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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:
PenguinsDontEatStollen · 19/12/2013 11:16

Nope, I am with you TOTALLY OP.

We have stockings after 7am in our room with us. We would probably be considered exceptionally cruel because we don't allow other presents (except possible one) until after we have all come back from church and settled down with drinks, so often after midday.

If they were both up I'd allow a bit earlier than 7, but if DD1 wandered in at 5.45 she would certainly be sent packing to go back to bed.

littlemrssleepy · 19/12/2013 11:16

I'm dreading it. My 6 year old ds woke at 3:30am for his birthday this year. Sent him back to bed but he kept coming in until he finally fell back asleep for about an hour and a half at 5am. Mind you last year he was so excited and awake so early on Christmas Eve that he slept til 7:30am on Christmas Day, as did his little sister. This is the latest they have ever been asleep for. Oh the irony. I reckon I might put him on my treadmill for an hour or two this christmas eve Xmas Smile

LittleMissGreen · 19/12/2013 11:18

I don't make them sit looking at their stockings until 7am - they are downstairs with the other presents. (Now that would be cruel! Grin)
We don't open main presents until after lunch so stockings at 7 is quite reasonable.

girlywhirly · 19/12/2013 11:19

I remember getting up at 4am as a kid and going downstairs, and I was allowed to open one present, on the understanding that I would go straight back to bed and sleep afterwards. And I did, that one present was enough to help me contain my excitement.

However, if your DC have grown up with the 7am rule I think you should stick with it if you know they will be grumpy and spoil the day. I gather your ILS have not experienced being woken at 4am and having to deal with the fall out themselves (assuming that you will) so they should do as you ask. They had their turn to do things their way when they had their DC and were younger and able to cope with early hours waking, I bet they wouldn't be so keen unless they are insomniacs.

We used to do stocking opening in bed (around 7am,) then get washed, dressed and have breakfast before opening the rest of the presents. If you've always done things this way it's a whole lot easier.

Original poster
FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/12/2013 11:21

They're still little and we hang the stockings on our bed - dd2 needs help opening things.

When they're bigger I'll probably put the stockings in their room and let them open them on their own.

OP posts:
Badvocatyuletide · 19/12/2013 11:21

That's why we do stockings...gives us time upstairs to wake up have a coffee whilst they open them :)
Both boys have promised they won't get up til 7 this year....we shall see...

ParenthoodJourney · 19/12/2013 11:23

I don't think you are being unreasonable regarding presents. 7 am seems a decent time. My grandparents held Christmas and there rule was no presents until after Christmas lunch! This was like torture for us! I hated it.

However, with stockings - If my DS wakes up at 6am on Christmas day I will let him open his stocking. I would try and encourage him to go back to sleep though because it is such a long day for them and I can understand why you would want them to stay asleep as long as possible so they can have enough energy to enjoy the day with no tears!

kateecass · 19/12/2013 11:31

We don't open our presents until after lunch!! The kids don't mind (they are 5 and 7). Santa brings a couple of presents which are in the stocking anyway which they open on our bed when we are all up. They like to sleep late so they usually get woken up by me once I get bored of waiting at about 8.30!! There is usually so much going on with relations there that they hardly get the chance to see that they hardly even notice! If they complained though Id probably let them open one from under the tree!!

VenusDeWillendorf · 19/12/2013 11:40

It's 9am start on xmas day in our house.
But they don't believe in Santa! So hurray!

They do get presents, and a stocking of little things on their beds they can open when they wake. They mostly don't though and wait until everyone is up. In fact they make the coffee, which is an excellent thing!

We have a late evening meal the day before and they're in bed at 10 which is probably why we can be later than most.

Big pressies after lunch here also, if they want to open them then, or leave them till later. We might open a present every hour or so, if we feel like it when weve come back from our walk, and have started playing monopoly and other games. (No TV)

Research proves it does you good psychologically to delay gratification.

What better present to give them than impulse control! And it means no one is strung out and exhausted by 10 am.

Phaush · 19/12/2013 11:45

It'sa 6am line-in-the-sand in our house but it applies on Xmas day too. Santa might not have come if you go down earlier, obviously!

poshfrock · 19/12/2013 11:50

Ours can open stockings when they get up but everyone waits for presents until after breakfast eaten ( and washing-up done). I don't see anything wrong with a bit of delayed gratification. When we were kids we couldn't open them until after we came back from church at about midday. I don't remember anyone complaining.

mrsyattering · 19/12/2013 11:51

We have a similar rule, anything before 7am is still night time! and they get sent back to bed. I had to wake mine at 10 last Christmas!! They have there stockings, but generally they sleep late. Then pile into our bed once it's morning :)

ImaginativeNewName · 19/12/2013 12:39

Oh God I remember waiting forever for my father to drag himself out of bed (usually hungover and grumpy Grin) on Christmas morning as a kid. It was torture!

I am like Hec, as excited as them usually but them again if my children were still in bed at 7am Christmas miracles would be being mentioned as we are still in the 6am waking in general phase.

curiousgeorgie · 19/12/2013 13:36

Both my DD's are lazy and will probably stay in bed till around 8.30 as normal..

I will definitely be coughing, making the dog go and jump on DD1's bed, being generally loud to get them up as early as possible!!!!

LeBearPolar · 19/12/2013 13:45

DS is allowed to come through to us at 7 am, and we head down to open stockings then. He'd hate to open it in his room by himself! Tree presents after lunch so I always make sure there's plenty to do in his stocking.

We find presents after lunch makes the magic of the day last that bit longer: we save a present for bedtime too (usually something snuggly like a new hot water bottle, pjs or similar).

DoingItForMyself · 19/12/2013 14:04

I tell my DCs they can open their stockings if its 5am or later, but not to wake me up until 7am!

My DM used to put an alarm clock on the landing (set to 5am!!) so that we didn't wake/get up too early, but one year she was so excited she came and woke us all up before it went off Grin

We would always have to wait for my dad to make tea and have a cigarette before he came in and we could start opening things. I insist on a Brew too, if Im' going to have to feign surprise and delight I need caffeine!

I don't think YABU to make them wait until 7am, they have all day to enjoy their presents and having to wait a little while builds suspense.

kerala · 19/12/2013 14:08

Stockings first thing presents after lunch in this house

Nancyclancy · 19/12/2013 14:21

No not cruel. My dc are allowed to get up at 6:30 at the very earliest!!
One year they got up at around 4am and by 5pm we were all knackered!
It spoilt it.

MrsDavidBowie · 19/12/2013 14:25

Presents not before 8 am here (mine are teenagers now) , stockings when we get back from friends' lunchtime drinks and homemade crackers (with nice gifts) at lunch.

WaitMonkey · 19/12/2013 15:07

Hec, that made me Xmas Grin . I'm the same.

jenniferalisonphillipasue · 19/12/2013 15:31

Not cruel at all. We have the same rule. My ds1 came in at 3 last year saying he had got a stocking. We obviously sent him back to bed. We would all be miserable if they got up too early.

MincedMuffPies · 19/12/2013 15:34

Mine have never woken up early enough for this to be an issue. It's usually around 8ish they wake me up with their stockings and I make a cup of tea to have in bed while they get stuck in.

DottyDot · 19/12/2013 15:34

We have the 7am rule as well - the one difference is that they have pillowcases with presents at the end of their beds and are allowed to open ONE present QUIETLY after 6am but before 7am, which I love, because it's fab to hear them very quietly opening a present Grin

Then they come into our bedroom at 7am with their pillowcases and it's bedlam from there on in...!

cheesypastaplease · 19/12/2013 15:35

I'm like hec, only difference dh is ax excited as me! Last year we woke the dcs up at 5 Xmas Grin. Maybe leave it till 6 this year Xmas Wink.

DuvetHog · 19/12/2013 15:46

I'm with you op, but my parents took it to the extreme!

One present when we got up (not before 8) then no more presents til after church & lunch. Was usually around 4pm when the present opening happened!

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