Mil standing at window

[Spied]

Just received a text from mil telling me herself and fil would be visiting in the morning to stand at the window and watch the dc open their presents (of which none are from them as they don't do gifts. They put money in an envelope).
Would it be unreasonable to keep the blinds shut and ignore any door knocking?

Jesus Christ some people are so bloody mean. Yes it's a bit weird, but so is this whole year. They want to see their grandchildren open their Christmas presents, is that a crime?

As far as you saying the give money instead of gifts- no doubt you'd complain if they picked something the DC wouldn't like and say you'd prefer cash.

Some people are so miserable.

God...aren't you nasty?! Yes, it's weird to watch children through a window, but these are weird times we're in. Your children are your in-laws much-loved grandchildren, and they just want to witness the kid's joy in opening their presents and share in a bit of your family Christmas. It's harmless and quite touching IMO, if a little bonkers!

This seems a tad ridiculous - surely your kids will be up at the crack of dawn to open Xmas gifts? I'd suggest you keep the PIL's gift envelopes for later (aka after you wake up with coffee) so you can video the kids opening the envelopes and saying "thank you". Then, send that vid to the PILs. Your PILs will make themselves ill if they lurk in the cold, outside your windows in the small hours of the morning.

@oohyoudevilyou it seems we were both thinking the same!

That made me chuckle. I have a funny vision of your ILs just stood outside the window just watching you go about your day.
It’s slightly awkward isn’t it, but honestly I’d just let them if that’s what they want to do.

Say thats great I will leave a ladder outside as the DC want to open their stocking presents in their bedrooms. Make sure you mind the step midway up as its a bit loose.

then call the police saying you suspect a break in is taking place

Just in case - the above was light hearted

My DSis and Dnephews live next door to me and I will be doing the same!

She has been a single parent for most of their lives so I have always gone (they do ask me!) to watch them open their prezzies.

They ring me as soon as they get up and I go round in my dressing gown. I will need something a bit warmer this year!

My own DS has multiple disabilities/SLD etc and doesn't "do" Christmas so seeing them open theirs gives me the joy I miss out on with my own Son.

@GrumpyHoonMain

Only if you return the money they gave your kids. Can’t have it both ways.

You make it sound like Pay per View. Grandchildren aren’t subscription-based.

Why is giving money a bad thing? Surely it can be used to buy something the children want or need.

Standing at the window, no, offer to video, or have a video call with them during present opening.

They should have asked rather than told, and the mental image is an odd combination of hilarious, creepy, and sad... But it's not the strangest thing I've heard this year.

I wouldn't ignore them, unless you and your husband hate them and the relationship is already shot. You could try the suggestions already made... offer to film it, tell them it will be too early, warm then against the weather... but if they still want to come, it's not worth upsetting them, assuming they aren't generally horrible.

How weird especially as they haven't put any thought into buying and wrapping gifts instead they want to watch the magic you have created.

Go with a FaceTime instead of them opening their envelopes of cash.

Warn then about the weather, that is...

What utter cunts to want to see their grandchildren having a little bit of joy on Christmas Day. Presumably you can stand in the garden/at the door and have a wee chat 'look what's Santa brought me' type stuff.

I don’t think it’s weird. My parents came and stood at the window to hear a Christmas concert the kids were doing on zoom! We invited them as normally they’d be here. If they weren’t coming tomorrow they’d be coming looking through our windows at their toys. In laws are too far away (and haven’t even asked/tried to come over at all his year) so I would think it utterly weird and intrusive from them as they don’t show as much interest l. It totally depends on the relationship

That sounds very sad actually and I'm quite shocked at many of these responses.

If covid means they can't be in the room then why begrudge them watching safely from behind the window? Give them a wave and offer them a glass of something and a mince pie.

@Jenasaurus

Just in case - the above was light hearted

And there's me thinking you were being all serious.

Well OP I am so glad that you, along with several others on this thread, are not my daughter in law! She is saving our presents to our grandchildren for them to open during our family Zoom call late morning tomorrow so that we can see them open them - and this was her suggestion, not our request. But then my lovely daughter in law is a kind hearted, caring person.

@WitchQueenofDarkness I've actually purchased a travel mug for this very purpose! It will be full of Baileys! :)

@Covidrelapse

Glad we aren’t the only ones.

We looks through my parents windows most days during March lockdown. My kids loved seeing them and my parents would watch them riding their bikes up and down their road!

I don’t think it’s weird at all, especially this year.

I think it’s weird to think it’s weird

Awww MN is awash with posts suggesting that family celebrate in gardens or wave through the window. Surely the kids are aware of the restrictions. Just be nice! You can leave out a bucks Fizz and a mince pie

I'm sorry but that made me laugh out loud, that would be beyond weird and creepy and make everyone feel very uncomfortable.

The shutting blinds bit made me chuckle op 🤣

How old are yours? Mine are always up really early so my parents would have to here and stand out there in complete darkness (live in the middle of nowhere)!

Face time sounds better tbh. Especially as the gifts aren’t actually from them.

@Cosmosgrowinmygarden yes but the OPs in laws haven't sent presents! So they're not watching the kids open gifts from them. They're just going to loiter outside, confuse the grandkids, give every one that "someone's watching us" feeling that sends shivers down your spine and then piss off after using OPs family as Christmas entertainment.

OPs family aren't performing monkeys.