Page 15 | Christmas ruined - what do I do?

Mummytotwonow · 2023-12-21T21:58:40+00:00

My 8yr old has hunted and found all the Christmas presents wrapped up for her and her brother. I have spent bloody weeks getting the presents, organising fun things to do, school admin, whilst juggling FT work and all the other mental load women have to do. This has just fking topped it off. What’s the bloody point. Do I just tell her there’s no father Xmas and ruin Xmas for her and her brother or do I re-wrap everything? I feel like fking walking away. I’ve had enough :(

synonymed · 22/12/2023 18:51

Dacadactyl · 21/12/2023 22:03

I'd make her wrap the presents for her brother by herself.

And I wouldn't rewrap hers.

Who are you, the Grinch? What a cruel thing to do.

NonPlayerCharacter · 22/12/2023 18:57

Katbum · 22/12/2023 12:11

Can’t stand sneakiness in kids. Worst trait. Greedy little sneakies get nothing my house.

I guess even the Child Catcher has to live somewhere. Merry Christmas. Look out for flying cars.

LoveSeptember · 22/12/2023 19:04

So if she was looking for birthday presents then she might think this pile was for her birthday? I'd wrap her birthday gifts in red and white paper. She won't remember the shapes/size of the piles.

synonymed · 22/12/2023 19:05

Katbum · 21/12/2023 22:41

I would have been in so much trouble for this, and if it were my own DC, they would be getting majorly punished for this. At the very least several presents taken away and additional chores! Really bratty behaviour. Horrid.

Continuing the vicious circle then.

synonymed · 22/12/2023 19:07

NonPlayerCharacter · 22/12/2023 18:57

I guess even the Child Catcher has to live somewhere. Merry Christmas. Look out for flying cars.

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😂

Dibbydoos · 22/12/2023 19:07

We used to do this as kids....!

At some stage all kids understand that Santa's doesn't come down the chimney etc.

It doesn't ruin Christmas as long as the message about the spirit of Christmas is strong.

My DH and I told our kids that St Nic is real and he is about how we behave towards each other. Kindness, respect and love. We told them the giving of presents is for parents to do on his behalf and what you get does depend on your behaviour. We told them from being young so they knew.

Straightupscottishchick · 22/12/2023 19:19

Just open them all and leave them out unwrapped on Christmas Eve.
It's too much work now to rewrap. My daughter found one of her gifts unwrapped last year and I had to tell her that was from us and the rest from Santa.

synonymed · 22/12/2023 19:20

Katbum · 22/12/2023 12:11

Can’t stand sneakiness in kids. Worst trait. Greedy little sneakies get nothing my house.

That’s the Christmas spirit!

Mamasperspective · 22/12/2023 19:24

Tell her that presents get sent to Santa and Santa decides if the child has been good enough to receive them. That way you're not ruining the idea of Santa but also making her realise there may be consequences for her actions - I'd tell her that, now Santa knows she has opened them all, she will have to wait and see on Christmas morning and she had better be super good in the meantime

ForTonightGodisaDJ · 22/12/2023 19:33

Absolutely don't we-wrap them why would you even entertain that?

ForTonightGodisaDJ · 22/12/2023 19:34

*re-wrap even!

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 22/12/2023 19:35

Stop being such a bloody drama Queen for a start. Good God have a word with yourself 😬

DoughBallss · 22/12/2023 19:59

I ran out of time/patience and wrapped presents in front of my 3YO daughter (not hers though). Then let off a ring notification and said she had to hide because Santa was at the door to collect her presents and will deliver them on christmas

We put way too much stress on ourselves…and why should Santa get all of the glory. It’s also sad for the kids that don’t get much to think Santa doesn’t love them, so we say the presents are from us he just delivers them with the reindeers if she’s good

AmmarettoSours · 22/12/2023 20:03

Hope your feeling better now OP.
We have had similar in the past where the dc have found presents so we bought a doorknob that locks with a key for the now Christmas cupboard.
Also works to hide scissors if you have dc that like to play hairdresser 😅

Sophierx89 · 22/12/2023 20:36

I used to tell my DD that I buy and wrap the presents and that Santa just puts them out under the tree for me on christmas eve... she believed that until we eventually told her the truth about Santa this year. Everything will still be a surprise for them.

AutumnMistletoe · 22/12/2023 21:35

Verbena17 · 22/12/2023 01:39

If she was hunting round for them, surely she has a clue about Santa?
You could always use this version of truth telling…
Such a sweet idea I saw on fb last week…

ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS WHO NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA 🎅
Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."
Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it.
Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now.
So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"
Brief pause...
Son: "Yes, I want to know"
Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus"
Son: "Really?"
Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand.
The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea.
Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years.
I actually bought those myself.
I watched you open them.
And did it bother me that you didn't thank me?
Of course not!
In fact it gave me great pleasure.
You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.
When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance.
I was being Santa Claus when I did that."
Son: "Oh."
Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"
Help each other this Christmas🎄🎅 and...be kind ❤

I actually love this!!

LT1822 · 22/12/2023 22:19

Awww sounds like she was excited… I remember ripping tiny holes in all the wrapped presents to find out what they were. (Very cheeky)
I would say those are presents from you and wrap one present in different paper from “Santa”.

thegreylady · 22/12/2023 23:08

Ignore but rehide elsewhere. Say nothing else about it .

ChristmasEvemaddness · 22/12/2023 23:12

It's a rite of passage most dc look for presents... It's on you she found them. It's honestly not her fault.

It's not yours either. She will still have presents all is well. You could tell her he had to cine early and asked you to put them out!. Anything... Type out letter with father Christmas heading on it...

Dear xxz

Please hold these for me I had to drop them earlier due to the storm and time zone issue.... Etc..

It happens a lot.. It will all still be wondeful.. There have been big threads on where to hide stuff. We found in bin bags not too hidden was best. In plain site as it where

Wellhellooooodear · 22/12/2023 23:18

Katbum · 22/12/2023 12:11

Can’t stand sneakiness in kids. Worst trait. Greedy little sneakies get nothing my house.

I really hope you're a troll. If not I feel so sorry for you and your kids.

RiddlePiddle · 22/12/2023 23:21

Sorry haven’t time to RTFT but in case it’s helpful, I always tell my DC that I buy and wrap the gifts from me. Then the ones from SC are in different paper and are from him.

xcam · 22/12/2023 23:24

This is agony for you. It brings back times of sorrow when I've felt let down by the children.

Christmas lasts from sundown on December 24th right through January, until Candlemas on 2nd Feb. (Epiphany is a minor Festival falling within Christmas). So you have the option of postponing your celebrations. Tell them to sit down, absolutely still, because you have something very serious to say to them. The children need to realise that things are pretty serious; they will know what it's about. But when they're sitting down and settled, still ask them if they know. Don't rush into it. Tell them quietly and firmly-but-kindly that the present-opening has been postponed because they (is it really both?) have taken French Leave and taken a naughty sneaky peek which they know is WRONG. Check that they understand this and that bad deeds have consequences.. You've had to plead their case with Santa; now it's all sorted and they are very lucky it hasn't all been cancelled. They MUST undertake never to do such a thing again and must agree that one day they will understand all the things Mum has to do to prepare for Christmas (do they help as much as they should?). New Year's Day would be ideal. Still well within the school holidays, and a week is the right interval. Having to wait will be a perfect non-permanent atonement for their misdeed. Don't be open to ANY negotiation because it will undermine you. They will learn from this sad episode and yet have something exciting to look forward to once the big storm has died down. And you will be under far less pressure. You are right to be disappointed and right not to let it go without consequences. You need time to breathe. If you give in an inch, children naturally try to take a mile, so don't! Try to pitch it right. They must see that you are resolute and very stern, but try to keep anger and raised voice completely absent. Get their agreement to the fact that this is a fair resolution. Give them a big hug when you've finished, one on each side.
Very best wishes and please let us know how it goes.

DappledThings · 22/12/2023 23:40

xcam · 22/12/2023 23:24

This is agony for you. It brings back times of sorrow when I've felt let down by the children.

Christmas lasts from sundown on December 24th right through January, until Candlemas on 2nd Feb. (Epiphany is a minor Festival falling within Christmas). So you have the option of postponing your celebrations. Tell them to sit down, absolutely still, because you have something very serious to say to them. The children need to realise that things are pretty serious; they will know what it's about. But when they're sitting down and settled, still ask them if they know. Don't rush into it. Tell them quietly and firmly-but-kindly that the present-opening has been postponed because they (is it really both?) have taken French Leave and taken a naughty sneaky peek which they know is WRONG. Check that they understand this and that bad deeds have consequences.. You've had to plead their case with Santa; now it's all sorted and they are very lucky it hasn't all been cancelled. They MUST undertake never to do such a thing again and must agree that one day they will understand all the things Mum has to do to prepare for Christmas (do they help as much as they should?). New Year's Day would be ideal. Still well within the school holidays, and a week is the right interval. Having to wait will be a perfect non-permanent atonement for their misdeed. Don't be open to ANY negotiation because it will undermine you. They will learn from this sad episode and yet have something exciting to look forward to once the big storm has died down. And you will be under far less pressure. You are right to be disappointed and right not to let it go without consequences. You need time to breathe. If you give in an inch, children naturally try to take a mile, so don't! Try to pitch it right. They must see that you are resolute and very stern, but try to keep anger and raised voice completely absent. Get their agreement to the fact that this is a fair resolution. Give them a big hug when you've finished, one on each side.
Very best wishes and please let us know how it goes.

This is so OTT I want to believe it's satire but I can't tell anymore.

Children found some wrapped presents. They've done nothing wrong, nothing has been spoilt.

Doing anything other than shrugging, carrying on as normal and giving no other thought is ridiculous. What on earth is all that speech meant to achieve? It's all so bizarre.

THEDEACON · 22/12/2023 23:49

Naughty girls get nothing from Santa she can have the presents from you She's old enough to know she's done wrong and in my opinion to not believe the shit we tell kids about Santa

fastingworks · 22/12/2023 23:52

We live in Ireland & Santa leaves the presents in our sitting room but they are always unwrapped .
The small presents from us are wrapped & put under the Christmas tree.
Why not leave out all the presents unwrapped this year?Maybe Santa wants to save on paper🎅🎅🎅