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Original poster

Opening presents - free for all or one at a time?

51 replies

ChloeHandbag · 21/12/2009 21:38

Ever since I've been a Mum, I've insisted that we open each present one by one rather than everyone opening their presents all together. Ie. pass present from under tree, wait for person to open it, then pass next present.

I like to see who got what and their reactions, dh rolls his eyes everytime I tell them suggest we do it this way so I wonder what other people do?

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 23/12/2009 08:53

One at a time!

daisydora · 23/12/2009 08:58

Free for all, although DD is actually quite good and does look at each one and ask for it out of the box before she slings it aside....

DH is used to a 'one at a time appraoch'. First Xmas at his mums I think actually fell asleep waiting for my turn to come around again, and all while FIL was stood with bin liner in hand to pick up the wrapping paper. I love a good free for all!

bogie · 23/12/2009 09:00

I like to do it one by one, so I can see who bought what for each person.

IsItMeOrSanta · 23/12/2009 09:21

(Stamps foot)
Please can people be clearer which version of one at a time they are talking about? Thank you!

bogie · 23/12/2009 10:32

Sorry
We put all the presents into piles for each person and then we go round the circle taking it in turns to open a present.

IsItMeOrSanta · 23/12/2009 10:37

Thank you bogie . Although you are obviously doing it wrong .

catastrojb · 23/12/2009 10:42

stockings in the morning (silly bits only) which is a free-for all - except my dad who opens verrrrryyyyy slloooooowwwwllllyyy; then tree presents one at a time in the afternoon after lunch and walk. always done it this way!

love christmas!

JaneiteQuiteRight · 23/12/2009 19:16

As children, both dp and I did a free for all. Now we have our own children, we are very civilised and do one at a time, round in a circle. Wouldn't have it any other way now and it somewhat disguises the fact that the girls piles get smaller each year!

JaneiteQuiteRight · 23/12/2009 19:18

girls'

TabithaTwitchet · 23/12/2009 19:25

Free for all with stockings in the morning (DD has just turned 2 so hoping she will get stuck in herself this year - last year she needed quite a bit of help and encouragement with opening presents)
Other presents in the afternoon, my family always do them one by one, with people taking turns to give one of their presents - which means gifts from people who aren't there in person don't get opened; they get saved until Boxing Day (in the morning, with a slice of Christmas cake and cup of coffee). We usually take turns with those too, mainly because my family are nosy and want to see what everyone else got

FolornHope · 23/12/2009 19:41

lol at watchign someone enjoy opening a present being joyless

Wallace · 23/12/2009 20:07

We do it my way one present at a time, starting with the youngest. I make a list of who gave what for thank you letters. Dh says it is like having Christmas with Hitler would rather a free for all.

cherryc · 23/12/2009 20:08

We are going to the in laws tomorrow (cmas eve) so will be there for cmas day and they don't open presents until 7pm!!! I asked if we could open earlier as the children go to bed and 7 and it does seem a bit unfair to make them wait all day then go to bed and not play with them. FIl told me I need to be more flexible (really AIBU???).

So have sent Santa a note asking him to come early and we will do presents in our way tomorrow am i.e at 5am all at once then go over to inlaws later taking a few presents to keep them occupied on the journey and cmas day. Will be different when I'm a MIL...

brandybutterfly · 23/12/2009 20:16

When I was a child we did one gift at a time so it could be oohed and aahed over and the giver thanked.

DH's family have a free for all.

I prefer to be a complete control freak a bit of decorum

stoppingat3 · 23/12/2009 20:25

Same as bb it really pisses me off flusters me when DH's family hand he presents out to everyone.
In my family (16 present for dinner this year) it can take over 6 hours for them all to be open. But do you know what? thats GREAT!!

figrollinthehay · 23/12/2009 21:07

CherryC - that should be on the AIBU threads - poor children!

maxybrown · 23/12/2009 21:30

oh cherryc that is bloody miserable, poor little sods. Did you try telling THEM to be a bit more flexible? Cor! i'm angry for you!

DragonMamiCooksMincePies · 23/12/2009 21:48

CherryC your PIL are mad.

We have a one at a time present opening session and DD gets to open hers first but that's mainly because she's really young & needs help to start opening stuff. Once she's got a grip on the paper though she's well away. Inlaws had a free for all the one Christmas they spent with us & I almost had a panic attack with all 9 of them crammed into my lounge flinging paper about & yelling. But then I do have mental health/anxiety issues and they drive me crazy if I'm with them for too long.

My way's better - makes it seem like you have more stuff & I stand half a chance of thanking people for the right gifts.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 23/12/2009 21:52

DH gives DS1 and DS2 a present and they open them at same time.
DS3 is only 1 so I will probably 'help' him and DH will help older 2.

Certainly don't let them shred their way through in a frenzy or anything.

izzybiz · 23/12/2009 22:03

Both Dh and I were "free for all" kids!

In our family we all get up together, kids look through their stockings, but we take it in turns as in, Dd will open all her presents with us watching, then Ds1, and so on, I always go last!

frazzled74 · 24/12/2009 00:49

free for all with stocking and father christmas presents,one at a time with others, so that i can see what people have bought for thankyou notes etc.

supersalstrawberry · 24/12/2009 01:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bathsheba · 24/12/2009 05:33

One at a time with a list being made up for Thank Yous..

Before we had children I spent too many Christmases in the company of by DH's Nephews - it was like a shark feeding frenzy - they had no idea what was from whom (probably why they never even said thank you never mind wrote letters) and one year my younger nephew couldn;t understand why he had been bought women's toileteries - in the feeding frenzy he had opened my presents as well.

I HATED that (not the opening of my presents, that just proved my point) but the feeding frenzy. I think presents need to be respected when someone has taken the time to buy, wrap and deliver them to you.

quinne · 24/12/2009 05:42

DH would have the DC pass present from under tree, admire wrapping, read label, open present, express pleasure. Move on to next one.

Only start once everyone is showered, dressed and breakfasted.

Boring, boring, boring!

quinne · 24/12/2009 06:05

CherryC ... why not tell your PIL that you are going to keep kids up until midnight at Christmas so that they can play with their new toys?
That way everyone is happy... kids get playing time, you show flexibility and PIL get chance to show flexibility too when learning to look forward to a long evening with over tired and over excited grandchildren.

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