My kids sneaked into their gifts and now I don't know what to do. I'm thinking that I may just take them all back to the store and not replace them with anything or leave all of the Christmas stuff down and not put it up until after they have gone to bed. So they will think that there will be no Christmas then let them have it after all. I feel the need to make them learn a lesson.
2006-11-25 08:12:42 · 16 answers · asked by lucyandschroeder 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
when my sister and I were little and my parents left one night close to Christmas we unwrapped and rewrapped every present for us that was under the tree. We were probably like 6 and 10. It was the worst Christmas ever. We felt really guilty about it and nothing was a surprise Christmas morning except for what Santa brought us. It was a really big let down for us because we knew better. I was the youngest and even I knew it was a bummer.
I'm sure your kids will experience this too if you don't take the things back and there are no new surprises for them to see Christmas morning. You should have a big talk with them, let them know you are disappointed, etc. Tell them it doesn't make you feel very Christmas-y to know that there won't be any surprises for them. Try to include them in things that show the true meaning of Christmas too. I think every kid peaks once in their lives. Didn't you ever find out before Christmas?
2006-11-25 10:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by abcdefg123456 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is terrible. If it were me I would tell the kids to load the presents in the car then I'd take them to have them donated. Make the kids go with you. Explain to them that they ruined the surprise and that what they did was sneaky and disrespectful. Personally, it hurts my feelings when someone ruins a surprise I've worked hard to make possible for them. Tell them that what they did shows they do not appreciate the gifts and that you are now going to donate them to kids who will appreciate them. Then let it go. Don't dwell on it. Still decorate for the holidays. Play Christmas music. Bake and do other things together. Enjoy the season without an emphasis on the gifts. Then get them a little something for Christmas morning.
It is up to you but I certainly wouldn't let them have those gifts now. If you give them to them at any point there will be no lesson learned.
2006-11-25 11:11:29 · answer #2 · answered by Amelia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really depends on how old they are, but in any case I would not lie to them about your intentions and I would not ruin Christmas for them. I would just tell them the gifts are for Christmas and that they can't have them until then. Then wrap them as usual and give them to them on Christmas. I tell you as a kid if I knew where my Christmas stuff was I would have peeked. I don't think any kid is strong enough to resist that temptation.
You probably feel the need to have them learn a lesson because you are so angry (and I'm sure I would be, too.) Talk to them about how angry you are. Talk about how much you love them and want to surprise them and are so sad now that there will be no surprises on Christmas. Then let it go. Don't bring it up again. Perhaps the natural consequence of Christmas being less fun will speak for itself. But honestly, what they did was very normal- wouldn't you have done it, too?
2006-11-25 09:23:26 · answer #3 · answered by AerynneC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd be tempted to take them back to the stores, tell the kids there will be no presents on the day and then go shopping during the after Xmas sales and get them a few smaller (cheaper) things. For me (as a child) waking up on the day and getting nothing would have been enough to teach me not to do it again. It does make it a lot more work for you though. You could just tell them they can have their gifts a week late as punishment. Then all their friends will have their toys and your kids will have to say they don't have anything (yet) because they were naughty.
2006-11-25 08:25:35 · answer #4 · answered by FionaKiwi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, first I can say is that you should have had them wrapped or as soon as you got home you should of wrapped them. I knew once an item was wrapped I wouldn't be able to see it. I would take the stuff back to the store, but if it's what they wanted keep it. Tell them that if they look for the toys next year and see them, nobody will get a gift. Make them learn a lesson. Next time be keener
2006-11-25 08:18:03 · answer #5 · answered by fourcheeks4 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mom nonetheless hasn't stopped and that i'm in my Nineteen Forties! I have a 21 year previous and that i nonetheless get him various of presents too, to boot as for my twins who're 15. i comprehend a number of their acquaintances hardly get something now adays yet maximum nonetheless do. Frankly, from my attitude Christmas is the only time a year i will nonetheless smash my little ones without it being 'spoiling'. i do not get my 21 year previous all sorts of stuff all year. particular, he receives a birthday recent and that i provide him some money for school and some outfits, ect. yet lots of the time he does his own ingredient and would not get almost a similar stuff my youthful little ones get because he's an individual. yet come Christmas... nicely i imagine the spirit of giving would not end in simple terms because someone reached an arbitrary age reduce. My aunts, uncles, cousins, ect. All purchase for the little ones (all people lower than 18) and then donate to charity in lieu of a present to all people else contained in the gang of adults. My son participates in this, yet he remains my youngster and comparable to my different cousins, individual little ones and nonetheless going to get plenty on Christmas!
2016-11-26 21:50:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just let them have the presents they found, and decorate as usual. On Christmas morning they don't get presents because they found them already. It's the truth, right? Actions have direct consequences. There's no need for head games.
If you pretend they can't have Christmas at all, then you surprise them with it, it teaches them that they can do whatever sneaky rotten thing they want, and you'll reward them by surprising them with a lovely Christmas.
2006-11-25 08:27:55 · answer #7 · answered by Kacky 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
how old are they?
if they are young, and dont really know better, dont punish them! its cute! LOL! "let them be little" LOL!
if they are older like 7+ then they need to knwo what they did was wrong and untolerable!, i know u are probably feeling so pissed off right now! but keep ur cool! its hard to understand a kids state of mind nowadays! LOL! i know for me the hardest part of xmas was looking at the gifs under the tree and not being able to touch them! my mom bought a huge chest for all the presents and hid it in the basement under a bunch of our boxes and stuff, , maybe u should look into buying one fo them!
this will make a GREAT story for when they are alot older, married and kids of their own!
2006-11-25 08:18:35 · answer #8 · answered by !*FeDuP*! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay well i like your idea of putting the gifts last minute. you should take them back, and then get buy some totally new gifts. thenyou go shopping again and this time you hide somewhere they will never look, like maybe keep it in your car, or like your sister/brother's house. then when they are sleeping the go to bed thinking they have no presents, then over night you give it to them
2006-11-25 08:20:16 · answer #9 · answered by DeeDee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And what lesson will they learn? That their parental unit can throw a better tantrum then they can? So they got into their gifts. Gifts isn't what Christmas is about anyway...
2006-11-25 08:22:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋