Children opening Christmas Gifts

[RenoSusan]

Last Christmas the family agreed that opening presents has become chaotic and unrewarding. We told the 3 - 11yrs, 9 and 8 - that we were having a practice and they could open 1 gift if they learned how to do it. First I opened a practice gift (a pair of socks) and read the card first and told everyone who gave it to me. Then I opened the gift and held it up and said it was just what I wanted and the color was perfect. Then I thanked the person who gave it to me. I explained if it was a large gift I would jump up and hug that person. They loved me hugging myself. Then they got a turn. I told them if it was a stove mitt or a motorcycle, they had to follow the script. They took turns opening a gift and performed. All understand this is a show called "opening Christmas gifts" and they are participants. Doesn't matter what the present is, the script is the same. Our Christmas day was much better. I am trying to pass on an idea that might help.

Fuck me, how boring are some people's lives? 🤣

We open a box of chocolates, a bottle of prosecco, then the youngest puts on a Santa hat and hands out the gifts. After the boys watch their dad and I open the gifts they bought us, everyone just rips into them. Then we tidy up, have a coffee and watch a film till its time to put the dinner on.

That would be rips into the gifts. A reread shows its badly worded!

What have I just read? Take my biscuit cherry .
We are wankery in that family presents are colour coordinated. DS1 is gold DS2 is green DD is purple. We all sit with our gift in front of us and take turns. No scripts. No rehersals. Just enjoymet and natural manners. Your way sounds joyless and full of false sounding thanks. Urgh.

LOL

I quite like the OP's idea

This is stark raving mad.

Part of the joy at Christmas is watching the children madly ripping open their gifts. Each their own i guess? However to me it seems a bit extreme and somewhat sucking the joy and excitement out of it all. Just my thoughts and not how we would do it.

You glorious, mad killjoy, OP.

This is great

Do you have any more gems to share OP?

I hate the ripping open of presents. We do it one by one, and appreciate it properly then move onto the next. My partner is a ripper and it's many years to come e to a compromise...

Am a bit worried that 22month old won't be able to read the card and know who to thank. Would she get marked down for that?

This reminds me of Seven of Nine's training schedule for the children on Voyager. Chakotay points out that there isn't much time for fun, and she barks something like "Incorrect. Fun has been scheduled from 11:15 until 11:45.

Just saying ... this post made it onto a children’s website in Australia. Kidspot.com.au

I love seven....

I was seven when I was a child... I totally relate to;

Incorrect. Fun has been scheduled from 11:15 until 11:45.

I wanted to watch tv that had educational value and thought silliness was beyond contempt...

We take it in turns too. It's not wankery!

I'm trying to teach mine the pleasure of giving gifts, not just receiving. Seeing people's reactions is a huge part of that.

I've also taught mine to lie if they don't like something/they've already got it. They tell me privately afterwards. Great-aunty doesn't need to know. I'm very proud of their manners and no it doesn't kill the fun. Jeez.

they could open 1 gift if they learned how to do it

Your poor DC. Read it out to yourself, can you hear how ridiculous that all sounds, that YOU sound? Robotic and boring as PP said. Have a serious word with yourself OP.

Fluffy save your sympathy for kids who don't get any presents, yeah?

Role playing social situations is a perfectly valid and really effective way to learn. OP did it before Christmas, she didn't bark orders at them on Christmas morning. It's our job to teach them this stuff - you know, manners - and if we realise we've fallen short somewhere, it's our job to fix it. That's exactly what the OP did.

ODFOD thistle if you think that's normal behaviour and about manners, I pity yours too!

Nice.

Are you my sister? I’m sure this is something she has done in the past...completely manipulating and stage managing “fun”. I have always felt dreadfully sorry for her children. Simply dreadful

Agreed varies it really is controlling and sad.

😂😂😂 this is the most bonkers thing I have ever read! They're children not performing puppets. It's actually quite sad.

I told them if it was a stove mitt or a motorcycle, they had to follow the script. They took turns opening a gift and performed. All understand this is a show called "opening Christmas gifts" and they are participants. Doesn't matter what the present is, the script is the same

The more I read it the more I think it cannot be genuine.

Thanks for the laughs OP