To ask if anyone else has children not remotely bothered about Christmas!?

[haphazardbystarlight]

My DS isn't! I have told him he will turn into the grinch at this rate. He says it isn't just him

So I am trying to find out if anyone else has children who are finding Christmas a minor irritation!

[AgentZigzag]

You obviously haven't put enough effort into winding him up

How old is he though?

[PhaedraIsMyName]

My son wasn't. I mean he is still my son and he still isn't, but after about 8 he really wasn't bothered. He stopped,"of his own accord, putting a stocking up.

[CatCushion]

Yes, my teenagers are not really all that fussed, so we have pared it right back this year and trying to concentrate on just relaxing together. So far so good.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

I got fed up of it when I was 15. I really did make an effort for him but the lack of interest must be genetic.

If Christmas were banned I wouldn't miss any of it.

[DurhamDurham]

My rep girls are 21 and 17, they still get excited shout their stockings. They still get advent calendars...they bought each other one this year. I do sometimes wonder when their enthusiasm will wane.......

[WooWooOwl]

My eldest isn't bothered by it. He likes the food and the presents, the rest he does purely to humour me.

[haphazardbystarlight]

Probably Agent

He is nearly 8 so perhaps it is his age. He's had his present as well so I suppose I can understand him not being too wound up!

[pinksquash13]

I teach yr6 and a few of the boys were not bothered, fed up with xmas song and did not want to receive xmas cards.

[18yearstooold]

My oldest is not a fan and from the age of 8 has been positively morose

There is a back story but every year I think 'maybe this year will be different'
She's told me she's planning on spending all day in bed tomorrow just to avoid the fact it's Christmas

[Nanny0gg]

What's to look forward to if he's already had his present?

[haphazardbystarlight]

Blimey DS isn't quite that negative, what has caused that?

I think for DS it's just another day - he genuinely has never got too excited about it.

[haphazardbystarlight]

Ah, he'll get a couple of stocking fillers Nanny.

Maybe a lump of coal and an orange

[SpidersDontWashTheirHands]

I can see DS1 going that way miserable bugger

[AgentZigzag]

'Maybe a lump of coal and an orange'

Aye, and he'll be bloody grateful for it an' all

14 YO DD1 is finding the expectation of the 'performance' a little difficult to deal with this year, even though we've never put any pressure on her to do anything but what comes naturally when opening her pressies.

But it's only us here and we'll try to only give sideward looks at how things are going down.

It can be difficult if you're feeling particularly self conscious though, especially as they get older.

[roisin]

My boys are 15 and 17; they haven't been hyper about Christmas for a long time, but they do enjoy the time we have to relax together, having some special food and seeing relatives. They also engage fairly willingly in some daft christmas traditions, such as decorating gingerbread houses, eating Lebkuchen and drinking mulled wine!

[Mammanat222]

DS is only 2 (just gone) so he still doesn't understand? We've had presents under the tree for a week and all he is interested in is the cats stocking. Bless him.

[Bumply]

Ds1 is 16 and not interested.

When I asked if there was anything particular he wanted he said he'd get the most enjoyment out of watching me struggle to find things he'd like! Cheeky sod.
Ds2 is 12 and still excited even though he knows what he's getting.

[Thurlow]

DD is nearly 3. She kind of gets the concept and I've been talking about it all day but she's not interested! The presents are out and under the tree, we've hung the stocking and talked about needing to leave food out for Father Christmas and how he'll leave presents in her stocking tonight but... nope.

She has asked to watch the Raymond Briggs Father Christmas that's been sitting unwatched on the shelf for the year so something has clicked, but compared to all the other 2 and 3 year old's I've been hearing about she barely cares at all! Hasn't even asked for a particular present despite being asked several times over the past few weeks.

Actually, yesterday she told an old man in town that Father Christmas was going to bring her cabbages

I suppose I should savour the calm this year, it will probably be the last...

[Sparklingbrook]

I am so glad we don't have to stay up til the early hours to bring down the presents out the loft. I think I may send Ds1 up there for them in a bit.....

[FlowerFairy2014]

Teenagers often want tradition but do not want to say. I am sure mine appreciate the tree and a stocking although would not necessarily admit it.

It is a really good thing when children are not materialistic. It shows you have brought them up well. The hype some people make over Christmas, even atheists is the antithesis of the message of Jesus and morally obscene. People wrapping 100 presents. Not very well off mumsnetters going into debt all year, taking on pay day loans - it's absolutely dreadful. Instead they could go round to some old neighbour and wash her feet or chat to her. That would be more what Christmas ought to be about.

[HamPortCourt]

Mine are 14 and 17 and still want stockings

They got really excited when I dug out the old decorations etc. I think they like the familiarity, the routine and comfort of it all.

Luckily they won't get up at 5am any more, but they will still be keen to get up and open their pressies and for their little cousins to come round.

[JennyBlueWren]

I was always excited even as a teenager although my family only had a quiet Christmas. My brothers (older and younger) were happy enough but not that bothered really. I had to make breakfast or go for a walk with dad as otherwise I would have been demanding they get up early and it was a rare lie in for 2 paper boys.
Actually I still get excited but les so this year as haven't been week and heavily pregnant.

[CaptainAnkles]

Mine have never been the getting u at five, overexcited and running around type of children. They like Christmas and enjoy opening presents but just don't get all hyped up.

[ElizabethHoover]

Three boys. All not bothered. We ever hyped it up