My son is three and he just started believing in the "magic" of Santa, just the way I did when I was a kid. I really would like him to open all his gifts on christmas morning so he can get all excited to see what "santa" left for him. My in-laws rather him open his gifts at their home before Christmas, for the sole purpose of seeing his excited expressions. My husband told them they are welcomed to come to our home on X-mas day and see him open his gifts, but they have not confirmed. I feel as though, I have to please them before I please myself. I love them to death, but this is my family and our holiday too. I want to keep the magic of "santa claus" alive until he old enough to know the real deal. Any advice on how to tell them I'd rather him open his gifts on xmas morning???
2006-12-20 04:43:56 · 30 answers · asked by Natasha 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Make the in-laws come to your place christmas day
2006-12-20 04:45:30 · answer #1 · answered by oddytwin 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's possible to do both. On Christmas Eve (or the family Christmas party or whatever), open presents from family and friends and on Christmas Morning, open gifts from Santa. Maybe if family members play Santa too, you can tell your son that Santa's elves sent a special early delivery so you could all enjoy the presents together and that Santa will most certainly make a visit on the big day.
Before dealing with your in-laws, how does your spouse feel about this? You two need to be on the same page if you're going to make this work. Once you are, simply and lovingly tell them that you two have decided that this is how you are going to do things as a family because you want to enjoy the spirit of Santa along with the other celebrations. Maybe they'll have some other suggestions on compromise, maybe not... but what you are asking is very reasonable.
2006-12-20 05:03:13 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a tough one, but I think your in-laws may be a bit selfish in their desires. This s your son and you have every right to begin your own holiday traditions. You may need to take a tough stance on this but I think that if you were to print out your question and possibly even an answer or two it may help to make the in-laws understand your motives are honest and true.
However you could I suppose explain to you son that at Christmas time other people sometimes also give gifts even though Santa leaves his presents on Christmas morning and allow the in-laws to have you over the night before.
But personally based on the reason you state you want to do this on Christmas morning and the fact he is only 3 I think really you should stick to your guns for 3-4 years and let the magic happen on Christmas morning, with the in-laws invited to come over.
If they feel slighted then really they need to grow up and realize it is you son and you and your husband have Every right to begin your own family traditions and that they can either join in or pout about it.
Hopefully your husband will stand behind you as really isn't the magic of the season about allowing a little boy or girl to believe in Santa?
I say stand your ground, and merry Christmas! From Santa himself (look at my picture). Ho ho ho
2006-12-20 05:06:00 · answer #3 · answered by Kdude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your son can still believe in Santa and open their gifts before Christmas! You just have to explain that some people like to give gifts like Santa does and that Santa will bring the gifts from him in the morning! Everybody has the same thing going on and it's how we deal with it! It never distracted from my kids believing in Santa!
2006-12-20 04:52:44 · answer #4 · answered by wish I were 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some presents come from Santa, and some come from family. I understand both sides. If you decide to let him get some presents from family, tell him "this is from Grandpa Joe, and this one from auntie Esther. They are really hoping you like it". Then have him thank them after he gets the presents so they can see how much he enjoys the gift. It will not detract from the cookie crumbs left by santa enjoying the goodies that were left, and the carrots for the reindeer, and the magic of the morning. Santa won't forget him just because Grandpa Joe loves your son enough to give him a gift.
2006-12-20 04:50:11 · answer #5 · answered by tajmina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is ridiculous to even suggest that he open "Santa's" gifts before Christmas morning. Santa comes the night before Christmas. Period. You could do a couple of different things, though.
#1- You could open family gifts at their house before Christmas, and then do "Santa" gifts on Christmas morning, like the tradition says.
#2- You could have them over to your house for Christmas so they can see him open his presents.
#3- You could videotape him opening the presents and send them a copy.
Just tell them that opening Santa presents before Christmas is out of the question, but you'd love to share the experience with them if they'd like to come over to your house. If they then say no, then say "Oh, I'm sorry that you'll miss the opening of Santa's gifts then, but we just can't break with the tradition that Santa comes Christmas morning. We'll send you a video."
2006-12-20 04:54:07 · answer #6 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could compromise by letting your son open gifts from grandma and grandpa before Christmas, but the REAL gifts from Santa have to wait until Christmas day.
We always had two types of presents, some from actual relatives and others from Santa. It did not detract from the magic of Christmas morning.
2006-12-20 04:48:43 · answer #7 · answered by inkantra 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just tell the in laws that you are opening up gifts on Christmas Day and that they are invited to your place that day. Explain to them that you are doing this for your son. If you want, maybe go to your inlaws on Christmas Eve and allow your son to open any gifts that they may have gotten him and that is it then wait till Christmas Day for the ones that Santa brought for him at your house.
2006-12-20 08:43:44 · answer #8 · answered by kerrberr95 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear that DEC. 25 is not a convenient time for Christmas at your in-laws.
Unfortunately, the rest of us will be celebrating it on that day.
Don't deprive your little one of the excitement of going down and finding that Santa has come on Christmas morning.
If the in-laws really cared they would do as your husband suggested or on Christmas afternoon, you drop by their place and let him know that Santa left him some presents there too....just so He'd be sure he got them.
Why spoil it for the little fellow.
So when do your in-laws plan to have Easter? Weather's pretty good in July.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
2006-12-20 05:02:30 · answer #9 · answered by Jack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have him open the gifts from your in-laws on Christmas Eve and open the santa gifts on Christmas morning.
2006-12-20 05:42:20 · answer #10 · answered by Rose 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always offer to allow him to open a single gift or two on Christams Eve at their place, and state this gift is from them! Then, if they want to see him open what Santa brings, they can always come to your place on Christmas morning. What they are asking is very unfair to you and to your child. Every kid deserves the excitement of waiting for Santa.
2006-12-20 04:58:00 · answer #11 · answered by melouofs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋