Sara just wanted to open Christmas presents with her kids (Picture: Getty Images)
‘My husband is normally a great husband and father, but I am so devastated right now. I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry.’
These were the words of Sarah*, who awoke Christmas day to find her husband and their two children had all opened presents without her.
The mother-of-two slept in until 8:30 a.m. because that’s what she did difficulty sleepingsomething her husband makes her do every morning while he watches the kids for an hour.
But knowing that they were there presents Her children were eager to open the door, so the mother immediately got out of bed and went looking for them – but received a nasty shock.
When Sara entered the living room, all the gifts had been unwrapped (Photo: Getty Images)
“I come into the living room and there’s wrapping paper everywhere,” Sara said. “All the presents have already been unwrapped and the children are playing with them.”
She wasn’t mad at her five- and seven-year-olds, though; it was her husband she was angry with.
Sara continued, “I immediately started crying and walked back to the bedroom where my sadness also turned to anger. I started screaming like crazy.
‘I’ve spent so much time thinking about what to give the kids, ordering it or driving around to find it in the shops, packing it and all that… I feel like I’ve been completely robbed of the joy of seeing their faces. watching them open their presents, which is one of the best parts of Christmas.’
Her husband said he videotaped the children opening their presents, but she couldn’t understand why he didn’t keep them waiting or come get her.
Sara shouted at her husband after he let their children open presents without her (Picture: Getty Images)
She told me Reddit: ‘He just said, ‘I never wake you up in the morning.’ I said, “It’s fucking Christmas morning. Didn’t you think I wanted to watch the children unwrap the presents?’.’
Sara also called him an “asshole” and admitted that she “don’t even know how to get over” how hurt she felt.
“He just said sorry, he didn’t say I was overreacting,” she added. ‘I feel really hurt right now… I don’t feel like doing anything for Christmas today. I’m so disappointed in everyone.’
The mother later shared an update on the social media platform, saying she spoke to her husband after the kids went to sleep that night, and he apologized again, saying he “just hadn’t thought about it.”
“He was working on a project when the kids came down around eight in the morning,” Sara explained. ‘It wasn’t quite ready yet and they really wanted to open the presents. He wanted to make sure everything was put away safely and he couldn’t hold them back any longer, but he really wanted to let me sleep.
‘I asked him how he would feel if the roles were reversed and he said, ‘Yeah, that would suck. I know I messed up. Daddy brain.”
Would you be angry if your children opened Christmas presents without you?
More than 11,000 Redditors left their advice and thoughts under Sara’s post, with many agreeing that she had a right to be angry.
@stevestuc wrote: ‘I would be absolutely furious if my wife did that. The build-up and excitement that explodes as they open their gifts Christmas The morning is a priceless moment that won’t last long.
“The stress, time and effort of getting everything done never seems worth it until you see the joy when they open it all up… Your husband is an idiot.”
Another agreed, saying: “Dad was inconsiderate. The kids could have been told to open one and then have to help prepare breakfast and wake mom up when it was ready.
“I bet mom is especially angry because she’s expected to do all the work but she’s not involved in the fun.”
Others gave some tips for next year to avoid even more problems. @Tessie1966 shared: ‘Our rule for Christmas morning with our kids was always to wait for Mom and Dad to get up and make coffee before opening the presents. They learned to make coffee at an early age to speed up the process.’
Another wrote: ‘I have five children, ages four to sixteen. My wife was packing until 4am and our little ones are relentless, so I slept on a mat at the top of the stairs and held the line until she woke up to give presents. ‘
Sara eventually forgave her husband for his mistake, saying they had a “strong marriage” and that they could get through it together. They have since devised a plan for next year to avoid further unrest, using some suggestions online.
“Our kids always get one present from Santa and the rest is from us or from family and friends,” she explained. ‘The gifts from Santa Claus are placed under the tree and can be opened at their leisure. The rest of the gifts won’t appear until everyone is present.’
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