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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a 10 year old should be able to wrap a present himself?

49 replies

Kitsandkids · 07/07/2019 08:41

Friend’s party today. I normally help him with the wrapping but the toddler is going through a ‘mine!’ phase so I’m breastfeeding her and keeping her away from the wrapping things that she’ll inevitably want to grab!
10 year old is wailing at me that he can’t do it. The scissors don’t work. The paper won’t cut straight etc. He is doing it. Slightly rubbishly but I don’t mind that. But he’s getting himself so cross about it.
Am I being mean making him do it? Or am I right thinking that at 10 (and a half) he should be able to wrap a gift himself? When he’s had years of me making him help so therefore does know what to do!

OP posts:
fourquenelles · 07/07/2019 08:45

I think of you have taken him through the process in the past Show Tell Do then of course he should be able to. If you are relying on learning just by watching (or not - he is a 10 year old!) maybe not so much.

SimonJT · 07/07/2019 08:45

I’m 31, I can barely do it, you can get lick and stick wrapping paper, it’s much easier.

dementedpixie · 07/07/2019 08:45

I rarely let dh wrap a present never mind the kids!

HennyPennyHorror · 07/07/2019 08:46

Mine's been wrapping herself since about 7 but I accept that not all kids have the fine motor skills or are perfectionists...your son sounds like a perfectionist perhaps?

Not mean to make him do it at all though!

stillmoving · 07/07/2019 08:46

It doesn't matter that he 'should' be able to do it. He can't. So help him?

Original poster
Kitsandkids · 07/07/2019 08:48

If I help him I’ll have to put the toddler down. Who will insist on grabbing the paper. And the toy. And the scissors. Etc

OP posts:
WanderingTrolley1 · 07/07/2019 08:51

Put baby in playpen/jumperoo/someplace safe and help your boy!

Vanderlylecrybabygeek · 07/07/2019 08:51

I’m 38 and can’t wrap a present. Gift bags all the way for me

LostInNorfolk · 07/07/2019 08:53

It is a skill that has to be taught. I am an excellent present wrapper. I had to teach my DH when we first married and have since taught my own children and hundreds of others.

Paper needs to be cut to size. Folded corners. Ribbon cut to size etc. Pre-cut sellotape and fasten to table

Does your paper have guideline son the reverse or do you have a metre uler as a guide? Sharp scissors? Decent paper not cheap as that tears?

notso · 07/07/2019 08:53

I help out at school when they do 'shops' for Mothers/Fathers Day and Christmas.
The first year it was decided all the children would wrap, it was a nightmare even with precut paper and tape dispensers.
Now only year 6 wrap their own and even then about two thirds need assistance of some kind.

PleaseGoogleIt · 07/07/2019 08:55

Do it at a table and then the toddler can't grab?

katewhinesalot · 07/07/2019 08:55

One of mine is good at it, the other not so much. It depends on how much they care about what the end result looks like.
Let him crack on with it. It's not unreasonable to expect him to do it.

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 07/07/2019 08:56

Er, it's really not that hard 🤔 It's one thing to have trouble with if when you're ten and have never attempted it solo before, but grown adults saying they "can't?" Really?

Disfordarkchocolate · 07/07/2019 08:57

We rarely wrap anything now. Presents go in gift bags with some tissue paper so that the bag and tissue can be reused.

Original poster
Kitsandkids · 07/07/2019 08:57

Seems I am a bit unreasonable then. I know at 10 I was wrapping presents. And I’m not bothered about ribbons and what it looks like. As long as the paper covers the gift that’s fine. Anyway, he’s managed.

OP posts:
IWantMyHatBack · 07/07/2019 08:58

Fgs, distract the toddler with something else for a minute and go and show him how to do it.

transformandriseup · 07/07/2019 08:59

I love wrapping presents and could do so really well from a young age. My mum showed my brother and I but he can’t wrap for shit.

Lucked · 07/07/2019 08:59

I would get the ten year old to mind the toddler in another room or do it on a table.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 07/07/2019 09:00

Only it you have already taught him how to do it/

Babdoc · 07/07/2019 09:02

Tongue in cheek here, but I think DS is using the standard misogynist male script - pretend to be useless at any household task and demand a woman does it for you instead!

PristineCondition · 07/07/2019 09:04

Youve set him up to fail at the task... rather sad really

You said you could at ten, at some point before that you were shown how to do it.

HoneyDragon · 07/07/2019 09:05

Surely you can guide him a bit and wrangle the toddler from grabbing things?

llangennith · 07/07/2019 09:05

Yes YABU.
And remember you have two kids that need looking after, not just the precious toddler. You can't not do things with your son because you haven't learnt how to manage two kids.

ShutTheFridgeUp · 07/07/2019 09:05

My 5 year old can wrap an easy box present herself, but would struggle with anything other than that. She has always helped with wrapping since she was small and now prefers to do it herself. She does a fairly decent job to be honest, but as I said, she's always helped so knows each step... it takes her ages though.
If you've always done it for him and he's never helped, you are possibly being a bit unreasonable expecting him to just know how to do it. But he did do it, so he'll perhaps improve next time with some guidance.

Newmumma83 · 07/07/2019 09:05

@Kitsandkids by 10 I was charging family to wrap Christmas gifts complete with elaborate bows and carefully twirled ribbon.

My brother was age 15 he didn’t wrap
a thing.

Not unreasonable of you to expect it but think it just stresses people out ... maybe help out or get some tissue paper and bags for his gifts so he can pop them
In there