Punishment for sneaking a peak at gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awww, he thinks he's being sneaky and giving you kisses and skipping around? My heart just grew three sizes! You just need to be a better gift hider now.

I would pull a mind game now, like put everything else under the tree but that gift and then say you were all done and tease him a little bit. Or wrap up a picture of the gift in a tiny box so he is going bonkers trying to figure out what happened to the big box. But that's just me.

OP here - That is how I felt, Awwww....It really doesn't bother me that he saw the gift.

I think my parents, mom especially, always had this Norman Rockwell picture in her head for the holidays and then was of course miserable that we, her family, couldn't pull it off. Starting at about 11-years old to this day, I hate Christmas with my parents. My mom would lock herself in her room for three days and my dad would throw the Christmas tree fully decorated, ornaments & all, in the front yard because Christmas wasn't right. (ugh, now that I say it it is almost as miserable as the girl in Gremlins whose father died in the chimney dressed as Santa)

Usually I hid gifts in our luggage, even put my husbands there. The bag hadn't made it in the house yet & it must have been too tempting when he put his backpack in the car.

I am really sorry OP. Your parents were really truly awful. What does it even mean Christmas wasn't right? For people who say that one of the true joy of parents is to see their kids surprised, I am not even sure I buy that. I certainly would not return any gifts they looked just to surprise them, particularly if they like them and are excited by them. I want my kids to be happy. I don't have to see them surprised Christmas morning.

I like of the pp who mentioned anticipation brings more joy. Knowing a good toy is coming and waiting for weeks for it is not a bad thing at all. The OP's son will still be full of job when he gets his hand on it, and it won't be because he is pretending.

[Anonymous]

punishment? none. they just ruined their surprise. and if it was from santa then i guess it comes from you now and you switch it out

[Anonymous]

Do nothing. He'll either be sad not to have a surprise on Christmas or it won't bother him a bit. Let him deal with it in his own mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's a kid. Kids poke around and do the opposite of what you say. Clearly he's very excited about the gift, I would never not give it to him and return it. Not a punishable offense. If you want to make him sweat wrap it, but hide it somewhere else Christmas morning (think the bb gun on A Christmas Story). Let him open everything else and give that after.

Perfect solution!!

I love this one. Let the joke be on him!! That will teach the little man!! Lol.

No, I wouldn't return it. That is just a cruel punishment. That is something my dysfunctional parents would probably have done as well.

But I think that is much too cruel.

Just like making a child go to bed w/out any dinner.