Show me your present pile

[Namechangepleas]

Curious to see how many presents people have under their tree.
I have two dcs and never think it looks enough, I just love to see their little faces light up in the morning.

This isn't a judgy thread I'm just genuinely curious.
Here's mine ours its just presents for 2 dc. Me and dp exchanged today.

It was deliberate.

Ooh, that colour is beautiful!

I find threads like this vulgar.

OP you might not have been bragging, but especially this year there's so many people feeling shit about not being able to feed or clothe themselves and their children on a NORMAL day let alone Christmas day. Some parents can't afford shoes to send their children to school in, and you're inviting people to parade their piles of presents. Just vulgar. It might not be actively boasting but it's still making too many people feel shit.

To me, this thread is just an extension of peering nosily through the windows of houses with interesting or well-decorated Christmas trees and fabulous decorations (only by invitation this time, rather than stealthily). Don't we all do this? Yes, some people live in huge houses, have lovely decorations and no doubt have piles of presents (or alternatively, a few eye-wateringly expensive ones). But it's nice to borrow some additional colour and festive cheer regardless. It is possible to enjoy things which others have without necessarily feeling envious or sad about them.

@Cosmicdreams I love the snow melting effect!

This was 11pm last night, it’s chaos now of course.

Theres huge difference between free speech though and then telling someone that they shouldn't be posting things because they dont agree.

Shame you can't differ between the two.

If only there sad a way that you didnt have to click this thread and read it? Let alone attempting to berate the person who started it?

I take it you also comment on these types of pictures all over other social media platforms? Or do you reserve it for here because you know you can hide behind your berating comments?!

I refuse to post on this thread. I hope we are teaching our children other values. Possessions don’t make us happy. What would make me happy is another cuddle with my father, a crazy Christmas dance with him! Or watching tuck into his sister’s Christmas cake which he loved! Make these memories folks! X

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted photos. I struggle with Christmas for various reasons, and have no presents under my tree (not a pity party - I go to my parents' for Christmas and my gifts are all there!) but seeing your photos reminded me of being a child and going into the living room to see what to me looked like a huge stack of presents (but was probably not as many as I think!)

It made me feel some positive nostalgia, which was very much welcome. Thank you.

A bike people just wrap in a ribbon with a bow?

Does anyone not just scroll past threads with a very obvious title where they obviously disagree or aren’t interested in the subject. It ruins mumsnet, every single thread someone has to have a dig, snide comment etc.

Not being funny but mumsnet is full of people bragging all year round…. About much much worse than a few gifts under a tree. We’ve got photos from the 80s of us with a sick of gifts. We didn’t have much money but my family worked hard to make Xmas special.

If social media had been around those photos would be online I’m sure.

They are from my daughter and she tells me it was The Works.

That's how I feel too.

Apart from one picture obviously posted as a joke, I've seen nothing indicating excess for the sake of it, but a lot of love and care put in to making Christmas as special for their children as they can. It reminded me of my Christmases past and happy times in what was often a very unhappy childhood.

We don't know what the posters on this thread have been through this year, who they may have lost, anything. It is good to see other people's excitement and happiness and I say that waiting for a call back from 111 as my very unwell, bedbound husband has become more unwell overnight.

There has to be room for joy as well as the inevitable sorrow in life, there is enough of that.

All for DS who is 18 months. Me and partner exchanged gifts last night. This is just from us and my parents, we’re having a second Christmas at the sun laws tomorrow. I know my son is spoiled, but that’s my choice how much I want to buy him 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh gosh @CPL593H i hope your husband is doing ok, that’s way more important than anything else, no matter the time of year.

I feel very sad for people who have to come onto a thread like this and be nasty - there isn’t any need for it at all and I kind of feel that if you can be that bitter at Christmas then you must be a very unhappy person generally.

I love most of this thread - I hope everyone’s had as much fun watching it all unwrapped!!

Mumsnet - a place to be shamed for:

Having too many presents
Not having enough presents
Putting the tree up in November
Putting the tree up on Xmas eve
Taking the tree down on boxing day
Adding to landfill
Having too much food in
Not having turkey for Xmas lunch
Saying Santa instead of Father Christmas

Etc etc

I'm not a fan of show off present pile posts. BUT the post title clearly states what it's about so just avoid if you don't want see. There really is no need to be offended by everything constantly.

There are posts with people fretting over which £5000 handbag to buy or what cruise to go on next summer. There are posts by adults who have bought several £200+ advent calendars. There are posts from people who can't afford to buy gifts and are sitting in the cold as they're worried about paying bills. Sadly there will always be these extreme differences within society. Mumnet is no different.

Just for me and my partner

It's just what people enjoy doing.
It helps them to feel proud of how much they have bought and boosts their ego I guess.
If you look at family youtubers they are all full of huge hauls/ mountains of presents.
It's all "look what we bought. I bought this and I bought that".
It doesn't appeal to me personally but I know some people like that type of thing.

I'm a single mum and I managed to spread the cost this year.
Their father (a compulsive gambler) never contributes. They don't have grandparents or extended family who buy for them. It's literally just me.
I must admit I had a moment when I looked at the presents (they had about 12 quality presents each) that I had carefully chosen for my children.
They loved each one of them and were so appreciative.
I just thought to myself "I did this on my own, and I did okay".

I think op and others who contributed were perfectly aware a thread like this might spark a 'discussion.' It's fine to spoil your kids and it's fine for others to observe that your children are spoilt when you broadcast it on the internet. That's kind of how it works.

I love these threads. I love seeing peoples piles, it fills me with excitement how ever big or small the pile is.
I didn’t take a photo this year, our pile was small (2 teens and me), when they were small we had big piles but now it’s not as exciting yet more expensive.

Am I missing something here?

Why are people so angry at this thread? Is it bragging? Is it showing off? Or is it just sharing lovely pictures of their trees and presents?

I'm single, alone, with no one. No tree, no presents, nothing, but seeing this thread brings me a little bit of joy and hope that one day, I'll be able to have a lovely Christmas too.

Thank you OP for starting this.
Merry Christmas x

I can’t quite fathom the competitive misery, why piss on peoples chips, different strokes for different folks.

Misery isn’t really a trait anyone should be having.

Merry Christmas everyone.