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Original poster

Consequences for child who opened presents early

139 replies

LemonadeRemedy · 27/12/2017 15:22

Just after a bit of perspective on this. My just 9 year old (nt) opened two of his Christmas presents before the big day and then hid them in the hope of not getting found out. He also unwrapped other presents and then used sellotape to tape them together again after having peeped. I'm fucking furious but struggle with knowing how to handle these kinds of issues. Wwyd if this was your child?

OP posts:
lifechangesforeverinjuly · 30/12/2017 08:07

I went and looked for my presents every single year - was part of Christmas to me! When my mum found out she started putting them in the attic so that was the end of that.. but is very normal behaviour.

healthyheart · 30/12/2017 08:21

I still peep ... and I only get one or two these days ... no impulse control me ...I would hate to get punished though 😞

JingsMahBucket · 30/12/2017 08:51

larrygrylls

It is breaking trust. Of course it is not the 'crime of the century' but neither is it 'awww, that's just what children do'. What about cheating in a test/exam if you think you won't be found out? Where is that on the same scale? He was trusted not to open the present and he broke that trust.

I think confiscation of the presents for some period would be fair.

^^ I agree with this.

And for the posters saying the lack of surprise is punishment enough, you obviously didn't read the OP's latest post saying her son didn't feel a lick of remorse and was joking about it when they were opening presents.

Believeitornot · 30/12/2017 08:53

you obviously didn't read the OP's latest post saying her son didn't feel a lick of remorse and was joking about it when they were opening presents

I suspect he was just putting on a show as most 9 year olds would.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 30/12/2017 08:59

Is my DS the only one in the whole world who enjoys the excitement and anticipation of gifts under the tree? He would hate to peek because he’d ruin it for himself!

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 30/12/2017 09:04

MN is totally out of control! What is wrong with you people? Christmas is supposed to be fun! Half that fun is wondering what the presents are and getting excited. So he was a bit cheeky and peeped. Lighten up! I feel so sorry for kids whose parents are this wound up about absolutely nothing. Must be like walking on eggshells all the time.

expatinspain · 30/12/2017 09:06

You are massively overreacting! I got caught under the Christmas tree stuffing some chocolate I had been bought for xmas down my throat as fast as I could before I got caught. My family thought it was funny. They still talk about it now. It really isn't the crime of the century.

Ilovetolurk · 30/12/2017 09:12

I’d find it quite enterprising actually

No big deal, hide them next year

Middleoftheroad · 30/12/2017 09:18

I did that as a child and I am so glad my mother never said a word. If she'd told me off I think it would have stuck with me to this day. I don't like the use of the word 'consequences' here for this minor misdeameanor. He was just being a child.

Leave him be - it's his childhood - and hide them better next year.

FoggieFishieCarpeDiem · 30/12/2017 09:31

middle

It’s not that minor imo.

The presents weren’t given to him (he therefore didn’t own them yet) and he also opened presents meant for other people...

wanderings · 30/12/2017 09:57

Christmas is a serious time, kids. I bring good news, it's real good, honest.
I bring news of what God has promised.
Santa takes a very dim view of the following, and has the coal (no wonder coal might run out) all ready for:

  • Peeking at your presents
  • Opening Advent calendar doors in advance
  • Telling others what their presents are (if you know)
  • Telling younger children the truth about Santa (having worked it out with pride)
  • Saying to anyone at school or church that the Nativity is not a true story
  • Not being "good" for Santa (whatever this means)
  • Touching the Elf
  • Not staying patient during the painfully slow process of someone in a Santa hat handing out presents one at a time
  • Not remembering to be gushing with thanks about those socks from Auntie Joan, whether you mean it or not
  • Not ruining your Sunday best clothes worn on Christmas Day (probably a bit old fashioned now)

Christmas is a minefield for the littleuns!

alittlehelp · 30/12/2017 10:01

Good grief. You are overreacting.

bullyingadvice2017 · 30/12/2017 10:11

If he wants to spoil it for himself then that's up to him. Makes your life easier, next year don't hide anything get it all chucked under the tree and if he wants to spoil it for himself then go for it!

Newyearnewyew · 30/12/2017 11:14

I was just about to say that... I was just about to say that Grin

It's so heavy, heavy.

It's totally a rites of passage one of my favourite Christmas memories was poking at package and opening it, in fact it made the gift more wonderful.. It was a lilac stationary set... I put the celeotape back.

The poor kid. Lighten up people. Blame yourself for not hiding them better, why should he show remorse... Leave the poor kid alone, hug him laugh about it, tell him not to do it again and the surprise is gone but that's all!

Newyearnewyew · 30/12/2017 11:16

Middle I agree it's the sort of moment that could stay with you and yes it's his childhood. What's wrong with people.

larrygrylls · 30/12/2017 13:18

This thread demonstrates why behaviour management is so tough in the classroom these days.

Parent asks child not to do something, child does it anyway. This is not met with disapproval and consequence (except by actual parent in this case) but somehow thought of as sweet and endearing.

Challenging boundaries is a right of passage but so is an appropriate consequence. If not when teacher asks little Johnny to be quiet and listen, why on earth would he?!

JingsMahBucket · 30/12/2017 14:06

Nailed it again larrygrylls. Some of the parents here saying it's no big deal are setting bad examples of boundaries for kids. No wonder kids don't listen to their parents nowadays. They never get punished!

Valerrie · 30/12/2017 14:09

I think it's horrible to put presents under the tree before Christmas morning. Why would anyone want to spend days looking at their presents before being able to open them. Very weird. Especially if you're a child - part of Christmas is the surprise of presents when you come down in the morning.

Valerrie · 30/12/2017 14:09

I think it's horrible to put presents under the tree before Christmas morning. Why would anyone want to spend days looking at their presents before being able to open them. Very weird. Especially if you're a child - part of Christmas is the surprise of presents when you come down in the morning.

Mrscog · 30/12/2017 14:14

I think you should talk to him about how it’s made you feel. That should be enough.

And no - all kids don’t go this! I never did!

FoggieFishieCarpeDiem · 30/12/2017 14:39

If she'd told me off I think it would have stuck with me to this day.

I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with that, tbh.

I’t not saying that I’d shame the child, make a huge fuss about it or purposely spoil their Christmas. But the presents weren’t his (at that point) and some of them weren’t even meant for him.

The fact that he didn’t even apologise makes it worse imo.

Newyearnewyew · 30/12/2017 17:13

No, it's not a symptom at all of disruly children Grin
Parenting is a 365 day a year thing. I am sure most parents on here would and do give consequences for disobedience however just not for this.
My dc have never opened anything. But if the did over Xmas I wouldn't come down on them like a ton of bricks.

Newyearnewyew · 30/12/2017 17:15

I can see how the spirit of children is being beaten out of the by the extreme micro managing exhibited on this thread and across mumsnet.

MoseShrute · 30/12/2017 17:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklemummyx0x0x · 30/12/2017 23:44

Well my DS8 still believes in Santa so all his presents are kept away until he goes to bed.
In fact most of his presents were hidden/covered up in my airing cupboard and he's never even thought to look as he wouldn't even realise they would be there iyswim. If Santa delivered his presents then why would they be at home?
The time may come yes, but I'll enjoy his innocence while I can.

As an child or adult I've never thought to look at my presents before the day, I enjoy that moment with family.

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