We are phone and letter contact only with my very difficult mother. She can see the children, but has chosen not to bother for nearly 2 years. She rings them every week and sends long letters every week also pocket money and other bits. They spoke to her sat and yesterday. We are forbade from calling her on Xmas day as she will be at her dps and after we rang her at dps last year, dp sent us a note asking us never to call dps house again. There is a long back story but you get the picture.
She has sent the dcs for Xmas a large wooden puppet theatre and puppets. Very nice gifts. I am thinking of letting them open them Christmas Eve. This is because the theatre is large, it will dominate over the other gifts and they are likely to run and open it first as it is so big. I don't want my dm being part of our Xmas even in gift form and feel its a bit passive aggressive of her to send such a physically large gift. I don't want to be talking about her and thinking about her on Xmas day. Film is with us on Xmas day and I don't want him to be asking how things are with my dm etc I feel awkward about it.
Dm would go nuts if she knew they had it Xmas eve as she is very into Santa, surprises etc.
Thoughts?