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Christmas

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Original poster

When the fucking fuck am I meant to wrap the presents

197 replies

Cryingatthegym · 22/12/2024 22:35

Toddler DSs wake up at the arse crack of dawn (and sometimes through the night).

Tween DD still rattling around til nearly 11pm every night regardless of how early I send her up.

They're with me all day long. Single parent. Small house. Work full time. Am I meant to just wrap through the night or something? I'm shattered!

Aarrghhhh. Just needed a rant really. Feeling inwardly very unfestive towards poor DD right now as I listen to her traipse past my room to the toilet for the 50 millionth time tonight.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 22/12/2024 23:42

On Christmas Eve I resorted to a dose of sleepy piriton for ds just so I could get him off to sleep at a reasonable time & I could get the presents done & get off to bed myself. It's hard as a single parent because there is nobody to tag team with & keep them occupied or take them out for a couple of hours so you can get things done.

Saracen · 22/12/2024 23:43

So do ALL their presents come from Santa? My kids always thought I was shut away wrapping just the presents which I was giving them. They had no sense of how long that would take, so they didn't suspect I was also helping Santa by wrapping everything he was giving them.

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 22/12/2024 23:44

But surely you can say to her I am wrapping the presents I bought you and your sibling so don’t disturb me?!? Then at the same time wrap the Santa ones

TheUsualChaos · 22/12/2024 23:44

Agree with PP, don't let your eldest lie in tomorrow. Get her up early so she is feeling ready for bed earlier fingers crossed.

I feel your pain, I've had two attempts at wrapping but its so late by the time I get to start, I only manage a few things and I need to crawl to bed. Hoping to finish tomorrow as I really don't want to be wrapping on Christmas Eve!

Very jealous of all the organised people. Sadly doesn't come easily to some of us.

We always wrap Santa presents here 😆

PiperLeo · 22/12/2024 23:44

I literally just went into my room Tonight at 10 and told my 11yo that I was wrapping presents so he wasn't to come in. He still kind of believes I think. Not entirely sure to be honest. He didn't question it. He just said ok and carried on watching TV. He and his older sis go to bed at 11 on weekend and holidays and they're still up chatting right now. I don't care to be honest and neither should all these busybodies giving you a stern talking to because your child is not in bed at a reasonable time. Like it's their problem or something. Not every child will comform to rules. Just like every child will not always be tired at bed time. People rile me up on here at times. You're doing great ❤️

leia24 · 22/12/2024 23:46

PiperLeo · 22/12/2024 23:44

I literally just went into my room Tonight at 10 and told my 11yo that I was wrapping presents so he wasn't to come in. He still kind of believes I think. Not entirely sure to be honest. He didn't question it. He just said ok and carried on watching TV. He and his older sis go to bed at 11 on weekend and holidays and they're still up chatting right now. I don't care to be honest and neither should all these busybodies giving you a stern talking to because your child is not in bed at a reasonable time. Like it's their problem or something. Not every child will comform to rules. Just like every child will not always be tired at bed time. People rile me up on here at times. You're doing great ❤️

What are you on about you 😅

Yesiknowdear · 22/12/2024 23:46

🤣🤣 YES!
Same situation as you, my youngest two have just gone down. Will be up 3 times+ in the night.
I cannot realistically spend the time doing the wrapping but I've gotta figure it out somehow.

WhiteLily1 · 22/12/2024 23:47

Cryingatthegym · 22/12/2024 23:31

I sent her up at 8pm. She drives me mad with it, she's always been the same. But I was exactly the same as a child (overactive mind, worrying about everything, terrible at falling asleep) so I try not to be too harsh with her about it.

Show quote history

Gosh is she not exhausted the following day?
I think if it were me I would say that I need to be in the room downstairs (whichever room) to wrap family gifts and have some things I need to catch up with, please can she stay in bed or keep quiet in her room.
Then I would put one of those door wedges (white plastic ones) in the door on my side so that if she tried to get in, that would stop her flinging the door open.
Either that or have a very late night until 2am wrapping gifts after she is asleep.

user1492757084 · 22/12/2024 23:48

My Mum had four kids and she always wrapped when we did. She would announce WRAPPING TIME, give out sticky tape and paper and call for every one not to peek at others. We would then all spend a couple of hours wrapping and being very deliberately secretive so not to spoil Christmas surprises.
Christmas Carols sounding off in the living room and everyone wrapping in hidey corners of the house. At the end their were many presents under the tree.
It's okay if the kids know that you are wrapping. As long as they don't see what you are wrapping. Don't they have their own gifts to wrap?

WhiteLily1 · 22/12/2024 23:49

I think also if it was me, I would have taken a days holiday from work the last couple of weeks of school and used it purely for wrapping and catching up.
i have over 90 gifts to wrap here with 3 kids and its all done before school breaks up during the school day. Never in the evenings because they are a little older and aren’t in bed until later.

MushMonster · 22/12/2024 23:51

We wrapped them today, me and my teen DD. Even her pressies just got her to not look while I hot them in the paper. She knows what she is having for her stocking.

Original poster
Cryingatthegym · 22/12/2024 23:51

Gosh is she not exhausted the following day?

Yes, she very often is. I don't know what the solution is there though, she's always been like it. Even when she's knackered she struggles to fall asleep. To be fair, I'm exactly the same.

On Christmas Eve I resorted to a dose of sleepy piriton for ds just so I could get him off to sleep at a reasonable time

I do keep a bottle of Benylin Children's Night cough medicine in for when her asthma flares up. We refer to it as 'sleepy medicine'...

OP posts:
WhiteLily1 · 22/12/2024 23:51

user1492757084 · 22/12/2024 23:48

My Mum had four kids and she always wrapped when we did. She would announce WRAPPING TIME, give out sticky tape and paper and call for every one not to peek at others. We would then all spend a couple of hours wrapping and being very deliberately secretive so not to spoil Christmas surprises.
Christmas Carols sounding off in the living room and everyone wrapping in hidey corners of the house. At the end their were many presents under the tree.
It's okay if the kids know that you are wrapping. As long as they don't see what you are wrapping. Don't they have their own gifts to wrap?

That’s quite sweet in a way but not a cat in hells change would any of mine be able to keep siblings gifts quiet 😅

PokerFriedDips · 22/12/2024 23:52

A key tradition fro my cvildhood that I have preserved - santa presents are always wrapped in a very slapdash manner. Minimal care taken, minimal neatness, some things aren't wrapped or just have a token strip of wrapping paper while the object is still fully visible. You get the wrapping that can be achieved by an elf who is very busy and has limited time.

Do you have any single mum friends who you could so swappsies with and they have the kids for a couple of hours in the morning and you take theirs for a couple of hours in the afternoon?

I have done wrapping at 3am in years past. Am determined to be sorted sooner this year, but DC older.

tolerable · 22/12/2024 23:53

i used to buy sheets of colour tissue paper- n just sorta cover gifts..blow up baloons-and wrap living room door a huge ribbon bow when were wee

WhiteLily1 · 22/12/2024 23:54

Cryingatthegym · 22/12/2024 23:51

Gosh is she not exhausted the following day?

Yes, she very often is. I don't know what the solution is there though, she's always been like it. Even when she's knackered she struggles to fall asleep. To be fair, I'm exactly the same.

On Christmas Eve I resorted to a dose of sleepy piriton for ds just so I could get him off to sleep at a reasonable time

I do keep a bottle of Benylin Children's Night cough medicine in for when her asthma flares up. We refer to it as 'sleepy medicine'...

Can I suggest melatonin.
A complete life saver and very harmless as it just mimics the body’s natural hormones.
I take one if I’m in a strange place to sleep as that’s when I struggle.
You can easily get them online from the US (research reputable supplier)
Lots of kids with autism struggle to get to sleep- it’s a well known trait and a know several who have melatonin on standby.

PiperLeo · 22/12/2024 23:54

leia24 · 22/12/2024 23:46

What are you on about you 😅

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All these people giving OP a row for her child still being awake. There's no need.

Copperoliverbear · 22/12/2024 23:54

I just brought tons of present sacks from amazon, put the in tie the sack up so much easier.

Christmas Drawstring Gift Bags,... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08D38WP23?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

AdoraBell · 22/12/2024 23:54

Definitely get your teen to help with the wrapping. Then wrap her present downstairs.

Naughty1205 · 22/12/2024 23:55

She's only 10 for christssake! I'm sure she still believes. It's neither here not there now for the OP but you might have to stay up late on Christmas eve! I find it so weird how quick people are trying to take the magic away re Santa. Maybe it's only in the UK that happens. In Ireland everything is from Santa, and the stocking isn't such a big deal. Don't be so quick to say 'she's 10, she definitely doesn't believe in Santa'. Bullshit!

CandyLeBonBon · 22/12/2024 23:55

Been there op on more than one occasion and in exactly your circumstances and the only way I could do it was to pull an all nighter (the most stressful of which was 6 years ago when we moved house 3 days before Christmas and nothing was wrapped!)

This too shall pass. 6 years on and everything is bought, wrapped and organised.

Just do the best you can and if she hears, she hears. You're only human! Best of luck! Flowers

Naughty1205 · 22/12/2024 23:56

Also my ds is 8, he is still awake here, it's the Christmas holidays.

Original poster
Cryingatthegym · 22/12/2024 23:58

WhiteLily1 · 22/12/2024 23:54

Can I suggest melatonin.
A complete life saver and very harmless as it just mimics the body’s natural hormones.
I take one if I’m in a strange place to sleep as that’s when I struggle.
You can easily get them online from the US (research reputable supplier)
Lots of kids with autism struggle to get to sleep- it’s a well known trait and a know several who have melatonin on standby.

Show quote history

Interesting, thank you. I'm fairly sure she's not autistic, but both of us have always really struggled to sleep so I'll definitely look into that.

This thread has been eye opening, I'm glad I posted. You've all cheered me up and made me feel less alone, thank you.

Safe to say this Christmas has been a learning curve and I know now what I need to do differently next year!

OP posts:
StiffyByngsDogBartholomewsChristmasBone · 23/12/2024 00:01

Now I think your eldest is thr answer to this problem. "Dd, entertain your brother for an hour in front of Disney+ while I wrap up your Christmas presents"

RosesAndHellebores · 23/12/2024 00:02

When mine were very small, I used to wrap into the early hours, yes.

As they got bigger, I used to feel a little unwell on the afternoon of 23rd or 24th and go for a lie down, not to be disturbed.

I still have that little lie down. If the DC are about (they are nearly 30 and 26), they usually wink and say they hope I feel better soon and that I enjoy the glass of wine I'm taking up.