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?

But that's just because of the way you've put it. You could equally say one child gets a range of different Christmas wrapping paper while the other two get just one type so they can be differentiated from their sibling. Why have you decided that one wrapping paper is automatically better than a range of papers? Why would anyone even care? Especially as they aren't even opened on the same day so there is no side by side comparison to make SC feel different.

I do think it would be different if the paper was unsuitable for SC though e.g. Peppa pig for a much older SC left over from younger child's presents last year but OP hasn't suggested this is the case.

If you’re not seeing them Christmas Day i wouldn’t buy new paper. If they were all together opening their presents then of course you’d should buy them their own Christmas paper. Ignore your friend they’re making a mountain out of a mole hill

I thought you were going to say you wrapped them in used paper. Not that it was new paper, and they just didn't have their own exclusive colour/pattern.

Does anyone notice the wrapping, they're usually busy ripping it off surely?

All my wrapping is with a random assortment of paper as I personally like the variety

This is fine.
Child A gets blue paper, child B gets red paper. Then anything for SC is wrapped in red/blue/gold from last year.
SC opens presents on 27th and is delighted to get a wrapped present.

The outrage seems excessive

Presumably because she’d then be throwing away loads of unused wrapping paper.

Im a step child on both sides and I honestly would never have given a shit about this.

Presume OP has answered, but I do the same, minus the SC issue, and reuse what’s left the following year on other people who are not my immediate family! What was then point of your post!

OP, I do the same as you in regard how you buy and use the paper, but without the step child issue, so fully understand how this makes life much easier, I also do the same for my husband!

I do think you are treating them differently however and for the sake of a few quid, why would you not do the same for them, whether or not they know, you know and that should be enough!

In my experience as a step mum if you’re right you’re wrong and if you’re wrong, you’re an evil witch so of all the things the OP will be sidelined, marginalised and blamed for over the course of being a step mum, wrapping paper is without shadow of a doubt the proverbial needle in a huge haystack.

“won’t anyone think of the poor children opening their gifts at their fathers house on Boxing Day” I mean seriously Mumsnet?

ignore them OP, it’s lovely of you to consider if it’s an issue but it’s really not

I get it - I also wrap my two kids presents in different paper so we can tell the difference (and don’t have to label them - I think it makes sense)
Sometimes I have paper left for next year and sometimes I don’t. I don’t spend a fortune on it (Home Bargains £1.49 for 12 metres) and I’ll reuse what’s left to wrap other presents not for kids the following year.
You said your husband does the wrapping - does he mind what paper is used?
So long as there is no difference being made to amount spent etc I wouldn’t worry. Equally, for £1.29 in Home Bargains you could get a nice roll of paper that you will also be happy to use the following year.

Makes perfect sense. It’s a practical decision nothing else. Ignore your friend.

I can't believe anyone ever has ever cared about wrapping paper.

It’s just paper. She wraps her kids in two
lots of different paper so she can tell them apart
The rest of the paper is not inferior
some people create a drama out of anything.

For the cost of a roll of wrapping paper iI would buy another, because I wouldn't give someone multiple presents not all in the same paper. Whether that's my child my step child or auntie Margo, I just wouldn't do it.

I do think this thread blew up a bit though, not necessarily because of what you are doing but because of throwaway phrases like "whatevers left"- I would imagine to anyone with experience of being "othered" for any reason these phrases hurt.

For the environmentalists- I don't buy any paper with glitter, all is recyclable, all tape removed, no paper is wasted (is used the following year one way or another). I don't think buying 3 rolls rather than 2 is going to do any actual harm.

Keep it for next year?!?!

This is where you lost me OP. I thought your stepchild was just getting one lot of children’s paper, so it wouldn’t matter whether that was the new roll or one you already had. But what your actually doing is wrapping their presents in whatever is left, multiple different types and in adult’s paper. That’s totally different from what your bio kids are getting. It will look exactly as it is - that they are an afterthought.
If your bio kids get their own paper, all one type, then your stepchild should get all one paper too. Not the cast offs mixed up. And to your earlier reply - no, your bio kids don’t deserve more effort from you. You and your husband should be treating all of the kids the same when it comes to things that are joint from both of you.

It's wrapping paper and totally ridiculous to get annoyed about but that is the life is a step mum.

Sc gets a mixture so what. I mix the wrapping paper for my 2. I don't see the issue

She Won’t have enough left to wrap each of her children’s gifts in singular paper for identification if she uses it next year. THATS THE WHOLE POINT.

OP the intent doesn’t matter here really. It’s how you run the risk of making the SC feel.

Amy gets cute candy cane paper, Ollie gets festive green Santa paper and Maddie gets scraps. - that’s how it’ll eventually feel to your SC.

I think some people here doesn't see this as I see it.
In my opinion OP is not giving SC "leftover wrapping paper" OP is wrapping in different paper the presents of two kids to avoid to write the labels.
SC opens them on his own so there is not possibility of those presents to be mixed with other child ones.
This is not about parenting or about step parenting this is about labels avoidance.

Doesn't that mean that the SC gets twice as many presents as they get them from their other home as well?

It isn’t something I’ve ever needed to think about, but I would have thought that would be really unfair.

Buy some fecking new paper. I hope this is fake because otherwise your stepchild feels your disinterest every time you see her

If they’re all with you for Christmas Day then each gets their own paper but I can see the situation is different and why you haven’t bought them their own roll. Not every thing a stepmother does is automatically wicked!

Urgh op it's the way your phrasing it to be deliberately contentious. Theres no ned to phrase it old or new or left over

You buy different wrapping so each child on Christmas day can tell presents apart however stepchilds presents you use an assortment of wrapping paper.

Its paper.. if they are not their christmas day they won't know the difference.

God imagine having a step mother who only helps to chose the presents, buy the presents, wrap the presents, and place them ready under the tress for when her step child arrives. What a witch!