Q&A for How to Figure Out What Your Parents Got You for Christmas

Ask your parents to take you to the store, ask them to leave you alone while you shop. Usually, if they want an explanation for why they should leave you alone, you can just say, "Christmas is coming," and they'll understand. If the store gift wraps for you, you might want to have them wrap the gifts so that when your parents bring you home, they won't be able to tell what you bought. If you can't get the gifts wrapped, just use a lot of plastic bags. Another option would be to go shopping with a friend.

Your parents work very hard to make money and provide for you. If you only get one present, don't whine and cry because that will make them feel very bad.

Just play it in front of her, or show her “this cool video game I just got” so she can see you already have it without hurting her feelings or revealing that you know what you're getting.

It all depends on what kind of little spaces you have in your house. Check closets, under couches our beds, etc.

Then you should be better next year.

First, talk to your sister about what she would really want: a trampoline, or you getting an iPhone 5s? If she wants a trampoline, and maybe you've changed your mind, tell her that maybe you can do a compromise like letting her play Crossy Road for an hour, or maybe watching Netflix with you before you go to bed. About the switching jobs, if it is about your parents, talk to them about if it would be okay to get both or just one. If they say one or the other, that is your job to decide whether or not a trampoline would be more fun than a phone. Just remember, there's always next Christmas, so you might want an iPhone 8 or maybe a more high-quality trampoline!

If it's the only thing you asked for, it's a pretty good bet that they got it for you, unless it's something totally unrealistic. If they asked you not to look for it, you should respect that and just wait for Christmas to find out what you got.

If you don't want to wait until Christmas, then carefully open the wrapping paper and check, but be sure to re-wrap it just like your parents did or they might notice. I would recommend just waiting until Christmas though.

If you have a sibling, try asking them if they know anything. If not, just try to be patient. If you've told your parents you want a phone, most likely they will get one for you (if you've been good and they can afford it).

Tell them both "thank you" for the gift. If you want, you can tell the second person, "I already got one of these, but thanks for thinking of me."

She may have just told you that as a diversion to throw you off the trail. You could still get the book.

They might not have gotten the present for you yet. Also try looking in different parts of your house. You never know, they might have hidden it somewhere else!

Be careful and subtle. Look where and when they will not realize you are actually looking. You might just have to wait until Christmas, however.

In a situation like this, no means no. Keeping a cat is a full-time commitment, and your family might not have the time and money to look after one. Far too many cats given as Christmas gifts eventually end up in shelters, as the owners don't understand how much care they need - there's nothing wrong with your parents not wanting to drive the statistics up.

Use an X-acto knife to open it. Make sure you re tape it. If it has wrapping paper, use a knife or an X-acto knife to rip the paper. Seal with tape.

Some people are just too curious and eager to wait until Christmas!

Your parents may be late shoppers or good at keeping a secret.

Don't be disappointed, be excited about the cool gift you're getting! If you're really upset about it, come clean and tell your parents the truth. They might even return the gift and get you something else if you ask them to.

Just say you thought it was for someone else and you were trying to re-wrap it.

It depends on the layout of your house, but I would say that most parents probably hide presents in their closet.

If you know someone who lives with them, you could ask them to snoop around for you. If not, try to get them to give you some hints, and maybe you'll be able to guess.

Some parents have impossibly good memories, and as a result won't need to cross things off as they buy them. Surely they've got you some things, so it's time to do some searching - look through every nook and cranny in the house, garage, car, etc.

If the gift is already wrapped, then you're just going to have to wait. Christmas is almost here, you'll find out soon enough.

Some people don't have any patience.

Try being sneaky. Maybe try it at night when your parents are asleep. Just don't make too much noise.

Try your best to fix it and make it look like nothing happened to it. Use a little bit of tape or put a small bow over the tear. Or you could always own up to what you did, because if you lie you can get in more trouble.

Look under the Christmas tree and compare the size of the thing you asked for with the sizes of the gifts.

Maybe ask her to give you a hint. She just might do it, sometimes grandparents will do things parents won't!

A flashlight can be helpful if you're trying to figure out your presents or re-wrap them in the dark.

Wait until they fall asleep or are in a different room. For example; if they are in the living room, go check their room. Just be careful not to get caught.