Not to buy new wrapping paper for SC?

[readystdygo]

Every year I buy new wrapping paper for my two kids. I wrap each kids in different paper so they can tell whos is whos.

I then wrap my step childs in whatever paper I have left. Step child is not here on christmas day.

I was discussing this with a friend and she said its wrong that step child dont get new paper too? I cant see how it makes any difference?

I don't really get the "new paper" thing tbf, but you're treating your stepchild differently and that stinks. How would it make you feel? How would you feel if someone did that with your child?

I wouldn't know if they used different paper though?

Not a big deal, I would have ensured my former SC would have had new paper and more than the others put together and it still wasn’t right. You can’t win so just do what you think.

So it makes a difference to your own kinds but not the step child? Newsflash, it makes no difference to anyone. The only difference here is how differently you treat them. They could all get "whatever paper is left" as far as I am concerned.

Maybe SC's biological father could buy the new wrapping paper and actually wrap the presents?

A roll of wrapping paper costs a couple of pounds. Buy your SC their own paper.

I dont put labels on my kids so I need the different paper to tell whos is whos though,

When step child is here, its only them opening the presents so makes no difference if its different paper.

He helps wrap all the presents. I just buy the paper.

Had the SC given any indication they care?

Are these presents in addition to the ones they get from your husband or are they from both of you? If the latter, it's not great- not because the paper is a problem but the attitude that says they get whatever's left over. I think if your husband is also buying presents and taking care over them, it's a bit different.

But you know. And your dc will. You're treating your sc differently.

Maybe it doesn't make a difference to wrap SCs presents in any old paper logistically, because they open theirs the day after, but if you buy special new paper for each kid each year, then it seems wrong to treat SC differently.

You don't need different paper, just labels.
I don't care either way, I just wouldn't personally choose to waste paper every year.

Presents are from both of us... its not him or my presents. Its from US.

I think it's totally irrelevant - she's not buying new paper as a special treat, she's doing it so she can wrap all of one child's presents the same and not have to label every single one. If SC's presents aren't going to get mixed up with the others, it doesn't matter. No child gives a shit what paper they get.

Surely if the point of the different paper is to differentiate presents when multiple people receive them at the same time, but the SC is the only one opening them when he or she is there, it’s fine.
I reuse old Christmas wrapping paper for both kids and put labels on the presents though, I’ve never thought it needed to be different papers!

I dont waste it, I keep it and use it the following year

As long as the SC is being treated the same more broadly, in terms of spend etc, I cannot see what difference thr paper they are wrapped in makes. Only OP knows Paper A is child 1, Paper B is child 2. SC isn't there when they are opening theirs, and quite honestly what child cares enough about the paper to even notice. Having different paper per child is the odd thing in the first place. Use the leftovers - otherwise what gets done with it? Thrown out?

The opening line of your post is "Every year I buy new wrapping paper"

If their dad doesn't care then wrap the presents how you like, bit you are also dismissing his children as unimportant, it doesn't matter if they don't know about the paper tradition you and their dad know.

I thought you bought new paper?

But the only reason the OP’s own kids get different wrapping paper for each child is so they can tell whose presents are whose on Christmas Day - eg, in a pile of gifts under the tree, Child A’s presents are the ones wrapped in red and Child B’s are the ones wrapped in green.

Child C isn’t there on Christmas Day, so their presents don’t need to be wrapped in a third colour because they’re not going to be mixed in with Child A’s and Child B’s. C’s gifts can be wrapped in either colour because they’re not in the same pile as A’s and B’s and there’s no chance of confusion.

Which is correct.... It doesn't say I bin what's not used... I keep it for the following year and use it to wrap other peoples that are not my kids.....

I get what you mean, my kids get a roll each to save labelling, leftover bits then wrap all labelled gifts. I don’t really see an issue tbh so long as dsc gifts are labelled. I’ve wrapped the dcs gifts in “another child’s wrapping” as they were having big gifts whereas teenagers have small ( expensive) presents.

I do think that's an issue then- not the paper but the attitude of "my kids have new, SC have what's left". I appreciate you're doing it for practical reasons but it's not great.