AIBU to think my idea of Christmas Day isn’t miserable at all?

[Brandysauce]

DH and I have a three year old and, now they’re old enough to really set out “our” Christmas Day traditions, have been constantly disagreeing on the order of Christmas Day. I have extremely fond memories (as we all do) of the way I did it growing up and think it makes great sense on the day re. presents. This is my proposal:

Stocking from Father Christmas opened first thing in the morning, brought into parents’ room and ripped open in excitement. This will consist of at least one “really exciting” present that will entertain them all morning.

Later on, the family all convene for Christmas Dinner which can stretch on for a while, all the family are there including cousins.

After lunch, the whole family moves to the living room by the Christmas tree and then the main present opening begins, taking in turns.

My DH says this is a “miserable” way of doing Christmas and that we should let DC open all presents in the morning. AIBU to want to put my foot down on this?

Father Christmas brings stockings with fun little presents. The most substantial of presents are from family. So that would be opened with the family!

Lots of families only have FC bring the stocking. Keeps life simple.

We have Santa presents at the end of the bed and presents from us downstairs but they all get opened together then breakfast and over lunch/afternoon to grandparents for presents with them and cousins. If we saved presents it would take too long!

That assumes that the only fun on Christmas Day comes from opening presents! Doesn't sound very mc to me . After lunch you go for a bracing dog walk and then play board games and parlour games, obvs.

So you just get your child a stocking, rather than a main present?

What?

No. Let me clarify once more. Father Christmas brings a stocking of presents. These are opened first thing in the morning. Family also gift presents. These are under the Christmas tree. They’re opened after lunch.

No, I know that, but most parents do buy a main present for their children. I wondered whether the OP does this or whether her family buy it instead. It would feel odd just giving a stocking to my child and no other presents.

I can’t make head nor tail of any other 🤣

But you’d been anticipating for months! Why draw it out even further on Christmas Day?

What was bad about it? What real difference did it make? Though ‘ripping open’ rather than just opening sounds a bit hectic.

Both!! Not all or nothing, let them rush in then hold them back

Father Christmas - stocking presents left in rooms, or or door handles once they're teens. He brings funky socks, gloves, new pens, chocolate coins, mini coke, Xmas toiletries, book, mini gadgets, calendar, nice magazine etc.

Main presents under the tree. All named and from family / friends. and opened late morning once family arrive, or after parkrun if you have no family like us-.

But wasn’t the anticipation of the whole of December (at least) enough for you? Why add more hours?

Because DS got so overstimulated and for me and DH it was a huge anti-climax. The way we do it now is better for us.
And I say "rip open" but DS was excitable so more grabby fists but still. DS is 14 now and enjoyed his first mass last year. We didn't open stockings until 7.30 last year. Hoping for similar this year

We always opened Christmas stockings first thing then main presents at breakfast. We also took it in turns - it made it into a ceremony over breakfast - it means everyone gets to enjoy other people’s presents and see their presents to others being opened.

I get that some kids might be overstimulated (though most love it in my experience) but an anti-climax for you? Don’t you care about anything but present opening? It’s a minor bit for me.

My point was that some presents (the stockings) are from Santa, and some are from mum and dad.

Children that think ALL presents are from Santa don't appreciate the hard work their parents put into getting gifts for them.

Doing both helps to keep the magic alive, and balance them not taking their parents for granted.

Everyone can celebrate as they choose, but OP's way is the way I prefer.
Each to their own :)

Present opening including cousins? Sorry, that sounds dreadful, even as an adult.

I still remember as a child my dad going to the effort of washing up his breakfast things himself (my mum was housewife so washing up was usually done once we all went to school/work). We would be sat in the lounge listening to my dad whistle Xmas songs while taking the time to fill the sink and carefully wash his breakfast things, dry them and put them away. We loved it. Mum would be champing at the bit to open presents and more than once say "just let me wash up" but no dad was adamant he would do it on this one day. By the time he sat down we were all "grumbling" that he'd taken too long. Fond memories

Why does opening them in the morning mean they think they are from Santa? Sure, do your own thing, but don’t make up judgements about other people’s ways which make zero sense.

Our typical day is stockings in the morning,breakfast then head off to the country park with the dog meeting all our family with their dogs,have a long walk. Then everyone goes back to theirs start dinner and changed clothes. All round to mine for champagne and nibbles. Then lunch,wash and tidy up,then the presents. The children love it as all the cousins are together running around like mad things

I think Pp is asking when they open the presents from you? Not the stocking ones

Still not sure what your point is really. Mine open all of theirs in the morning. They know who they come from, and they write thank you cards accordingly.

Not at all. By making DS "wait" we are teaching him that Christmas is not all about presents and having to open them all within 30 seconds. its about opening each gift and appreciating what someone has gotten for us. It's about the joy and spending time with family. We make it a thing to feel the present and "ooh I wonder what could be inside this one?".
It's about trying on that new coat you might have gotten rather than tossing it aside to open the next one.

Isn't it lovely how we all do Xmas differently - especially the food part. Last year was pie and chips and next year is fillet steak

Yes, opening gifts after lunch works for us - but our DC are 24 and 16 …

Good luck trying your way with a 5/6/7 year old !!