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Christmas

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

Does anyone not like receiving gifts/unwrapping them?

21 replies

Autumncolourlover · 11/11/2020 22:14

When I was a child I'd hide under the bed at my own birthday parties and cry. I wouldn't open presents in front of people and my family got really upset about it. I don't remember not wanting to unwrap presents as a young child but certainly as I got over the age of 10. It made me anxious. I didn't like surprises. It's got worse as an adult and I'm in my 40s now and my mum still despairs with me about it. I prefer the presents all wrapped looking pretty. I love the paper, the ribbon, the bows and spend hours lovingly wrapping the gifts I give. I feel sad when they are no longer wrapped. I love giving other people gifts and am always told how thoughtful I am with my choices but if someone were to give me something and I had no clue what it was I'd be so anxious and not want to unwrap it. I'm always very grateful and usually love whatever they've bought but that unwrapping is not nice for me at all. I've managed to be brave when the children give me presents but I'll sit there until everyone else has opened theirs on Christmas Day and try to postpone things as long as possible. It's silly I know and I wish I could tear open presents with wild abandon and love surprises but I just can't. Is anyone else like this about presents?

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 12/11/2020 00:08

What are you afraid will be in there?!

ShakeaHettyFeather · 12/11/2020 00:29

Sounds like my autistic boys - the stress of not knowing what a big present might be, will it be disappointing, being expected to fake gratitude or look interested in something they don't want... it's all too much.

So they know in advance what their main birthday and Christmas presents are, and everything else is low-key and cheap - if they like what's in their stockings etc, great, but no stress if not.

OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack · 12/11/2020 01:14

I find it excruitiatingly embarrassing to unwrap gifts in front of anyone else. I always have. Im on the autistic spectrum so i think its tied in with that and me not knowing how im supposed to react and people being disappointed by me not seeming excited enough about what ive unwrapped. Id much rather be in a room by myself to unwrap my gifts but unfortunately thats not how we do christmas so i just have to get on with it but inside im cringing the whole time. on the other hand i love giving other people gifts and making sure they are happy with them ha!

Weirdfan · 12/11/2020 01:34

I dislike it but I'm not sure why, it's definitely something to do with being watched while I do it but I'm not consciously anxious about not knowing what it is/how to react, it's more that I dislike being 'centre of attention' I think. It's quite a strong feeling though, like I want the earth to open up and swallow me and I'd be much happier doing it alone if I didn't know people would think I'm weird Blush

Mustbethewine · 12/11/2020 06:32

I find it very awkward to unwrap gifts infront of people and really don't enjoy it Even if I know what it is. I'm so self aware of my facial expressions and body language. It's even worse when its the giver that's watching you.

thelegohooverer · 12/11/2020 07:09

It’s funny, but I remember as a child my mother being very disapproving of the growing trend at birthday parties to open presents there and then. She was a stickler for good manners and firmly believed that gifts should be opened privately and a thank you letter written.

I can see her point. I don’t feel as strongly as others on this thread, but I don’t really enjoy getting gifts. I’m not sure I can put it in words - it’s something about being obligated or beholden for something I didn’t ask for or particularly want. I think it’s rooted in emotional manipulation in my childhood because it’s a very deep instinct and not remotely logical. I play along on birthdays and Christmas but I’d honestly be happier not to get gifts.

OP, you are completely entitled to feel how you do. Just because your reactions or desires don’t conform to convention doesn’t make you wrong.

These are just some brainstorming suggestions that might help

Would it be easier if you were told what the gift was before opening it?
Could your partner or another adult find out from your dc for you and let you know before hand?
Could you ask adults to tell you theirs in advance so you can enjoy the wrapping knowing what is under and have time to process it.
Could you use a wishlist?

Or would it help if your gifts were in boxes or bags so that the wrapping wasn’t destroyed in the process of opening it?
This is something you could ask for, as a reasonable accommodation or encourage in your dc for environmental reasons too.

Would you rather open them privately?
You might be able to create a sense of privacy by half turning away to open, ducking your head so people aren’t seeing your face.

OhioOhioOhio · 12/11/2020 07:13

I agree. I hate surprises. It's so, so stressful. I had an ex hu who would do big surprises and then the reality was you'd get something decidedly mediocre and being duty bound to be so impressed and grateful. I fkn hated it. Still do. Something else he ruined.

OneLinePlease · 12/11/2020 07:23

Made me think of an autistic friend. So I don't think you're alone in feeling this way. X

Lovemusic33 · 12/11/2020 08:59

My dd2 has ASD and doesn’t like surprises, she helps me wrap most of her presents so she knows what’s in them. We don’t open gifts from relatives in-front of them as dd gets too anxious. I’m not that keen on surprises, I hate having to pretend I like things that I don’t 😂

Lovemusic33 · 12/11/2020 09:01

@OhioOhioOhio

I agree. I hate surprises. It's so, so stressful. I had an ex hu who would do big surprises and then the reality was you'd get something decidedly mediocre and being duty bound to be so impressed and grateful. I fkn hated it. Still do. Something else he ruined.
I had a ex who presented me with a huge box one year, he was super excited about giving me the present, turned out it was a small present inside a huge box with a brick at the bottom, I didn’t know how to react as the gift was a really cheap nasty watch 😐😐☹️
Autumncolourlover · 12/11/2020 10:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I do hate being the centre of attention and always have.

OP posts:
Weirdfan · 12/11/2020 10:29

Me too Autumn, so much so that I even talked DH into eloping as I couldn't stand the thought of being gawped at Blush

treeeeemendous · 12/11/2020 11:18

Omg this is me! I hate surprises in any form. I always read the end of a book first and quite often read the synopsis of a film before I watch it.

Stroan · 12/11/2020 11:47

I'm ok with presents from close family, but find it really awkward to open things in front of others. I always feel rude doing it, but lots of people insist. It's something about having to show enough gratitude for the gift. Even if I do like the gift, I feel that I have to overdo it with my thanks until it feels fake.

LindaEllen · 12/11/2020 12:06

Interesting to hear so many replies about autism. I'm not (to my knowledge at least) autistic, however I've always hated opening presents in front of people. I think it's because they sit there excited, waiting for you to love what they've bought you, and be super grateful. I never say if I don't like a present, I'm always overly happy to their faces, because I want them to feel good. I do think there is a lot of selfishness about gift giving, people want the endorphins from watching someone they love, love what they've received. I worry about opening gifts and not liking them.

It's not as bad at Christmas when everyone is unwrapping, but I really don't like my birthday!

haba · 12/11/2020 12:35

My children both have autism, and Christmas/birthdays have become so much more pleasant and enjoyable for all since we realised that discussing presents and letting them know what the main ones would be ahead of the day (often six-eight weeks ahead!) helped them with their anxiety.
They've both already had their Christmas presents this year! Both completely chilled about any Christmas discussions people raise with them.

It took a number of horrendous November/Decembers for the penny to drop with us parents Blush

mogtheexcellent · 12/11/2020 12:45

I hate opening presents. The apprehension makes me feel sick. I would say 9 times out of 10 I hate the present thats been bought for me. No one really gets me. Including DH. Really wish they would use my Amazon list. I hate the waste of money. Nt DM is especially bad at buy thing that I class as tat.

I would rather buy my own and wrap them up. I dont think I am autistic. I am an introvert though so that may be why.

PrincessBuggerPants · 12/11/2020 13:17

No but various family dysfunctions both on my side and my husband's side have found ways to make opening presents unpleasant.

My inlaws make a horrendous meal of gift opening, making it last hours and hours at Christmas, and certain members of my family fuss and fuss about kids being spoilt and who got more, and is it fair etc.

I would examine whether certain expectations have been laid, potentially passively aggressively at your feet during childhood that has made you feel this way. You also don't have to feel any guilt about not liking surprises.

sunflowershine · 12/11/2020 13:31

It makes me really nervous too! I'm always grateful for people buying me gifts, even if I don't end up liking them for whatever reason but the pressure when you have to open them in front of the giver. Argh! Hate it hate it hate it. Honestly I have to find an excuse and go and have a quiet sit down somewhere afterwards on my own to get over it.

Interesting people saying about autism. My DD is autistic. Since her diagnosis I've noticed many of her traits that I now know are linked to ASD are the same as things I struggle with. Hadn't thought about ten present opening. DD is four, and currently seems to enjoy present opening but I will be mindful of the potential for anxiety for her!

maxineputyourredshoeson · 12/11/2020 13:34

I absolutely hate opening presents even if I know what’s in them. I absolutely hate people watching me open them. Even if I don’t like what’s in the present I always smile and say thank you but my faces initial reaction always gives me away. I love watching others open presents though.

mam0918 · 12/11/2020 13:53

do you know what causes the anxiety?

is it:

  1. the social expectations around unwrapping stuff in front of people (like the worry your reaction wont be what they want and they could be upset or angry - most anxieties are from our wierd social society obligations. If it is this was someone rude in the past to trigger it or is it a general fear similar to other anxieties you may suffer?)

  2. the unknown of whats in it (really nothing can be that bad, if this is it it was likely triggered by something and looking into that might be helpful - example did anyone ever gift you something you where scared of or grossed out by that may have remained in your subconscious)

  3. is it the thought of 'destroying' something beautiful (like tearing the paper, pulling off ribbons and wasting things, many of us a programed not to be destructive so dont like to purposefully 'break' something... if this is it then maybe a gift bag or gift box option might help negate that issue)

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