does it really matter? You'll look back on this when he's an adult and laugh about it.

Original poster
YetAnotherUser · 18/12/2016 22:47

Tbfh I think I'm more angry with myself, I should have hidden them better (or at least wrapped them sooner).

I know he's a hunter, I know he's a toe rag and exactly what he's like... But it's a small house and hiding places are at a premium.

Still want to get the little git a big sack of coal though.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 18/12/2016 22:48

where has it in a nutshell.

I don't think there was a Christmas after the age of 14 when I didn't know what I was getting because I'd already found it, in the exact same place! Can''t say I didn't try before then!

DodoRevival · 18/12/2016 22:52

Never hunted either - find it odd the desperate need to know something being so strong you'd be driven to sneak about!!

YouHadMeAtCake · 18/12/2016 23:09

I hunted very year after finding them by accident one year. Same place every year. I hated knowing but still looked. I had genius hiding places when our DC were growing up. They never found any. Always a surprise on the day. Find a better hiding place!

PacificDogwod · 18/12/2016 23:11

I never tried to find presents, on one occasion stumbled across them and was horrified!

I am with 'he spoilt his own surprise' and that is his punishment.
I may be very tempted to give him a bag of coals anyway as well though Grin

AuditAngel · 18/12/2016 23:12

Give him coal, and don't give him the presents. (Until later)

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/12/2016 23:12

I can still peel tape off and stick it back on again perfectly. I'm a ninja.

He's ten. Just give the presents.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/12/2016 23:14

Give him the presents as usual. He's ruined the surprise for.himself.

Krampus · 18/12/2016 23:15

Give them at the same time you usually would.
It's his fault if the surprise was ruined but giving them to him later won't change that. Then again he may be very excited because he knows exactely what he is getting and looking forward to it.

Waterlemon · 18/12/2016 23:16

I'm with you with the coal - or maybe pants and socks?

My brother did this -it was a spectrum computer that my parents tried to hide in their wardrobe!!!

My mum phoned my aunt and said "the catalogue people have delivered dn present, I'll hang on to it till Christmas Eve so he doesn't find it,"

Then on Christmas eve auntie came and "collected" the present.

On Christmas morning, db opened lots of presents - all of them pants, socks and vests Grin

To give him his due, he was very gracious about his presents but you could tell he was very dissapointed. After. Dinner, my parents retrieved the computer from the car boot, where my aunt had left it after "collecting" it.

I remember he actually cried when he opened it!

Reality16 · 18/12/2016 23:16

Part and parcel of being a kid TBH. The build up is massive and it's so tempting. I am crazy about making sure mine don't find anything. I feel it's up to me to prevent them from being able to snoop rather than trusting them not to be over excited. I certainly wouldn't punish him for it.