We do one-by-one too.

It's more civilized.

But I think it only works once the kids are a bit older and can temper their impulses better.

Anonymous wrote:That is exactly what my MIL has imposed on us. She made some condescending speech years ago about how teaching children patience should be a priority. (Duh!) With 18 family members together kids have to wait through 17 people to get to their next present !!!!!!!!!

Also, she insists that the kids' stockings are just fruit and old fashioned wooden trinkets supposedly brought by Santa. The problem is every other year we're at my house and my kids wonder why the stocking stuff drastically changes.

Why does your MIL have anything to do with what is in your kids' stockings?

It's probably way too late for this, but how about:
"Thanks Bertha, I'll take care of my kids stockings this year."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the family is large and everyone is opening gifts one at a time, how long does it take? It seems like it would take hours. There are only a few of us and we're more or less a free for all....

+1

Sounds tedious. I'd rather wait for my number to be called at the DMV.

hahahahhahahahahahahahahahahaha

Anonymous wrote:As an introvert, I really hate opening presents one by one on Christmas day. That's also how my MIL does it. It puts me in the spotlight and annoys me. My family each opens one gift, then another, then another, but all at the same time. So not necessarily a free for all, but still a controlled opening.

ME!

Yes, MIL has done this for all 15 years I have been with DH. It is so different from my family, but it mostly bothers me because of the control freak element of it. It also calls attention to the differences in the "niceness" of gifts which can sometimes happen with my BIL and SILs. It's awkward and just annoying.

I feel your pain OP. This is how it goes with H's family when we spend Christmas with them. One year we went with his ENTIRE extended family and they all did it this way. 22 people. It took all freaking day. We haven't done Christmas with them since we had a child as there is no way I'm imposing this nonsense on my pre-school aged child. It's torture for all involved.

In my family, little kids tear into their presents, then hand out any adult presents that are under the tree and each adult opens their pile. But we are a small family and there were never more than 5 of us until I got married and had a kid, now there are up to 8.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing a Bloody Mary on Christmas morning can't solve.

Oh, is the MIL's name Mary?

Thread winner!

Anonymous wrote:Your house, your rules (traditions)

But above poster has a good idea ~ maybe it can be announced that there will be a special moment for the Presentation of Grandma's Gifts.

Could your family open her gift (and only her gift) the night before ~ Christmas Eve, would she like that?

Otherwise, don't take any crap. Let her pout.

OMG, lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is exactly what my MIL has imposed on us. She made some condescending speech years ago about how teaching children patience should be a priority. (Duh!) With 18 family members together kids have to wait through 17 people to get to their next present !!!!!!!!!

Also, she insists that the kids' stockings are just fruit and old fashioned wooden trinkets supposedly brought by Santa. The problem is every other year we're at my house and my kids wonder why the stocking stuff drastically changes.

All MILs do this -- it takes up the day and keeps the attention on them!

Mine doesn't. She's very different than I am, she has very different views on tradition and family even, but she doesn't impose her way- different doesn't always equal conflict!

But I'm truly empathetic if yours is like this- it stinks and the best we can do is remember when our own kids are grown and do better. I do not care at all for my FIL, so I get the annoyance!

Anonymous wrote:If the family is large and everyone is opening gifts one at a time, how long does it take? It seems like it would take hours. There are only a few of us and we're more or less a free for all....

+1

Sounds tedious. I'd rather wait for my number to be called at the DMV.

Anonymous wrote:This is nothing a Bloody Mary on Christmas morning can't solve.

Oh, is the MIL's name Mary?

Anonymous wrote:Your house, your rules (traditions)

But above poster has a good idea ~ maybe it can be announced that there will be a special moment for the Presentation of Grandma's Gifts.

Could your family open her gift (and only her gift) the night before ~ Christmas Eve, would she like that?

Otherwise, don't take any crap. Let her pout.

Maybe that's what grandma needs then; to be treated like a 2 year old with her own special moment to keep her from having a tantrum.

This is nothing a Bloody Mary on Christmas morning can't solve.

Your house, your rules (traditions)

But above poster has a good idea ~ maybe it can be announced that there will be a special moment for the Presentation of Grandma's Gifts.

Could your family open her gift (and only her gift) the night before ~ Christmas Eve, would she like that?

Otherwise, don't take any crap. Let her pout.

"Master of Ceremonies??!?" LOL! What is this, the hunger games? The odds will be forever in your favor

Anonymous wrote:Wow, your MIL is a piece of work for coming to YOUR family's Christmas and then trying to take it over. That's ridiculous.

Seriously. Talk about uncivilized...pouting in the corner because you don't get to control another family's holiday? Ugh.