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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:
Steelesauce · 13/12/2021 11:51

We do go downstairs and all the presents done. We do open one at a time so everyone can see what each other have had. Sometimes a break for breakfast if someone gets hungry. Then the children can choose what they want to play with first so there's not tons of loose toys hanging around and open boxes. The toys get taken out of boxes and played with over the next week or so as and when they want them open

Confusedandworried321 · 13/12/2021 12:55

When I was a child we had stockings first thing, no main presents. Then we’d have a few presents after church, maybe 2-3. Then the rest after lunch.

I didn’t mind waiting, I don’t think. But we were unusual, most of my friends and relatives opened them all in the morning.

I have two small DC and we spread them out a bit last year, but eldest DC was definitely having a bit of a frenzy ripping into loads! I will try and pace it a bit this year but have no intention of making them wait ages!

MyCatHatesWhiskas · 13/12/2021 13:02

We always did stockings/presents from parents in the morning, then tree presents (which in my family are from other family members such as grandparents, siblings, etc, and friends) after Christmas lunch. I always likes knowing there was more to come!

LindaBlinda · 13/12/2021 13:24

Spreading it out to your extent always sounds like torture for kids. After lunch? No thanks.

We feel like we have the balance here, or at least works for us and DC.

DC get in bed with us with stockings and they get opened so DH and I don't need to be properly up too ridiculously early.

Then once they're done we get out of bed, make a tea/coffee and DC make a start in the living room.

DC open a few presents and then once the initial excitement has called a little we call a short break - DC play with some of the things that have been opened and DH and I get washed and dressed quickly and I sort breakfast for everyone.

Then once DC have had breakfast, cleaned teeth and are dressed we get properly stuck in with the present opening and DH and I start opening ours too, we tend to take turns who is giving/opening.

That way they're not all opened before 9am but no one feels denied. Works for us.

Redwinestillfine · 14/12/2021 09:40

It probably depends on the kids. what's 'torture' for one may be all part of the magic for another. always felt a massive anti climax when all the presents were gone. Spacing them out was part of the enjoyment.

Capricopia · 14/12/2021 10:08

We always had stockings in bed first thing. Then breakfast, then church or a walk, then main presents at around 11am. My husband’s family open all first thing.

Personally I like waiting for the main presents - the delayed gratification is satisfying imo. But I wouldn’t delay it as long as your family did, especially for children.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 14/12/2021 10:10

@LibrariesGiveUsPower

It really was awful. I’ve no idea why I’ve carried on with splitting it!
We had to wait til after lunch when we're kids...shit innit?
Bimblybomeyelash · 14/12/2021 10:13

We open all at once. I don’t really do a stocking of filler small bits and then Main present. Sometimes they’ll just get a pile of medium sized presents! So it doesn’t really work
Splitting them in to two piles.

And we also see family later on in the day, so there are more presents to open then.

CookSproutsInSoySauce · 14/12/2021 10:13

Let them pace themselves.
My eldest will choose to open them throughout the day. Second opens all in one go.

UnLunDun · 14/12/2021 10:16

We got stockings in morning, other gifts after lunch, and it was wonderful excitement as a child. I continued this - my adult children who have left home confirm they like it, as do the teens even the one who loves to moan about everything, and my youngest seem quite happy!
Nowadays, as the mother who has done all the prepping/cooking/thinking about Christmas for my family I have to say I love the waiting till after lunch and washing up to do the family presents - I get to relax properly, watch faces, see their excitement rather than rushing to cook too.

Needsleep32 · 14/12/2021 10:24

All at once, as soon as they’re awake. Then usually more at the grandparents on Boxing Day.

Angel2702 · 14/12/2021 10:25

We had stockings in parents bed then presents from our parents under the tree in the morning. We were then out all day, we had presents from our grandparents after lunch and tree presents in the evening.

We always used to save presents from Aunts, Uncles, family friends etc until Boxing Day when we were kids but now I have a DS with a Boxing Day birthday we tend to do those presents after church whilst lunch is cooking.

stairgates · 14/12/2021 10:27

All at once as I need to get started on the tidying up!

LindaEllen · 14/12/2021 10:43

@Rtmhwales

All at once before breakfast. Except for the toddler who was wayyyy overwhelmed with it last year - we are spreading his out this year.
If he's overwhelmed perhaps he doesn't need as many presents? Just give him a couple and he will be happy!
Belledan1 · 14/12/2021 10:46

All before breakfast and any relatives' presents that we may see later throughout the day.

Holly60 · 14/12/2021 10:49

As children we used to have stockings first then wait until after breakfast and church to open main presents under the tree. I loved it because the excitement of all the presents still there waiting was so lovely. The anticipation was so good! We always opened them one at a time too so it lasted ages, with plenty of stops for mince pies. Then we’d have lunch and then play with them properly after lunch. Then a board game Etc. The excitement literally lasted all day. It was magical

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 14/12/2021 10:52

Stockings, breakfast then main presents just after breakfast. Just so that we can wait for everyone to get out of bed and see them opening them

Madickenxx · 14/12/2021 11:04

When the kids were young we would open the pressies from Father Christmas as soon as they woke up (around 5am usually lol) and family presents after lunch. Most of their presents would be in the sack from FC so that gave them plenty to get on with.

Now we are all adults (well almost, the youngest is 17) we are each responsible for buying stocking presents for another person and we open those first thing, then the "under the tree" gifts after lunch.

We spend the morning having breakfast, drinking bucks fizz and playing games before getting lunch ready for around 2pm. Gifts soon after so around 3.30pm.

I grew up in a country where FC knocked on the door at some point in the afternoon with the Christmas gifts and we didn't have stockings so am used to the anticipation of the gifts. We used to get some chocolate under the tree in the morning but that was about it until FC arrived.

Baker90 · 14/12/2021 11:07

All main in the morning, then we did tree pressies rather than stockings, after lunch.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 14/12/2021 11:08

One family gift on Christmas eve. Stockings (from Santa) before breakfast. Everything else after breakfast as and when they want.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 14/12/2021 11:12

I just chuck DS headfirst into the pile of presents and sit back watching him while I much on a croissant and sip bucks fizz. He resurfaces eventually with chocolate around his mouth and will play happily with his toys until lunch time.

Duckfeather · 14/12/2021 11:18

When I was little we always did stocking presents first thing and then could pick one ‘main’ present before breakfast. Everything else had to wait until after lunch and the Queens Speech, regardless of whether we were at home or visiting family. We also had to do the one present per person at a time thing.

With my kids (7&3) I do stockings first thing. Then we get dressed, sorted, mimosas for the adults and virgin ones for the kids! Breakfast and then settled in the living room. Kids can open as many as they like then but we do try to encourage them to pace themselves a bit. It hasn’t worked yet! I don’t think I’d have it in me to make them wait all day. I think my brother and cousins must have driven our parents to distraction constantly asking if it was time to open yet!

HW1989 · 14/12/2021 11:21

We always spread the presents out. Stockings first thing, then the rest gradually throughout the day (mum was always good at remembering what was what and when best to open it). We remembered what everyone had got us and had time to play with each present this way.
I’ve worked with families who open all the presents in a mad rush and have no idea what was from who or sometimes even which gift was meant for them!

FairlyOddmother · 14/12/2021 11:22

All at once, before breakfast here. Although, last year we found 2 wrapped presents which had been missed in their hiding place; DC overjoyed to get a couple more unexpected gifts on the 27th. (Might do this on purpose this year ...)

slaybell · 14/12/2021 11:33

I remember having to wait for what felt like AAAAGES for my Dad to have a bath and a coffee before we were allowed in the room where the presents were (probably wasn't that long but as a child on Christmas morning it felt like hours). Even the stockings were in there!

We have the kids on our bed with stockings first thing. Then we get clean and dressed and go downstairs to open the presents under the tree. I can't imagine making them wait any longer. Seems harsh to see them there and not be able to open them