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 think it is perfectly fine.
Each year you need more wrapping paper, so you buy 2 different rolls and use most of them up on your DC.
Then everyone else gets whatever left overs you have from previous years.

No one knows this system except you (but you foolishly told friend).
No one probably cares or notices either.

No, they won’t know, because they aren’t actually together in the same house when they open their presents.

This is such a non issue. Why does your friend even care? I’m guessing her kids have a stepmum, or she did, so she’s overcompensating in her head?

Laugh it off OP, you have done nothing wrong at all.

But she’s only using different paper for her children so they know who’s present is who’s - not for some sort of special treatment. If the step child isn’t there on the day then it’s irrelevant what wrapping paper they have surely

Well i just assumed they would be wrapping the kids presents before Christmas and before the husbands kids came, but its fine they will know by who's is who's because of left over paper. It isn't the practicalities really it is the intent of the paper, and anything will do because they won't know.

I think the confusion here is that you said you use "new" paper for your own two children, and the "leftovers" (suggesting old or previously used paper) for your SC. If you'd said every year you buy "specific" or "different colour" paper for your children who can then tell the difference on Christmas day, and use a mixture of the two plus other rolls for the SC who will open them on a different day, it wouldn't feel as unfair.

As long as your two children don't see "their" colour wrapping paper on your SCs presents and think it's one of theirs I can't see the harm, but for the sake of a few pounds I'd honestly just buy a new, totally different roll and call it the SCs wrapping paper.

Mumsnet users hate step mums OP, so you won’t get a balanced response here.

It’s just wrapping paper. Kids don’t give a shit. You could wrap it in a tin foil or a bin bag, and they still probably wouldn’t give a shit. Just keep doing what you’re doing.

It is just wrapping paper. I really do not think anyone cares that much about it as it goes in the bin afterwards.

YANBU, it doesn't matter what lumps of coal are wrapped in as it all turns black anyway.

Wrapping paper is wasteful and using leftover bits for the child who gets presents at a different time is fine.

I use the same roll until it's run out. And I like seeing the old favourites come back. I will reuse nice paper if it's in good condition too.

Doing all in one paper for each child is a practical thing that only makes a difference when you are all there together and there's a mountain of parcels. So no need to have a third roll for someone who will be elsewhere opening them.

The op cares though, it is a tradition she has chosen for her kids on the pretence she knows who they belong to so her children have that tradition of seeing different paper and it will be part of the fun of Christmas morning, she doesn't want her husbands children/child to be included, it might sound like it is about the paper but it isn't,.

Yabvu

Treat the kids the same fgs

Seems like a total non issue, I'm not sure how the SC will even know. If Dad has never brought it up as an issue, then your friend is making a fuss over nothing. There's only so many rolls of leftover paper you want kicking around the house.

I mean I do this but my boyfriend doesn't care about it and wraps his kids presents up in whatever paper comes to hand. Also I put my presents in gift bags and he piles his under the tree.
I'm not sure what we would do if we lived together but my gut feeling is we would continue the same way for our kids individually. As long as the present is something they really want and not of less value that I think its ok.

I actually don't know why I do it but I have done it for years and have just remembered I have wrapped one of my daughters presents in the wrong paper 😂

Oh come on people. The Step children have two christmases whereas if OP has had children with the father, her own children get their own roll of paper but 1 Xmas.

ask any child if they want more presents or specially selected paper and I k ow how they’ll answer.

The Sc will also have two houses, two holidays a year if they’re lucky, two sets of birthday celebrations etc etc. They’re not going to give a stuff about the paper and if they do they’re into megabrat status

When I say old paper... I mean last years, so for example my kids had red and blue paper last year, Step childs has been wrapped in both blue, red and then some left over gold as I didn't have enough of either.

I dont reuse paper. It gets opened and then goes in the bin.

My kids paper this year are both white with different Christmas themes on them. .. So next year I would wrap my step child's in those papers and If I didn't have enough left I would normally use some of the left over adults paper.

She uses the left over apart for SC clearly

It's not about the paper, it's about treating the children differently. I was a step child growing up and things like this are a death by a thousand paper cuts. It all adds up to a larger, hurtful picture.

If I understand correctly, the OP isn't re-using "old" paper that has wrapped presents before, just paper left on the roll from last year, so still "new" unused paper.

Her own kids get different paper from what they had last year and also different from each other. The SC also probably gets different paper from last year, it's just that their paper is a year behind as it's the same design as one of her kids had last year.

Does that make sense?

I don't think Christmas paper designs go out of fashion that quickly (unless it's based on a particular film character) so i doubt the SC will notice.

Some of these replies are complete madness. OP, you said your SC isn't even there christmas morning so it's not glaringly obvious and honestly, it's what's under the paper they want, I cant imagine anyone cares about wrapping paper. it sounds like you are only wrapping your kids in different paper to differentiate whose is whose. Sounds like a non issue to be so carry on doing what you do.

Quite the reach. Making assumptions to paint OP in a negative light. It makes absolutely no difference to SC what their presents are wrapped in.

Theres a logical reason for OP to do what she’s doing. She can differentiate her kids presents and then use the left overs for the presents which don’t need to be differentiated from the others. Means no waste.

People will use anything as a stick to beat step parents with lol

I really couldn't get excited about this.

Basically OP is saying she uses one paper for DC1 and another paper for DC2 so that everyone knows which presents are their without having to write labels.

When DSC opens their presents they are the only child opening them, so they not need to be identified and therefore they can have a variety of different papers.

OP's wording is what's upset friend (and others here) but I can't imagine any of the children would care or notice the actual process.

I think it's rubbish that your SC gets a hodge podge of whatever's left, while your own kids get nicely matching paper.

It's irrelevant whether it's brand new or was bought last year, but just chucking together whatever is left in a mish mash is a bit shit

I don't think that OP is saying she wraps her SC presents in paper that has already been used. I think she is saying that there is always enough paper left between the two roles she buys for her children to wrap the SC presents.
I have to say I have no idea what my kids wrapping paper is like at their Dads compared to other step siblings but I do know they both come home a metric ton of nice presents. Son is getting an ipad from his Dad and daughter has had a the most expensive year ever with driving lessons etc from myself and her dad and she will get even more presents from him and her step mum