It Takes All Kinds...

[*JoGo*]

why do they BOTH have to wrap the gifts? one stays home w/ kids, the other wraps the gifts. my dh and i don't wrap gifts together. he's w/ the kids while i'm wrapping gifts in the bedroom. not a big deal.

then later tonight they can come get them after the kids are asleep.

akl megs, i think you did a nice thing. the neighbors should have planned better.

 

[VAfamily1998]

why do they BOTH have to wrap the gifts? one stays home w/ kids, the other wraps the gifts. my dh and i don't wrap gifts together. he's w/ the kids while i'm wrapping gifts in the bedroom. not a big deal.

then later tonight they can come get them after the kids are asleep.

akl megs, i think you did a nice thing. the neighbors should have planned better.

Completely agree!

 

[RangerPooh]

I too wouldn't be too bothered by this. I would have assumed that I'd be holding them until Christmas Eve, especially if they are Santa gifts. Now if one parent could come over to wrap while the other watches the kids... What's their plan if they did it later? That the kids would be home alone?

We also don't know if they asked if the OP would be home tonight or out of town. If asked at the time they may ahve just assumed that they could come over late to get them, or thought that hey asked this.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I must be too easy going or something. I have a basement full of toys for some friends. I called a couple days ago and asked when they'd like the presents. Asked if they could come late Christmas Eve and I said sure. I'll be letting them in wearing my flannel jammies if it's terribly late but I understand that's how it is this time of year.

They don't wrap presents so that's not an issue, heck I'd wrapped them just because I love this season and the celebration time.

OP, relax and enjoy the season. This is nothing to sweat at all. Merry Christmas to you and your husband and the baby brewing.

 

[Planogirl]

Could they come over later this evening after your guests leave?

I agree though that I don't understand why one can't come over alone.

 

[LuvLDM]

This wouldn't bother me.

 

[HelenePA]

just remember you may need these neighbors to do the same thing for you one day! I'm so glad I have my brother who doesn't mind dropping my kids gifts off for me at 2am on christmas and yes he wrapped them!

 

[Acklander]

It wouldn't bother me - I love playing a part (even if it's a small part) in helping keep the Magic of Christmas alive. Consider yourself blessed Meg, you get to be an honorary elf this year

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I am honestly stumped as to what the big deal is. I would assume that I would be keeping these presents until late Christmas Eve night when the parents would sneak over to wrap and take them back.

You are either all in when doing a favor or you just say no to begin with.

 

[Magic Mom]

It's Christmas Eve. Remember your Christmas spirit and lighten up. Are your guests really uptight? Do you think they would mind if your neighbors dropped in to wrap gifts in the guest room? I know it wouldn't bother me if I was spending time at a friends house and that happened. In fact I'd probably admire how gracious and neighborly you were for helping them out.

 

[kirbsam]

Our neighbors/friends, after Thanksgiving, asked if they could store some large gifts for their kids at our house. (A TV and some big toys.)

We agreed.

They haven't wanted them back and haven't wanted them back.

Yesterday, they asked if they could come and wrap and get them today. I told said we were having guests most if the day, but they could come NOW. They said they couldn't because they had the kids.

Okay.

So, now they are mad because we aren't being "accommodating" since we gave them such short notice (they have from now until 2pm) to come and wrap, take home, and find someone to watch the kids.

Never again. Oh, and you're welcome.

are you seriously making an issue out of this? how about you showing a little christmas spirit? let them get the stuff whenever they want. who really cares? glad that we dont have neighbors like you. cripe.

 

[amez]

I think it was very nice of the op to store the neighbors gifts. If I was having guests over I wouldn't want other people in the house either--my family all live out of state and if they come to visit that's what my focus is on. People seem to be forgetting the op has stored the stuff happily for a month -- if the neighbors wanted it done at their convenience they should have rented a storage locker. the neighbors could wrap the gifts and keep them in their car for awhile. I assumed they wanted them hidden so no little ones would find them--but goodness they could get them for a few hours and not mess up the op's own Christmas plans.

 

[mickeysgal]

This is such a non-issue.

If I had guests and were going to be home most of the day, then that would have been a perfect time for the neighbors to come on over since I'd be home. No guest that I've ever had in my home is in such a delicate state that they couldn't have handled a slight interruption.

If I knew them well enough for them to ask me to store things for them, then, if I wasn't home, I'd give them a key or tell them how to get into the house (spare key, code, etc.).

But that's the kind of neighbor and friend I try to be. So many friends and neighbors have helped us in so many ways in the past that I try to always put myselves in their shoes. Pay it forward, so to speak. I'm a big believer in Karma.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

This is such a non-issue.

If I had guests and were going to be home most of the day, then that would have been a perfect time for the neighbors to come on over since I'd be home. No guest that I've ever had in my home is in such a delicate state that they couldn't have handled a slight interruption.

If I knew them well enough for them to ask me to store things for them, then, if I wasn't home, I'd give them a key or tell them how to get into the house (spare key, code, etc.).

But that's the kind of neighbor and friend I try to be. So many friends and neighbors have helped us in so many ways in the past that I try to always put myselves in their shoes. Pay it forward, so to speak. I'm a big believer in Karma.

I, too, would assume that I was keeping Santa presents until the evening. I also wonder whether both parents need to come in order to load up the car? (Depending on the size of the TV, I doubt I'd want to carry it myself!)

Maybe you could ask the neighbours to come pick them up tonight after their kids go to bed, and then they could wrap them at home. If they don't have a sitter, maybe your DH could offer to help load up their car on this end (how long could it take...five minutes?). Seems like a nice, neighbourly thing to do - and since you will be in their position with a little one very soon, it couldn't hurt to build some good will!

 

[arminnie]

I guess all of you that wouldn't mind them coming over and wrapping BIG presents must have BIG living areas. I have lived in such tiny places most of my life that there is NO way someone could wrap a TV in my living area without major interruptions even if I only had 2-3 people over. Unless I let them use my bedroom, and I think that is just too much to ask.

Once in my life many years ago I did have a garage. A neighbor asked if she could temporarily store her food in my freezer and 3 4-wheelers in my second parking place. I agreed but said the parking place must by emptied by a certain date. I had a 2 day window a month later to come home and leave my car in the second place before going out of state for 2-3 months.

I came home and the 4 wheelers were still there. I didn't care about the food. I called her - she had moved (not far away) and said it wasn't convenient for her to come until a week or so. I was furious. I was supposed to leave my car out on the street for months so she could use my garage?? I moved the 4 wheelers to her old driveway (house hadn't sold) and left her a message. She was beyond furious that I did that and said they could have been stolen - but she did manage to find a way to get them moved.

 

[MIGrandma]

I guess I'm in a minority all alone because I don't even understand why the neighbors needed to store gifts in someone else's home in the first place. We never did when our kids were little. We had no problem hiding them in our own home, and not bothering anyone else over it. Then, Christmas Eve night, after the kids had gone to bed we brought everything out and wrapped gifts and assembled some if they needed it. Yes, we probably had to stay up until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning to do it, but that's part of playing "Santa" for your kids. It never would have occurred to us to ask to store the gifts in someone else's home.

As for the OP's neighbors, and her having company I would feel the same way in not wanting them coming over traipsing through the house, wrapping gifts, etc. when I had company. And there should be no need for the neighbor to have to get a sitter, either Mom or Dad stays home with the kids, and the other parent goes over to wrap and bring the gifts home after the kids go to bed, since the OP did agree to store them but she probably should have made the arrangements, when the neighbors brought them over, as to when they would be wrapping/coming to get them.

 

[cocodog]

This is such a non-issue.

If I had guests and were going to be home most of the day, then that would have been a perfect time for the neighbors to come on over since I'd be home. No guest that I've ever had in my home is in such a delicate state that they couldn't have handled a slight interruption.

If I knew them well enough for them to ask me to store things for them, then, if I wasn't home, I'd give them a key or tell them how to get into the house (spare key, code, etc.).

But that's the kind of neighbor and friend I try to be. So many friends and neighbors have helped us in so many ways in the past that I try to always put myselves in their shoes. Pay it forward, so to speak. I'm a big believer in Karma.

YES, this. Thanks for the reminder from many that we all need to keep the Christmas spirit as the focus. I wish I had you for a neighbor (although I already have some good ones!!).

 

[Pumbaa_]

If I am entertaining, it ay consist of a formal dinner with many courses. Having people popping in in the middle of dinner would not make me happy.

The OP was very generous in letting them keep the gifts for a month! Why should they not be removed at HER convenience rather than the neighbors?

Hope it works out and enjoy your company tonight!

 

[momx2]

Wow! When my kids were smaller I stored some really large items at my neighbors until Christmas Eve, after my kids were asleep. I never even thought to ask them, except to ask if they were going to be home that evening. It didn't matter if they were having a get together and sometimes they did, I could go get the item. Now, I did not wrap them there as we do not wrap Santa gifts. They are assembled by elves Christmas morning.

My parents did the same with neighbors for us. I do the same for my neighbors now if needed. We have older kids now and they have the small ones. You might need them one day! Merry Christmas!

 

[Acklander]

If I am entertaining, it ay consist of a formal dinner with many courses. Having people popping in in the middle of dinner would not make me happy.

Maybe that's the difference, when I entertain, it's everyone come comfortable, good food, good friends, lots of laughs and holiday spirits. I don't think I've ever hosted a formal dinner in my life - so someone coming by to wrap gifts wouldn't be an interruption. We're pretty casual and so are my friends, so they wouldn't think it odd that someone came by to wrap/pick up gifts.