To think no one does this - Christmas toys related

[EvilsElsasPetSnowman]

So MIL once did a judgy shock-face at me when, after asking if I take all the toys out the boxes and test them before Christmas Day, before wrapping them, i said “No of course not!”. She said “Oh I did with all of my kids’ toys! I made sure they had batteries in and that they worked because there’s nothing sadder than if a child can’t enjoy their present on Christmas Day”.

I pointed out that as a SAHM she probably had more time to do stuff like that than I do, and that if a toy doesn’t work I’ll replace it at the earliest opportunity, and the kids will have to live with the disappointment and that it won’t kill them, that’s life.

Anyway she went on to say that not only did she un box and then re box the toys, she would also read Lego instructions so she knew how to build the sets, and get this - if they were getting a computer game she’d set up their consoles and play the game so that if they needed help on a level she’d know what to do to help

She just kept (rather smugly) saying “I always made sure I was prepared when it came to Christmas and that my kids knew I was always there for them if they needed my help with something”. I REALLY felt like saying “Funny how you weren’t there for them when you left their dad and moved in with your new fella and his kids for a year, completely ignoring their existence and not even turning up to parents evening or their sports matches, emotionally scarring all 4 of them, but the real failure as a mother is me as I don’t play Animal Crossing before my son gets to”. But I didn’t.

I think this is totally bonkers? Does anyone actually do this?

Also how in the actual fuck would you ever get toys back in the box?! I asked this and she says “it’s easy they just go in the same as they came out”. She clearly hasn’t met vacuumed toy packaging of the 2020’s some of which needs a hacksaw to even open

YABU = Yep I do this you slovenly woman
YANBU = that’s bat shit crazy and no one does it.

😂

I’ve never actually asked. It’s a bit of a sore subject I’ll have to bring it up at some point.

I’ve never heard of this!

Mind you in our house the stocking presents are from Santa and the rest are from family and friends

I’ve worked full time in senior management roles for years but having two kids under two is by far the most time consuming job I’ve had. I used to be able to take leisurely toilet breaks at work for starters and my friend who’s gone back to work after being a SAHM said the peacefulness, toilet breaks, reasoned adult conversation and hot coffees feel like a holiday in comparison 😅

Obviously it all depends on peoples support systems both ways and yes, it would be 10 billion times easier than working FT if your kids are in nursery/school.

Firstly,it sounds like she has way too much time on her hands. Secondly, how the actual fuck does she get the toy/game back in the box?! The way things are packaged nowadays,with those wire things holding everything in place,it is damn near impossible to do. I know because I have tried!

I agree!!

People on this thread who’ve taken stuff out of boxes then put it back in - just how?!

I used to buy batteries to have at the ready. But wouldn't build something or try it in advance - that doesn't really help their skills it you do everything for them she is bull shitting you for sure.

😂

Some things are worth doing a bit of prep for just to save you hassle on Christmas Day. I always downloaded updates for consoles when the kids were smaller but now they can do it themselves and want to do the ‘unboxing’ and all of that.

clearly a lot of parents on here who don't have disabled kids. i wish i could be so carefree and unworried that a toy/console/game that doesn't work on christmas wouldn't ruin the entire day.

It just depends on what you get and be happy for it.

For consoles - I check and update them so they're ready to use....but other gifts? Nah - I can barely be arsed to open the brown boxes to check it's what I actually bought!

You’d do well to read the rest of her post.

if they were getting a computer game she’d set up their consoles and play the game so that if they needed help on a level she’d know what to do to help

bullshit. It was half believable until this bit, but that’s the biggest “never happened” I’ve read all year. You can easily prove this to be a lie by handing her basically any video game ever 🤣

Since when? Having toddlers or children with SEN doesn't give you any more free time than a parent who works.

Having children at school and not working does though
And sorry but of course SAHMs have more free time than working parents. As PP have pointed out, that’s why they’re SAHMs.

Maybe she just wanted an excuse to play computer games 🎮 😆 Seriously though OP she's making it up, she might have done a little prep but no way did she do all that.

The only reason to test lego or jigsaws is if you were buying second hand.

I came from a 'second hand where possible' family (and I have willingly kept the habit to be fair, I'm not complaining about it) but it did mean that when something was in a box and sealed etc, it was that extra bit more special because it was new. So I'd have been quite upset if a brand new present had been opened and set up already. It would make it feel as second hand as the rest of them.

Pipconkermash

I read the post,I’m just saying she lost me at her sahp comment

Thiszebraiscrossing

i left work the first time because the cost of childcare for three kids was way more than my wage and the next time because my childcare fell through and my only option was putting my kids in two different childcare settings because they didn’t have room for all of them. We were juggling like crazy with both of our managers giving us warnings in work.

The problem here is why you let it bother you.

I've been a married sahm to one child with complex special needs, and a single working mom to one child with complex special needs.

Working is sooooo much more relaxing!
Also we are out of the house all day so it is always tidy. Way less housework!

@stayathomer & @LochNessy get over yourselves. You sound like people who are professionally offended at everything. Op wasn't having a go at sahm, she's just stating a fact that her mil had more time to do these things as her time wasn't taken up with going out to a paid job too; and I say this as I myself was a sahm for years. Once the children are at school I found that there was more time to do these extra jobs.
No one's having a dig, the thread is not even about how much time on her hands a sahm has 🙄

All these people spitting feathers at the op saying mil had more time on her hands as a sahm, just calm down. You're all talking about how time consuming having toddlers is. If you bother to read the post properly you'll see she is referring to toys that older, school age children would have. Nobody is disputing that babies & toddlers take up all of your time. However, and I speak from experience, that once they're at school most mothers do have more time on their hands. Doing the housework, cooking & shopping does not take all day every day. I used to do all of that as well as go to the gym & PTA activities. You all just love to be offended don't you 🤣🤣