To be upset they started presents without me?

[JellyWellyBoots]

I told DD last night that if she wakes up early she can open her stocking and if Grandad (he lives with us) is downstairs she can go down, but don't touch any presents without me.

I woke at 7am, saw DD was up as her bed was empty, she hadn't opened her stocking just left them wrapped up still on the bed.
I go downstairs and to my horror my dad was putting together her MAIN present. I could have cried, I wanted to see the look on her face.
If I hadn't woken up when I did I would have missed it all, I got down in time to watch her open a few but she had already opened the main ones.
Am I being unreasonable to be angry with my dad? I said to him on what planet would a mother want to miss out on watching her child unwrap all the presents she'd spent hours shopping for, and wrapping.

I have put so much effort into today, & it really hurt. I'm not angry with DD as she's only 5, but surely my dad should have known better?

Or am I being a tad emotional?

Thoughtless rather than malicious but yes, I'd be really disappointed if I didn't get to see the initial reaction. I'm sorry you missed out on that.

He doesn’t need to be a mind reader because anyone other than a selfish git would know that it’s not on to sit with a five year old opening Christmas presents when the parents aren’t there.

YANBU OP - he was selfish and thoughtless, and it should have been obvious to him.

Why should she have told him? It's common sense surely

This. It's a bit of a disappointment, not a disaster.

If you think he did it maliciously that would be nasty of him and you should address it. But it sounds like it was just general lack of thought and communication and these things happen.

Even if you hadn't told him you wanted DD to wait until you were all up, it's common sense.

Out of curiosity, though, what time were you up and what time was DD up? What time did you anticipate her waking up?

Absolutely ridiculous. Wake the woman up! What is wrong with some of you 😂

My wife didn’t get to bed until about 5am but no way was she going to miss opening of the presents under any circumstances

Hopefully it was your dad being thoughtless rather than malicious. Did you tell him your expected plan in advance?

No she is not being at all precious. Who are all these posters who would be perfectly OK at missing one of the magic moments of childhood. Her Dad shouldn't need telling, the useless lump, he should have known better

Your daughter had a great time opening her presents, you didn't see it happen but you'll get to watch her enjoy the gifts. You missed ome bit but it's still been magical and amazing for her.

Mine got up and opened their presents without me one year. It's not a big deal

'Precious' ?! Don't be ridiculous

I think some people on this thread are totally unfeeling. Of course the OP wanted to watch her dd open the presents she’d bought and wrapped. As a fully functioning adult, her dad could have delayed til she woke up.

Why should he need to be told???

It goes without saying that parents like to watch their children open their gifts.

Your MIL is a bitch. Glad DH stepped in.

So you don’t care about seeing your child unwrap presents? That’s not normal. I’d be livid and so sad.

Sorry OP, and I am genuinely sorry that you’re disappointed, but I think you’re being a bit silly. Surely the joy is in them enjoying the toy, not just in the opening?

Me and my brother would always open our presents if our parents didn't get up. It never happened! Even the 3am mornings they would be up with us. Why were you sleeping at 7am?

I woke at 7am, I told DD last night while sat with my dad so that he could hear.

I honestly didn't think twice about having to explain to my 70 year old father to wait for me before the presents are opened.

I was fucking livid to be honest, he wasn't very apologetic either. I had done all hers in red and his in a different colour, they weren't to know that hence why I didn't understand why he allowed her to dive in.

He's been miserable most of the day to be honest.

I would have been so upset, I don't think YABU at all. I hope you'll be able to let it go and possibly even laugh about it in years to come, but I think being pissed off with your "D"F today is totally called for!

why didn’t you tell your dd to wake you up when she woke up?

if you were so bothered about seeing the look on her face you’d want to see her open stocking presents too rather than having a few extra hours in bed 🤷‍♀️

7 am seems late to get up with a five year old on Christmas morning. I had planned to get up at 6am but DS woke me at 5.30.

While you didn't specifically instruct your dad, he should have known better.

Was the stocking fully visible and was it obvious that it was full? Again, not excusing anything but it's best to have all bases covered.

Why didn't you get up when your daughter did? Don't blame your dad.

I am kind of with you on this. DS is told to open his stockings with us. We just stick chocolate and Pokemon cards in it so that it takes him a good 15 minutes to get through it, giving us time to go to the loo and have a stretch.

Yep I'd be livid too OP. He definitely should have known better. Those saying OP should have woken when she did - how would OP know her DD had woken up? Sadly there's nothing that can be done about it now but I hope you've still managed to have a lovely day OP.

Bet he thought he was helping by entertaining a child early on to let mum have a lie in. Why does everyone assume malign intent?

I'd be cross too and I woukdnt think it would need explaining.