To be annoyed at MIL and DC Xmas presents.

[jojomom]

My elderly MIL gives us money each year to sort presents from her for our DS and DD, her grandchildren. We choose, buy and wrap the presents, give them back to her and she brings them with her to our house on Xmas day. We have a family gift exchanging session including her giving these presents to the DC's. We obviously get presents from them to her too, which are exchanged also. However, for the third year running she has requested we also get presents on her behalf to keep at her house which she gives to the DCs at some point over the days following Xmas. I don't understand why? The DS's go to her house at least two or three times each week, every week. I don't go anywhere near as often by the way but my DH, her son goes daily. The present situation is tricky enough and I think her keeping presents back for a random day is confusing. I don't get why she does it. AIBU to be annoyed?

I can kind of see where you're coming from. If you know DD would be over the moon to get eg doll, lego, box set of books, you can get the doll as grans gift and dd gets her three most wanted gifts on Xmas day.

If a gift has to be "held back" either Dd doesn't get one of her three most wanted on Christmas Day (although I realise she gets it later in the week) or Op has to think of a fourth gift. It's a bit pointless and I'd also find it a little irritating as gran is kind of deciding how gift giving is done in your family. Not a huge deal but yeah, irritating.

If you find it difficult, imagine how hard she would find it.

Mountain out of molehill. If it gives her and the kids pleasure then just roll with it.

I get why you’re annoyed! I have to think of presents for DM and MIL to give, sometimes aunts and uncles as well and then I don't have anything to give my DCs!

As someone above said, if she wants to spread out the gift giving them should come from the pile of Xmas presents rather than extras so just add lots of little bits. Pens, keyrings, books, nail varnish, toothpaste, shower gel.

" I want my DC to have the best Xmas day possible and attempt to fulfil their wish list, holding a present back seems odd."

It won't do your kids any harm whatsoever to have the onlaught of material goods spaced out a bit. It's nice to have something to open later. Don't be greedy on their behalf...it's not what Christmas is about.

I can see both sides. She wants to treat them throughout the year. But it’s a faff for you and quite a bit of forethought involved. Could you incorporate it into stuff they need through the year as you go along. Say ever couple of months? A book in Feb, colours in April, shorts in June, water squirrels in August, woolly hats in October, Xmas pressie in December. For example? Give it to DH to give to GM to give to DCs?

Sorry for all the predictive text typos!! Water squirrels!! squirters obviously.