Weird question, need suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get it. Twenty years of Xmas chaos with the in-laws and I was always the bad guy. In my case it was that they just want the kids to tear everything open at the same time. Nobody is paying attention, there’s no thank you, it’s just this gross display of grabbing and tearing. I refused to let my kids act that way and they slowed down, made sure nana was watching and said thank you each time.

I let them rip some boxes open, but had to be right behind them gathering pieces up. I usually tried to hang onto gift bags and would start throwing all the pieces in one as I could. Otherwise, half the stuff got thrown away with the shredded gift wrap all over the floor.

But my kids are HS age now. All they get are clothes and expensive electronics now, so try to enjoy the madness. It’s short-lived.

I’m so glad someone else had had this experience! I HATE the mass open/keep ripping gift wrap without pausing to say thank you. My ILs also do this. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Every giver receives a thank you card. Kids know that, so they know that if they don’t want to be scrambling to figure out what was from grandma and what was from aunt Kathy, they need to slow down and make sure I’m writing. Works well for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Natural consequences. If you leave part of a present at Grandma's house, it's on you to call her and ask her to mail it, etc.

I second the box for each kid idea, although I would simply say: Put all your toys in your box if you don't want to lose them. If they lose stuff, they lose it.

It's not for you to decide that X or Y is a "snow day gift." They are gifts for your kids to enjoy. They get to open and play with them and use them when they want, within reason. Don't be That Mom.

+1 or bring a big bag, like the blue Ikea bag to contain the toys and pieces.

when our kids open the toys, they give each giver a quick thank you and hug. They can pick a couple of toys to play with there. I think most givers don't insist their toys be played with right away, as long as the kid is having fun with a toy - for us that is part of Christmas, seeing the kids enjoy their gifts.