I hope your stepmom understands that. I can understand your embarrassment though, I get embarrassed all of the time when my kids do 'kids stuff'.

My dd7 bought ds2 a stuffed penguin for xmas from the dollar store, she was super excited and she just knew he would love it. When he opened it up he scrunched up his face and said "no want it" and tossed it aside. I thought DD7 was going to burst into tears but she laughed about it. Now, five days later he won't put that little 'feet feet' down and treats it like a baby. It's really cute.

Hopefully, soon, you can tell your stepmom that she just loves Ratatouille and watches nothing else...or something like that.

the scene in pink flamingos when divine opens her present, and it's not the go go boots she wanted... i think that's what she wanted... oh wait, wasn't it cha-cha boots? anyway, it was the wrong kind, so she killed her parents? funny shit.

I took him aside and also took the toy away for awhile.

The story is that he wanted hotwheels cars and when he read that they were a different brand he was upset. I expected it - he's three. He was crying and and wanting another present. Luckily, it was from my aunt who has three boys and she laughed about it.

People should understand. My son is 10 and I was horrified this year when he opened a package (a rock tumbler) and said "oh, now I'll have something to sell on ebay!". I sat there in shock for a second, wondering what my reaction should be and just said, 'what did you say?' and he clarified that he meant he could make rock stuff now...but it was a close call for a second!

Totally normal, I think you handled it really well. Maybe you can look at it as a teaching opportunity instead of an embarrassment. The fact that you see both sides of this and are mindful about it shows you're a great mom. Don't let a voice in your head lacerate you over it would be my advice.

***the United States is one of only four out of 168 countries studied to not have some form of paid family leave for new moms. We join Swaziland, Papua New Guinea, and Lesotho in not having that policy in place. ***

I think all kids do something like this eventually. It's happened to me; both as a gift-giver and as a parent. It didn't bother me too much as a gift giver. As a parent it bothered me a lot more. It seems like our child's actions are so much more magnified to us than to others a lot of the time. There are a lot of factors coming in to play here. It's a holiday, she had a lot of sugar, there was a lot of excitement... Maybe she was expecting something very specific when she opened that gift and she was disappointed that it wasn't that one thing - having nothing to do with whether she would enjoy that movie. Also, was she aware of that movie's existence before? My son and I saw it and loved it; but I can't tell you how many kid's movies have been made in his lifetime that he still has no idea of their very existence. Sometimes he sees something and says he doesn't like it but later learns more about it and wants to try it. That is very, very normal.

That kind of stuff is very natural for kids to do because they don't understand. Most adults do, however, understand the naivety of children at that age. I'm sure your step-mom wasn't insulted. (At least I hope not. If she was, she will get over it.) And eventually, your daughter will probably like that movie because it's freaking cute.

I have a four year old boy. His grandmother - very christian granmother, gave him a little story book bible for christmas. He took one look and said "can I get something else?" I was embarrassed and did exactly what you did and took him aside to "explain" the situation. NO I do not think 4 year olds are able to grasp the subtlies of gift giving and receiving and unfortunately most adults are not able to grasp THAT fact. Therefore mom ends up embarrased and gift giver ends up offended and the kid ends up confused about all the fuss. Don't worry your kid is normal. This is how we learn to be gracious...we aren't and some one schools us...I am not sure when "manners" will really kick in but it is our job to try and instill them. I know a lot of adults who don't have them so I think we have our work cut out for us . I am sorry this happended to both of us but I plan on making sure I remember to be gracious the next time a small child tells me my gift isn't up to snuff so their mom doesn't have to feel mortified.

The heart has its reasons whereof Reason knows nothing.
- Blaise Pascal

exactly what you did. i wouldn't have been embarrassed by it though, given the age of the child and the circumstances. i'd have apologized, and explained that i'm still teaching my child about how to graciously receive gifts, and thanked the giver myself. i think it's only by dumb luck that i haven't had to deal with this yet, to be honest. every child needs a kick in teh pants like this. i bet she will never do it again.

I think it seems normal.
I would probably feel bad about it some, but mostly feel bad for your step mom though I would hope she would understand that kids are kids and that almost 4 and excited is not likely to also be a skilled and graceful liar. I would apologize to step-mom too, but along the lines of "thanks for the great gift, I know she will love it, I am sorry if her reaction made you feel bad" rather than "sorry I didn't teach my kid to lie better"
It's probably fine. Kids get really wound up about holidays and presents and don't act like kids in books do.