Should i compromise?

outrageous_monkey

Well, my Christmas is very similar to Knelley.

I have 2 sons, 9 and 2. They each have a pile of unwrapped pressies in the living room. Most of the toys are all ready set up, so they can play with them straight away if they want. The pressies off the rest of the family are all under the tree. They get opened later on, cos they are usually too excited playing with what ''santa'' has brought them. They have stockings too, which are on the mantlepiece and these usually get opened a lot later on in the day, cos they have forgotten about them.

Last year we opened one pressie on christmas eve, we are going to do that again this year, but this year its new PJ's so they'll look all smart on video the next day.

Its worked for us and its what I remember from my time as a child at Christmas. I would just like to note that my eldest has Aspergers Syndrom and the whole 'wait whilst everyone opens a present' would just pass him by.

victory

we open one on xmas eve and all the presents that need setting up are already battery set up to avoid hours of having to cut out the little wires that keep the toys in the cardboard!!
To make the day longer, we have the pressies, some are kept back and what my eldest absolutely loves is the table presents, nothing much sometimes a treasure hunt to find the said toy or a little money or a cd, it makes them also be keen to come to the table and eat lunch if they are to get another present!!
We did all in one go and then the rest of the day it is oh right is this it what do we do know syndrome, so we space the pressies out and the fun laughter and excitement lasts longer that way xxx

Luna69

katmac wrote:

We used to have a special dinner on Xmas Eve at which all presents from each other and relatives were given out. We'd take our stockings to bed and it was great to wake up in the morning, feel the weight at the end of the bed and know Santa had been. We'd open them in my parents room and we couldn't go downstairs until everybody was washed, dressed and my Dad had a chance to start the breakfast. Big presents from Santa would be around the tree - unwrapped - Santa doesn't wrap.This meant there was a clear distinction between Santa and the family who'd given us presents (no excuses for not sending those thankyou letters). It also meant we could eat what we liked on Xmas day without 'spoiling our appetites', as all my Mum had to do was lay out a nice buffet and play. This continued until the youngest was about 12 and then we reverted to Xmas dinner on the day. It really worked for us and meant the grownups didn't get frazzled and had time for the kids rather than being stuck in the kitchen.

:T Glad to hear of someone else who did this with the dinner... I started doing that 2 years ago and it has worked so much better. We now have 3 children (youngest is only 7 months), but it means that on Christmas day we can just chill out, open the presents, and play with the kids. To be honest the kids aren't interested in eating on Christmas day, especially not a big meal, they just want to play.
some of my family thought it was a bit strange, but we all loved it.. certainly me as I don't like being in the kitchen on Christmas day.
We just have buffet style food on the day.

We didn't do the gifts though, but once the kids have had their bath, they get a parcel of new pyjama's and a book.. usually an annual. If it's early enough, they can read them a little before going to sleep. They leave their stockings outside their bedroom doors (DS is 10 and only marginally believes and DD is 4). We fill them and leave them there for when they get up... they then usually drag them into our room to open, while we sit bleary eyed watching.. well I do, DP is usually still asleep, or tries to rummage around to find the video camera.

We get dressed and then all head downstairs to the piles of presents (may be very small piles this year.. santa is on an economy drive.. so I've told DS! :rotfl: ).
We used to put their piles onto a chair each or two piles on the sofa.. but last year because our tree was central instead of in a corner, they wanted Santa to leave their gifts under the tree, at either side. Mine and DP's presents were on the sofa.
We don't usually see other family members these days until later in the week to exchange gifts. But the kids are fine with that as it makes christmas last longer.

So many different family traditions regarding Christmas and I think overall it's mainly the magic it instills in children, even those who are starting not to believe so much or have twigged to what goes on when they're asleep! :rotfl:

I hope you guys can sort out how to play it, but I agree with most people that you should not have to totally change how you do Christmas with your daughters.

Yvonne

Lillibet_2

How about saying that Father Christmas bring new traditions to each new family/home and as this is your 1st Christmas all together Father Christmas will want to do it differently this year & as he delivers the presents it's his rules?

Whatever you do, please talk to your girls & tell them that things might be different this year, although reassure them that they will still get their presents etc. I will never forget the total dissapointment at age 15 (yes, 15!) when, my parents having made the decision to have our tree in the conservatory instead of the lounge that year, I came down Christmas morning to find no presents under it as my parents hadn't wanted to leave them in the cold conservatory overnight:eek: Seeing my dad bring them in in piles & put under the tree only to hand them out 10 minutes later was a massive dissapointment to me! If only I had known........:rolleyes:


PS; FWIW, in our house Father Christmas brings wrapped stocking presents to be opened in bed, presents from Mum & Dad & family are a mix of wrapped & unwrapped all mixed up under the tree, Daddy hands them out one at a time & we open one present each at a time & that only happens after lunch.

katmac_3

And don't dorget to leave out drink and snack for Santa and water in the garden for the reindeer. Santa never completely finishes his snack, so the kids have evidence in the morning.
Quite right Father Christmas is English, not all people in the UK live in England though.

louise24769

Instead of falling out about this, why not have fun coming up with your ideas/own traditions, between the two of you?
It's all about give and take for everyone.
Have fun if you do this, maybe over some mulled wine.
Louise

scheming_gypsy

elona wrote:

I agree that is seems unfair for your family traditions to have to change for your daughters just because your partner wants things done "his way".

Depends how inflexible he is - but he cannot just change everything so he (as an adult) is happy.

but that's changing his traditions. We aways did it the same way as he does it, still do really. That way you just see a big pile or presents under the tree and you don't know what you've got or how many presents. When mum was handing them out I didn't know if it was for me, my sister, my mum or grandparents.

In this case i'd do it his way and then ask the kids which they prefer


I'm 31 and still get a stocking as i stay over at my mums on Christmas Eve. Just a shame Santa thinks i'd rather have some crisps and a tangerine instead of 3 paracetamol and a can of Irn Bru