https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:08:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-312564 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:01:11 +0000 MediaNaranja 312564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always took turns growing up! It was fun! Like many of you, we stopped for brunch in the middle. We were usually done by 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and then we would go ice skating/sledding/similar. So fun! And we still do it the same way now that we are all grown-ups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-312496 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:29:08 +0000 Adira 312496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! We've ALWAYS done it this way, so it's a tradition! Plus now that we're all adults, there aren't THAT many presents, so it doesn't take too long. I love it!</p> <p>Hubs family doesn't do this though - everyone seems to open presents at the same time, which is actually good because they often get us junk, so then not all the attention is on me when I'm all "WTF." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-312484 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:22:34 +0000 MrsTiz 312484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! My family does it that way. I open a present, then sister, then mom, then dad. We rotate so everyone can see what eachother got, and say thank you, etc. </p> <p>DH's family all just rip open their presents, so something I was excited to give his mom last year, I didn't get to even see her open it becasue I was watching DH/having to open mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-312302 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 03:10:39 +0000 SugarplumsMom 312302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: that's the thing, it seems the women give the guys kind of generic things they themselves like (cookbooks, magnets, shirts that don't fit properly ...) it's weird! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310625 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:45:24 +0000 Turd Ferguson 310625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, we've always done it one by one. It usually isn't too bad, especially for my mom's side (which is a LOT smaller). It's been getting better on my dad's side as well now that all of the grandkids are grown up... Thank gawd! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310617 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:40:49 +0000 PawPrints 310617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't even fathom how quickly it would all be over if we didn't take turns. That would be so sad! And of course I want to see people's reactions as they open the gifts I got them, and thank people as I open the gifts they got me. We do it that way and my in-laws do too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310602 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:28:36 +0000 mango.sprays 310602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! One at a time, with breaks for snacks/drinks/anything to make the presents last as long as possible. My mom and I think it's the best thing ever, but it annoyed DH to no end :-p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310551 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:58:14 +0000 photojane 310551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hubs' family just all open at the same time, and i hate it! it's chaos and no one gets to appreciate what the others got. we always opened one present at a time in a circle, oldest to youngest. i love being able to see what everyone got and it was nice to get excited for everyone! i like dragging christmas out as long as possible -- it's my favorite day of the year! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310542 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:43:17 +0000 Laneybugsmommy 310542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always taken turns and I love it. You get to see someone's reaction to the gift you've chosen for them. But for this reason hubby and I exchange gifts privately on Christmas morning before joining the rest of the family. We then will share what we got each other (certain things) and are free to leave other things out :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310501 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:13:10 +0000 mrbee 310501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: Me too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310494 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:10:12 +0000 singingbee 310494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jholler25: I'm with you on the madness! I love it. : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310484 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:06:15 +0000 Honeybee 310484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't know there was another option besidess taking turns. I thought that was what everyone did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310483 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:06:15 +0000 mrbee 310483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: Haha I know what you mean! Some people like to hide their presents... too funny! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310468 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:43:54 +0000 singingbee 310468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No....Santa brings things unwrapped. Family gifts we wrap and we usually pass them out and everyone opens at the same time. It's really kind of a race to see who can do it the fastest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310465 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:39:26 +0000 chrispygal 310465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, my family takes turns and I can't imagine any other way. We always make sure to give the small kids more turns early on, since it's harder for them to contain their excitement. I think it's great to see what everyone gets, and it stretches out the gift giving. It's my favorite day of the year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310439 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:15:59 +0000 PrincessBaby 310439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG DH's family drags it the hell out and it is MADDENING! My family just rips into our gifts all at one time. Then we show each other after the fact.</p> <p>DH says that we will raise our LO and do the take turn thing. I think it is a terrible idea! He says when he opens presents with my family he feels like it's a crazy race, and it's over in 2 minutes. But I think the madness is fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310434 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:12:49 +0000 lavender 310434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do and I like it, makes me want to pick out good presents BC everyones watching lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310425 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:05:42 +0000 JerricaBenton 310425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup we take turns and I like it! I want presents to last all day! Somehow my mom hoards her presents and ends up with a pile at the end. That's actually a little annoying haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310405 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:49:12 +0000 Smurfette 310405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family takes turns. I love it. DH's doesn't. It is just a free for all. I hate it cause I can't see everyone opening our gifts. You don't get to see what anyone gets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310399 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:46:02 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 310399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do the thing where everyone gets a gift and we open together, then another round. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310380 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:27:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 310380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My IL's DON'T take turns and it drives me NUTS! I hate that I can never see what everyone gets and I hardly even notice if the person likes/appreciates the gift I have given them. They tear into gifts and all the excitement is over within like 10 minutes. </p> <p>We are continuing the tradition of taking turns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310377 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:23:46 +0000 mrbee 310377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yah we all took turns. Everyone put a lot of thought into their gifts, and this way every giver got a chance to be appreciated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310368 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:11:54 +0000 Mommy Finger 310368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hand out all of the gifts and then take turns opening them starting with the youngest. Usually by the time it gets to my parents, all of the kids would be too busy playing with their toys but I love it. Afterwards, we have breakfast. My favorite tradition though comes from the way we label each gift. Instead of putting the person's name, we put a clue or nickname for who it's for. You have to guess who the present is for. </p> <p>Christmas as DH's is a free for all where people just hand out gifts and open at random. I'm not a fan of this but I wonder if it's b/c it's not what I'm used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310366 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:11:01 +0000 heffalump 310366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do Chanukah. We don't do that. But it wouldn't be a huge deal if we did. We get one gift per night so it doesn't take long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310365 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:10:06 +0000 BananaPancakes 310365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Heck no! We have to go to 5 houses on Christmas day and eat at 3. We'd never finish if everyone had to wait on everyone else. All houses hand out presents and once everyone has their pile, then we all open together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310358 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:00:47 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 310358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, and I love how it prolongs the day. We plan on continuing the tradition with our own kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310354 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:58:11 +0000 MsMini 310354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We take turns as well, we hand out the gifts to everyone from a particular person and then take turns opening them, then hand out the gifts from the next person. We open our gifts on Christmas eve with lots of wine on board, it is good fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310352 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:52:52 +0000 Boogs 310352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We take turns and love it. Christmas is a lazy day, so we aren't in any rush. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310348 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:46:53 +0000 Mrs. Pen 310348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used to - but our family has grown SO much - 6 kids, two parents. Three of the kids are married (6+2+3), and now there are two grandkids (+2) =13 people. So instead we say everyone open a gift, then everyone opens one and then we all can exclaim over what each person got. I like it like that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-family-take-turns-opening-gifts-at-christmas#post-310322 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:29:24 +0000 lovehoneybee 310322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: When I lived in Louisiana we called it a White Elephant Swap. I'd actually never heard it called a Yankee Swap until my first Christmas with DH's family. We have a $25 limit, and my favorite gift was a tiny dollhouse stool in a film container (the little black ones with grey lids?). It had a piece of paper with STOOL SAMPLE written on it taped to the outside. (It came with a $20 bill). So funny to begin with, but the person who supplied it was DH's 93 year old, very religious, very conservative, very stern/judgmental/opinionated grandmother... </p>