Birthday Presents - Chicago,IL

MOM YYOU SHOULD LET HIM OPEN ALEAST ONE THEN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE ARE GOING TO PLAY SOME GOOD GAMES NOW JUST KEEP THERE MINDS OFF OPENING THE GRIFTS WHATEVER YOU DO JUST KEEP ALL THE GUST BUSY UNTILL TIME TO GO HOME THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYHTHING AND ANY ONE BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SO TIED THAT THEY WILL WANT TO LEAVE EVEN TIE YOUR BIRTHDAY BOY OUT THAT WAY HE WILL BE SO SLEEPY UNTILL HE WANT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE GRIFTS. GOD BLESS YOU AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BITHDAY BLESS KID.

This is done for a couple of reasons. One, it's hard to have kids sit through the present opening process. I myself have been bored out of my wits at bridal showers when the gifts were opened, thank the heavens for alcohol at showers!

Also, if your child gets a gift from someone that he already has or he doesn't like (Dora the Explorer vs Hello Kitty), it keeps them from saying something that might hurt someone's feelings; "I already have this!" or "I don't like Dora!" Children are honest when it comes to what they like. And if your child doesn't say it, another might.

I don't know where you live but sometimes there is compition regarding the amount of money spent. I've seen $50 gift cards to Borders in the same pile as hair accesories (our cousins live in Lincoln Park and some kids have a lot more than others)so that is another thing to consider moving forward.

If you really don't want to open gifts and family members are giving you a hard time tell them that if you open one, you'll feel like you have to open them all and you don't want to spend the party putting toys together, dealing with tears because you don't have batteries and you want to enjoy your son, not have him swallowed up by a toy. This is YOUR day too!

Well, I'm a mother of two and an Aunt of 22. And I think you should open them in front of the guests. I enjoy seeing the childrens reactions when they open the gift I brought for them. And I personally would feel insulated if the parents didn't bother to open the gifts. It may make people feel like you might not appreciate the gifts.
K.

I have 2, and am a member of a playgroup. Usually what happens is at the family parties, I have the kids open the gifts, because the family likes to see their reactions and get thanked. At teh playgroup party, where there are mostly kids, we do not oopen presents, because then everyone wants to be involved and play with each present as it's opened. That is a little too chaotic. I think it depends on the guests in attendance. If there are a lot of kids you might want to hold off, and ask if anyone minds. At our family parties, that would not fly with my inlaws :).

Happy birthday to your little boy!

J.

I have noticed this too. The reason I was given was that they did not want to make the 5 yr old guests sit through the present opening.
I have to say that as an aunt to 6 and a new mom I really enjoy seeing them open my gift, but I aggree that it not easy to get 10-15 5 yr olds to sit while the birthday child opens present after present.

Do what ever you feel most comfortable, be sure that if your child does not open the gift in front of the giver to send a thank you note so they know that you recived it.