Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Am I really cruel for refusing to let dcs open presents pre 7am?

77 replies

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 10:58

Obviously I don't think I am, I just want to know what others do.

We have a rule that no one gets out of bed before 7am, Xmas day included. This works fine, dds are quite happy with this, although I did have to encourage dd1 to stay in bed as a toddler.

So on Xmas day we have the same rule. My ils think I'm dreadfully cruel - they have always let their children get up at about 4 and open presents. I think they are mad!

I just can't see the point. I'd be knackered and grumpy, the kids would be knackered and grumpy, and they don't expect to get up earlier anyway, so why encourage it?

So mumsnet jury, aibu?

OP posts:

Original poster

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 11:00

Oh, and the reason they think I am awful is because I said if the children got up earlier, I would send them back to bed.

OP posts:

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 11:00

no you are not, the thought of the children running downstairs and ripping open presents without u there is not good!!

isnt that what little santa stockings at the end of the bed are for...?

HavantGuard · 19/12/2013 11:00

'No one gets out of bed'

Presumably they're allowed to play in their rooms? That's what stocking presents are for in this house.

Original poster

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 11:01

Oh well, I don't let them have stockings either. They open them on our bed while we watch and have a coffee. AFTER 7am.

OP posts:

HECTheHeraldAngelsSing · 19/12/2013 11:01

bugger that! I'm up at 5 and have to be practically sat on by my husband to stop me going and waking the kids up

6am I can be found outside their bedroom, coughing loudly!

How do your kids feel about it, that's what matters. Not what your inlaws think.

When I was a kid, we weren't allowed downstairs until the fire was lit - although my parents would get up whatever time we woke and go and light it - and that feeling of anticipation actually made it even better.

Original poster

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 11:02

Yes, of course I don't chain them to their beds. Fine to play quietly. They don't though, they both sleep until 7ish anyway.

OP posts:

DisneyAddict88 · 19/12/2013 11:02

I don't think your mean!! we have stockings when theh wake up about 6.30 - 7 once ive got us all a drink and the biscuit tin

then rest of pressies after we have had breakfast, showered dressed and dinner is on! last year was about 1.30!!

SorrelForbes · 19/12/2013 11:03

Nope not cruel at all. Ours will have stocking a to open but no one opens anything else until everyone is up, showered, dressed, eaten breakfast and the breakfast stuff has been cleared away.

NoComet · 19/12/2013 11:03

No! I don't do mornings Xmas or not.

DowntonTrout · 19/12/2013 11:04

No one is allowed downstairs before 8am in our house.

Original poster

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 11:04

Oh, the kids are fine. It's just what you're used to, isn't it. We were never allowed to get up at the crack of dawn and didn't mind it. As you say, the anticipation actually makes it better.

You must be more of a morning person than me HEC!

OP posts:

rightsaidthread · 19/12/2013 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RubyGoat · 19/12/2013 11:05

Your house, your kids, your rules. Tell your ILs to butt out. It's hardly cruel to ensure they keep to their normal sleep routine.

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 19/12/2013 11:05

I don't think you are mean at all - presents arent just about the getting, they are also about the giving and if the givers are too knackered to actually enjoy the opening, then half the point is gone.

dd was allowed her stocking at around 6am, snuggled in bed with us after that she had to wait until our eyes were open properly and we had caffeine in our cups. Now shes a teen we don't have the issue

LittleMissGreen · 19/12/2013 11:06

Not before 7 in our house either, and no waking anybody else up.
I can't be doing with tired, grumpy children.

snowmanshoes · 19/12/2013 11:06

hmmmm, no I don't think you are cruel. I think its understandable to not let children get up at a unreasonable time but then its how strict are you with this rule? In our house I aim for 7am, but know that as long as its after 6am then I'd let them get up. (Don't tell them this obviously) Yes, I'd try and get them to stay in bed a bit longer, but with my two once they're up, they're up! DD1 usually gets up about 7 and DD2 is up anytime between 6 and 7 though so this is normal in our house and not too early from my point of view. Plus I'm usually just as excited (saddo)

ShanghaiDiva · 19/12/2013 11:06

Not cruel.
When I was a child we could not open presents until everyone had eaten breakfast and all relatives had arrived. My parents used to lock to the lounge door so there was no cheating!

CallMeNancy · 19/12/2013 11:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HyvaPaiva · 19/12/2013 11:07

YANBU, if they get up super early they are exhausted and emotional by about 11am and it can spoil their day a little.

When we were children, my DM couldn't handle her own excitement for long and, at ridiculous times like 4am, would 'check on us' and 'accidentally wake us' and say 'darling, since you're awake, shall we see if Santa's been?'

Wobblebeans · 19/12/2013 11:07

No not mean at all. Growing up, we were allowed to do what we wanted with our stockings so usually those were opened early hours of the morning and most of the chocolate eaten around 5-6am. But the presents under the tree were never allowed to be touched till everyone was dressed and had had breakfast. So usually we started on those at around 8 or 9 in the morning, and that always lasted a while

somersethouse · 19/12/2013 11:09

YADNBU. DD 5, would not want to open stocking on her own anyway. She comes in when she is awake (not before 7am!) and gets into bed with me and opens the stocking.

If she wakes me up a bit earlier it is fine, but much earlier, she would have to wait! This has not happened yet, but this year is a distinct possibility.

HaveAFestiveLittleChristmas · 19/12/2013 11:10

Always got up early when mine were young, but it is a "strokes for folks" decision. They would not have consider starting to open anything until we were all downstairs together, though.

However, I think refusing to let them open stockings before 7 is VU.
Assuming they can see them when they wake up?
It just seems that wanting your coffee in bed, wanting to see them open their stockings with you, wanting not to be woken before 7, is a little bit all about you? I am not a believer in letting children dictate how life runs ....but there is nothing wrong with being child focussed, at Christmas.

lilyaldrin · 19/12/2013 11:12

Sounds a bit mean to me - the best bit of Christmas is waking up to fine a stocking on the end of your bed!

Usually DS has to stay in his room til 7am, but I think we'll be a bit more relaxed on Christmas morning so long as it's not ridiculously early (before 6am).

Presents under the tree don't get opened til after everyone is dressed and breakfasted.

bigTillyMintspie · 19/12/2013 11:12

Always let them open their stockings on our bed when they woke up when they were little, but I don't think they ever really woke us before 7ish.

I will be the one drumming my fingers this year as they don't wake up till 10 at the earliest these days!

RubyGoat · 19/12/2013 11:13

Just remembered, people who do stockings, be warned: I vividly remember my little Dsis waking me up one Christmas, opening her stocking presents. I looked at clock, it was half past midnight. Mum was not pleased!

Flip

1 2 3 4