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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas presents all in one go

202 replies

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 12/12/2021 21:49

Debate between my DH and myself as to whether there’s a norm.

As kids we opened stockings as soon as we woke up - all nice bits and pieces but no main gifts. We were then allowed to open one gift from parents after breakfast. Then we had to wait until after lunch, which meant after the queen’s speech, for anything else. Then some gifts were saved for Boxing Day. It was horrible waiting when younger.

DH’s family opened everything all at once before or after breakfast.

I like it spread out (but more main gifts in the morning so DC can play), DH thinks all at once. I never before considered there was a different way.

What do you do?
YANBU- spread through the day
YABU- open all at once

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 13/12/2021 08:22

One present after midnight mass. Stockings in bed then downstairs for the rest before breakfast.

gonnabeok · 13/12/2021 08:23

All at once before breakfast

thecatsthecats · 13/12/2021 08:25

When we got home from midnight mass, so shortly after midnight.

Chely · 13/12/2021 08:30

We allow our kids to open stuff from us upstairs, any others have given before the day downstairs and then they'll have a few that people have passed on after the day too. I like to open in batches of "gifter" so I know who got them what, carnage when we did it at my parents and they let them open them in any order so I had no clue who to thank for what.

sohypnotic · 13/12/2021 08:33

When u was young it was always stockings, breakfast, everything else. Now with DD (4) we do stockings, breakfast, our gifts to her and Santa present. Get ready/play, go to grandparents for lunch, then more presents - their gifts to her and all adult presents. It breaks it up a bit, and also makes sense with the change of location.

Scrabblecrabapple · 13/12/2021 08:36

At once because the mess is done in one go.

CMOTDibbler · 13/12/2021 08:45

As our presents are just me, dh and ds (always saw in laws on Boxing day, presents with my parents when we saw them, no one else and now my parents and MIL are dead) we do stockings in our bed when we wake up and then presents after breakfast, just to try and spread it out a bit, but for the opposite reason of being overwhelming numbers

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 13/12/2021 08:54

Stockings whenever they wake up. Tree presents not until everyone is up, dressed and had breakfast. Then all in one go.

AppleTree16 · 13/12/2021 08:55

Our routine is stockings in bed (everyone piles into one bed), church people to church, non-church sort the turkey. Big breakfast when church people get back and get up. Everyone pile into prepping veg / playing games. Lunch around 2:30/3. Quick walk for the dogs before lunch if possible but afterwards definitely. Then presents with champagne around 5/6 (we do the one at a time too - the youngest acts as Santa’s elf). We’ve done presents as late at 7pm previously 🙈. Main focus for us is spending time as a family.

RoseZinfandel · 13/12/2021 08:57

As a child, I would open my stocking as soon as I woke up.
Presents would be after lunch, everyone taking it in turns while others watched. I found the anticipation exciting as a child, and felt sorry for those (like my best friend) who had opened everything before breakfast. I'm sure my best friend regarded me with equal pity Grin

DH didn't have a stocking, his family tradition was to hand out all the presents from under the tree so everyone had their own pile, then open them all at once. This was done over coffee/champagne at around 11am.

For our own family we have our own approach, with aspects of both- stockings first thing, presents spread through the day starting after breakfast. Everyone gets one gift from under the tree, and we open them all together. Then we do another round or two. Then a walk, then lunch prep. Always save at least one round for after lunch. Children tend to get more presents, so some rounds are child only.

Presents from people who aren't going to be with us on Christmas Day either get opened when we do see them, or saved for Boxing Day.

Tink626 · 13/12/2021 10:01

Stockings first thing (opened on my bed). And then we get up, have breakfast and open the presents under the tree.

89redballoons · 13/12/2021 10:06

My parents are second generation Polish so we've always done a blend of Polish and English traditions. In Poland the main celebration is on Christmas Eve.

So we'd do main presents on Christmas Eve, stockings on Christmas Day morning and if we were going to see family over Christmas then we'd exchange gifts with them when we saw them. Now I'm married with a DS we still go to my mum's for Christmas Eve and exchange presents with her then, then stocking first thing on Christmas morning and other gifts after breakfast.

Tal45 · 13/12/2021 10:07

Stockings and Santa sack first thing (so some main bits in the morning to keep them busy till lunch) and then family presents after lunch. I wouldn't drag it out to the next day though.

milkandone · 13/12/2021 10:21

As kids we were similar to you, we had a stocking upstairs from Santa that we could open as soon as we woke up, then we had presents under the tree but we had to wait to open these until everyone else was up and ready (I'm talking showered, fed, dressed and Christmas dinner in the oven).
While I loved getting a stocking at the end of my bed my sister and I both hated having to wait to open our main presents so we let DD open hers whenever she wants to. I'll continue the stocking though.

DappyApple · 13/12/2021 10:24

When we were kids, stockings on bed which were opened straight away. Then we’d go into each other’s rooms to wait it out until we thought it was ok to wake parents usually about 4 am!

Then everyone downstairs for opening presents, all at once. Quality street/Roses or selection boxes opened not long after. It was the only day we were allowed chocolate and fizzy pop for breakfast!

So followed the same routine for dcs. Stockings in rooms, then once everyone was awake downstairs for presents. Only Difference is dcs never woke before 8.30 am and not stupid o clock like we did!

Chocolate for breakfast, and dressed afterwards as we used to go to my parents when they were younger. But when we started staying home, they could stay in pyjamas all day if they wanted!

Dcs would have been chomping at the bit if present opening was delayed/spread out here and there. Wouldn’t have been fun for anyone!

Also if we’d have done it one by one whilst the others sit round and watch. Not only would it have been excruciatingly uncomfortable but would have taken all day, quite literally ( 7 of us) we didn’t have time for that!

Holly60 · 13/12/2021 10:25

@DeepaBeesKit

Stockings first thing. Main stuff under the tree can be held off til after breakfast but no later imho!!
This. Stockings first thing in pyjamas. Then breakfast, and get dressed. Then main presents just after with a cup of coffee for the adults. Xmas music on, chocolates open. Lovely Smile
Livpool · 13/12/2021 10:31

I have never heard of people spreading them out. We open ours before breakfast

RedHot22 · 13/12/2021 10:33

Never done stockings.
Mine have a bloody great sack each.

All opened at once but we go round the family and open one at a time. It takes ages!

yoyo1234 · 13/12/2021 10:39

Stockings in bedroom / first before breakfast. Everything else after breakfast.

Dochas1211 · 13/12/2021 10:41

Presents from Santa first. Then presents from family after breakfast.

bobsholi · 13/12/2021 10:43

We don't do stockings, we just open all the tree presents in the morning before breakfast. I'd hate to spread it out all day!

JingleJingleAllTheWay · 13/12/2021 10:43

That doesn't sound relaxing at all.

We wake, have breakfast, get dressed and then do presents. Kids then use the day to play with some of their new bits.

Lanique · 13/12/2021 10:48

Stockings (or sacks rather) in the morning first thing. Then get dressed etc. dog walk. Maybe a quick drink at the local pub. Then a light brunch.

If we have guests or are going to family we'll open our family gifts after brunch, before guests arrive / we go. Then we'll have a second wave of tree presents with whoever we're spending Christmas with, after the dinner main course which is around 3/4pm. Pudding after present opening.

So in short we stagger it through the day. When I grew up, we always opened everything after our Christmas dinner, which was in the afternoon. I loved it that way - it made the day stretch out and not be all about the presents! Our dds are teenagers and always say they like it this way.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/12/2021 11:00

We do...
Tea/coffee in bed with stockings (we have wierd children who have always slept in on Christmas Day)

Breakfast

Presents. When DDs were little, we found they actually wanted to play with things not just unwrap stuff so this could take all morning, all day or even a few days (generous family members!) Its shorter now as less stuff. And yes, we take turns. Although DDs might have one each on their turn. But no just ripping in, got to look at labels and put the paper in the recycling bag...

Another reason we spread out a bit is that grandparents like to see the unwrapping. This might be video calls, or a few days later when visiting.

Also we are often away over Christmas so they wait until we get home. Or have stuff early!

longtompot · 13/12/2021 11:28

My (adult) kids open their stockings then we have breakfast. We then sit down in the living room and hand out the presents and watch each person opening theirs before the next person has one.
We do have presents on Boxing Day but these are our family secret Santa ones.

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