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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas guests

43 replies

Justbenice1 · 22/11/2019 16:28

We are having a few friends and family staying for Christmas (adults). Would you say it is reasonable to expect guests to get up with the host family on Christmas morning when the family get up so we all get to do presents together rather than miss that bit and just get up when breakfast is served?

What does everyone think? I'm undecided. All the other days I certainly think people can stay in as long as they like but Christmas morning is special for the family... Surely the guests would want to join in (and help with breakfast prep) on the one day?

All opinions welcome

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 22/11/2019 18:32

On Christmas morning, anything past 7 is a luxury for me! But reasonable for guests.... 8 ish?

BarbedBloom · 22/11/2019 19:22

Honestly it depends on the time. My friend's children are up from 5am and she starts breakfast at 6am. I wouldn't be thrilled with that to be honest. But 7ish would be fine by me. You may struggle if there are any teens though Grin

BarbedBloom · 22/11/2019 19:23

Just saw I missed the adults in brackets.

HeddaGarbled · 22/11/2019 19:29

I don’t think the family present opening should be compulsory for your guests. In fact, it would be nice to have that as family time. However, I wouldn’t be serving them breakfast. You’re not running a hotel.

Drum2018 · 22/11/2019 19:29

Will there be any kids for santa? If not then I think it's unreasonable to expect guests to get up too early to open presents. Surely that can be done at any time of the day. I would expect them to get up and either offer to help with breakfast or clear up after it, but not at the crack of dawn Grin

FinallyHere · 22/11/2019 19:33

It would be kind to have a conversation with the guests so that together you work out a rough schedule for the days.

Much better than guesswork and misunderstandings leading to resentment.

Original poster
Justbenice1 · 22/11/2019 19:40

Thanks so much for your input I really appreciate it. The timing will be about 7.30-8 so not ridiculously early. The one person who has a problem with it is an adult, not a teen. I don't mind them staying in bed till 5pm if they so wish on the other 6 mornings they are here for, it's just Christmas morning. It's more my Ds 8 that would miss them being there for present opening... But I'll take what you say, oh wise mumsnetters, thank you. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Justbenice1 · 22/11/2019 19:42

And Hedda... If I'm honest, I do get treated a bit like I'm running a hotel Confused

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HeddaGarbled · 22/11/2019 19:45

Present opening as a ritual/performance is not everyone’s cup of tea.

FinallyHere · 22/11/2019 19:50

It's more my Ds 8 that would miss them being there for present opening...

Really?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 22/11/2019 19:55

But will your DS be opening all of his presents that early or just a stocking? I would have assumed that you wanted some privacy for early morning presents and the big round of gifts was coming later on.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/11/2019 19:56

Could you open stockings in the morning, and other presents in the afternoon? That’s what we do, and the stocking presents kept the kids happy during the morning, and then opening the rest in the afternoon spun out the pleasure - and would enable your guest to have a bit more of a lie in.

HeddaGarbled · 22/11/2019 20:09

Some hotels offer help yourself continental breakfasts 😉

4forkssake · 22/11/2019 20:12

What time will you be up with your 8 year old? Who is the adult in question? (grandparent/aunt or uncle or just friend). We used to have a few family members staying over & they'd all (but one) get up when the kids got up (rarely before 7.30/8) & the other one would wander down when they were ready. That was fine, as would it have been if they all wanted to stay in bed til later. But we open Santa presents first (Santa brings a few things - all the presents from us), & we didn't make the kids wait til they came downstairs. Then we open family presents later in the day, which is when the adults open their gifts. So the kids would always get to open the relevant presents in front of the aunt/uncle/grandparent/family friend who they were from. Breakfast isn't a big deal, some toast/croissants/fruit/cereal grabbed when you want it.

jomaIone · 22/11/2019 20:36

I can't understand why some people are so miserable.

Christmas is for kids. Who wouldn't want to get up and see the joy of an 8 year old seeing Santa has been and opening their presents?? Seriously.

Also who doesn't serve breakfast for guests???

HeddaGarbled · 22/11/2019 23:37

who doesn’t serve breakfast for guests???

Someone who got up early for the children and now has a Christmas dinner to cook.

Original poster
Justbenice1 · 22/11/2019 23:58

Not a normal guest... An adult who is treated as part of our family so they don't have to be alone at Christmas. And being as they they stay not only for 7 days/nights at Christmas but at least 5 other times through the year. I guess I just (for one day) wanted them to join in with the family.

Perhaps I'm being too precious. I really do appreciate all your comments and input. Thank you. Xxxxxx

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 23/11/2019 00:14

If I were staying at someone's house at Christmas, I would probably stay out of the way for present opening as I would assume you would prefer it to be parents and children only. Unless you told me I was welcome, and the time, and I would make sure I was up. I can't, honestly, say I would wish to be up early on any occasion but I would make the effort if truly wanted!

Original poster
Justbenice1 · 23/11/2019 01:09

I understand your point Leeds. But if you were asked and welcomed you would? Also, why choose to spend your Christmas with a family if you didn't want to join in for the day in question? Hmmm it's a tough one, but I guess I'm going on how I would be in someone else's home if I'd been invited. I'd join in with everything I was invited to... Or why not just go it alone? Surely it's not just about joining in with Christmas dinner? Not when said guest had declared that want to stay a week.... Confused

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/11/2019 15:14

How about stocking presents first thing, while the adult guest has a lie in, and the rest of the presents later, @Justbenice1? We always do it that way, and it does work well, I promise.

CointreauVersial · 23/11/2019 15:21

Yup, stockings first thing (with just you), then other presents later, all together.

I don't know about you, but if I'm staying over in someone's house I would always get up once I heard people moving about. But it is probably rude to insist a guest gets up according to your timings. They have the whole day to be sociable.

merryhouse · 23/11/2019 15:33

When do the adults open their presents?

When I was little we used to open our presents without any adult presence (they'd all been to Midnight so really didn't want to be up at 6). In my teens we were staying at home rather than going to Granny's for lunch and we (at my suggestion, I think) switched to the afternoon. Husband and I have continued with afternoon presents throughout sons' childhood (they have stockings when they wake).

choli · 23/11/2019 16:47

Who wouldn't want to get up and see the joy of an 8 year old seeing Santa has been and opening their presents?? Seriously.
Pretty much anyone who is not that child's mother.Grin

GoGoLego · 23/11/2019 16:55

Depends on the family set up I guess

In our family we might have breakfast together. But whenever we had people for Christmas or we were visiting. Christmas morning was when we had immediate family time. Opening presents and stocking in the bedroom then came down for about 11 for the main festivities and more presents

StarlingsInSummer · 23/11/2019 17:04

We have the inlaws staying this Christmas for the first time, and if they want to see five year old DS opening presents, they’ll have to get up when we do!