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Christmas

AIBU to not do stocking ps this year?

72 replies

Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 13:37

Dd's are almost 12 and 14, in the past we have done stockings mainly to keep the dd's busy for an hour so I don't have to rush out of bed but this year it's just me and them and they are old enough to wait for me to get up. I never had a stocking when I was a child, we had a pillow case which Father Christmas put all our presents (including from relatives) into. As I got older we just had gifts under the tree and we didn't open them until after breakfast. I want to do the same with my dd's and skip the stocking full of bits of tat that they don't even look at after Christmas Day. Am I being mean?

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 13:38

Titles meant to say 'AIBU not to do stockings this year' (iPad playing up)

OP posts:
drinkswineoutofamug · 11/11/2017 13:42

My kids are 18,20,21 and still get a stocking! Even my partner got one the other year.

PickledLilly · 11/11/2017 13:42

YABVVVU! Stockings are the best bit, everyone knows that!

Bubblysqueak · 11/11/2017 13:44

I'm 31 and dh is 41 we still get stockings from my parents. We also still get selection boxes.

It's these type of traditions that for me make Christmas. I will be doing the same for my children.

So they be disappointed if they don't get one?

LittleLights · 11/11/2017 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WillowWeeping · 11/11/2017 13:45

Shock stockings are best bit!!

Justbookedasummmerholiday · 11/11/2017 13:45

Yabu to expect Christmas without stockings.
Shame on you op.

sleepingdogslying · 11/11/2017 13:46

I still do stockings for DC 20 & 21. This year they are not at home for Xmas day for the first time so I am trying to work out what to do

chanie44 · 11/11/2017 13:47

DSis said she isn’t going to do stockings for her eldest two who are teenagers and have had stockings since they were born.

She said that they don’t even need practical items like socks and lynx gift sets. She is still going to buy for the youngest DC though.

YANBU - if they don’t want/need anything, there is no point in spending for the sake of it., particularly if they aren’t that bothered.

blueskyinmarch · 11/11/2017 13:49

We still do stockings for everyone. My fIL is coming for Christmas this year and at the age of 90 he will be getting a stocking like everyone else. Don't fill them with tat. Fill them with little useful things. Socks, toiletries, hair things etc as well as the obligatory apple/satsuma/sweets/choc coins.

Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 13:59

I haven't always done them, only for the past 4 years, dd1 often never touches it again after Christmas Day, I usually buy things like fluffy socks, fidget toys, chocolate coins and a new tooth brush. I put quite a lot of thought into it but they don't touch most of the things in there once they have opened their main present so it seems a waste Sad. I have bought them a few silly little things but they are too big to go into a stocking so I'm thinking of just wrapping them and putting them under the tree as they won't have much to open this year due to them wanting expensive main presents (which are tiny).

OP posts:
Lookingtothehighlands · 11/11/2017 14:01

YABVVU
I'm fifty something and my mum still does a stocking for me (and DH)

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/11/2017 14:03

Stockings are the very best bit of Christmas. We all have one in this household, regardless of age.

Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 14:14

Maybe I am BU?

I just can't see the point in wasting money on bits of tat that they won't use. I have spent quite a bit on their gifts already and haven't got much to show for it. I am making a kind of hamper for dd1 with ingredients to make waffles and different toppings along with a waffle maker, dd2 is getting something similar but bath bomb making stuff, this is as well as their main present.

I can't think of anything that I can put in a stocking that will actually get used, they still have their fluffy socks from last year which they have worn once, they don't need gloves or underwear, they get way too much chocolate and they don't really like girly things like makeup or hair bands, we are over run with stationary.

OP posts:
Isadora2007 · 11/11/2017 14:16

I assume they dont believe in santa now anyway, so just ask them?

Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 14:22

No they don't. I have asked dd1, she seemed a little disappointed but not too bothered. Dd2 has ASD and doesn't really understand but probably wouldn't notice if I stop doing it.

OP posts:
LittleLights · 11/11/2017 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WillowWeeping · 11/11/2017 14:29

I don't really make a distinction between big presents and sticking presents and so don't fill them with "tat" which helps mitigate feeling wasteful. E.g. DD really wants a new urban decay makeup palate and I'll stick that in the stocking.

I also literally stop buying the DC stuff after back to school, so end up bulking the stockings with things they need and I'd probably buy anyway: slippers, PJs, upgraded skincare, coloured pens, reading and note books etc.

HandbagCrazy · 11/11/2017 14:49

We didn’t get stockings growing up OP so i don’t think you are U to stop. This isn’t like a lot of pp where they’ve had this tradition since they were babies so if you don’t want to and they aren’t bothered, why stress yourself out with it?
Do you have any traditions you’ve done every year? Or could you start something now they’re a bit older (for example, no stockings in our house but if my mum didn’t provide a wrapped choc orange for me, dsis and Dad every year there would be uproar)!

Leeds2 · 11/11/2017 15:30

My 19 year old will be getting a stocking. I think she'd be disappointed if she didn't. I agree with putting smaller "proper" presents in it, so that it isn't full of tat. Much of it isn't greeted with overwhelming excitement at the time but stuff like pens, lip balms etc are all used afterwards.

Lovemusic33 · 11/11/2017 15:38

We do a Christmas Eve box (new pj's, DVD, sweets and a bath bomb) so I will probably continue with this. I would like to introduce having a nice breakfast before present opening rather than the rushed 'slice of toast' that normally happens.

To me pens and lip balm are tat as they don't need then and because dd2 has ASD things like lip balm or makeup just get smeared across her walls. They have plenty of everything so no stationary needed, no new socks needed etc..etc..

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 11/11/2017 15:58

We wait to buy things through the year, so they need stuff in their stockings. They will need a toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, underwear (always jolly ones), soap, all a fancier brand than usual. Also perfume/aftershave, chocolate orange and coins, a fidget toy, slippers, a bottle or two of suitable drink- fruit cider in our case, snowball, shandy or baby sham when they were younger. Their favourite sweets- flying saucers for one. Pez and a pez dispenser. A chocolate reindeer from Aldi, white choc for one, p,Ian for the other. Something like streamers, party poppers, long thin balloons for sword fights,,,

It’s showing that you know and care what they like, and building in some fun. Some of the stuff I have to get anyway- toothpaste etc. I spend a little more on better brands. The extra stuff comes to about £10, I think.
We open stockings downstairs when we wake up.
Then a family breakfast.
Then Church.
Then lunch.
Then big presents.

It’s great! My 17 and 21 yr olds love their stockings!

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Littlestchristmastree · 11/11/2017 16:35

Instead of a hamper could you just put the bits into a stocking and wrap separately?? Then they still have a stocking but stuff you've got anyway....?

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 11/11/2017 17:07

I think it is up to you and your daughters. In terms of tat it is just about finding out what isn't tat for your family. So here make up wouldn't be used but a USB flash drive will be used. Make Christmas work for you though.

Whataboutmeee · 11/11/2017 17:11

I would prefer a stocking to a Christmas Eve box!

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