Positive teen Christmas moments - post here

[MrsBright]

This morning DD aged 13 who can be snotty, ungrateful, rude and dismissive about almost everything, opened her 'big' pressie of a Samsung Tablet - and squealed with joy, barely able to speak and just rushed across the room and hugged us both, 'oh thank you, thank you'.

Just lovely.

[MrsTwgtwf]

Ditto teens here, opening CDs by people we have never heard of.

I'm sure they sing very nicely.

[allcatsaregrey]

My 13 yea old son put the food hamper he was given by his youth club in the foodbank. He also bought extra toys for a charity and never mentioned it to me. It's been a lean xmas for us but he seems happy with his new (second hand) guitar amp

[KatyMac]

I bought a toy owl for a toddler - dd loved it

I suggested buying one for my niece (5) - dd said no she is far too old for cuddly owl

I gave said owl to DD (16) (in her stocking) she adored it & took it to her nana's where niece spotted it and has 'adopted' it as her own

DD said "it's OK she can keep it.........I'll go to the shops & buy another one for me"

I thought it very sweet

[clam]

Started so well with dd (15) emitting similar squeals when opening her stocking.
Had to grit my teeth later on when she texted me (after all, too much effort to come upstairs in person!) saying, "Santa done amazing."

[EloiseintheSun]

DSs bought me books that they know I'll enjoy reading. Rather than, as previous years, going to Lush and buying wrapped up bath bombs (which are lovely), they went to Waterstones and bought a couple of books that are right up my street. Seems they know me rather well, after all.

My pressies to them, which were mostly pretty practical, didn't all go down quite so well - though they were nice about them. Have asked them to drop clear, loud hints in good time for next year.

[ArgumentsatChristmas]

1. DS (14) doing all the potatoes and carrots, walking the dog, clearing the table and washing up
2. DD (16) setting the table, doing the brussel sprouts, clearing and tidying the living room after the orgy of presents, clearing the table and washing up

Somedays, and this is one of those days, they show signs of humanity. They were pleased with their presents, but actual genuine helpfulness is something that is a joy.

[KatyMac]

Teenagers can be so, so lovely!

[bruffin]

Dd 16 asked for a mcbusted ticket for christmas. She knew she was getting it as her main present. DH decided to get both dcs a tablet as well. She was thrilled and says she feels gulity and offering to pay towards it

[3catsandcounting]

DS(14) smiled - whoa!!!

[MaryzBoychildCheeszuzCrizpz]

ds1 bought me a present. An expensive one with a label saying "to Mum, Happy Christmas lots of love from ds1".

He bought thoughtful presents for dd and ds2. He grinned and said thanks when I gave him his.

And he then came with us for Christmas dinner at relatives'.

To anyone else, that probably sounds normal. But for us it's just so fan-fucking-tastic I can't believe it

[MaryzBoychildCheeszuzCrizpz]

Oh, my other two have been absolutely lovely all day. They often are, though, so it's not so much of a surprise

[AntiJamDidi]

Dd1, 14, was really happy with her haul of presents this year, she knew we weren't doing much in the way of presents because she'd had a big birthday present in October, so a few little things were all she was expecting. She played with 3yo dd2, handed out thoughtful presents to all of us. She even graciously wore the snowman headband and HUGE earrings all day, including to church where she has friends. She was gobsmacked when I "remembered another present" mid-afternoon, which was a secondhand, cost us barely anything laptop. The squeals of joy and the look on her face were priceless. Of course we didn't see her for the rest of the day as she hid herself up in her room to play with her new toy, which is why I didn't give it to her til mid-afternoon.

[QODRestYeMerryGentlemen]

Dd 15 bless her, just a pleasure today

[clam]

We drew up on the drive in the car just now and both dcs, unprompted, said that was a lovely day and thank you so much for their lovely presents.
Aww!

[Bumply]

I didn't get thanked explicitly by my teen, but he showed pleasure including one "whoop" at the presents he got and has used/played with several so I'm counting that as a win.

[Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywrench]

DS (16) bought me a pair of earrings from his babysitting money. I got the biggest hug and kiss for getting him Lego Star Wars and Lego Batman for his Xbox He even bought DH a book on conspiracy theories (which was unexpected as they really have polar opposite interests most of the time) which made DH tear up happy because they are finally getting to the stage where they enjoy each other's company (DS is very much my child in terms of interests and personality, so DH has to put up with our similar warped sense of humour in-jokes and feels a bit left out at times).

[Paleninteresting]

My DSS, got cross with me, stomped off and came back ten minutes later having done some thinking and was beyond lovely for the rest of the day. He did so well doing that, good job.

[80sdrummer]

What a lovely thread.

Last year we were all struck down by flu and xmas day didn't really happen as we lay on the sofa and ate ready meals, although the DCs still had their presents. 15yo DS said that this years xmas was even more special as it included spending time with our extended family as well as cool presents.

[galletti]

Lovely stories here. DD (nearly 14) presented me with a really tasteful necklace with an angel on which she had bought herself on a shopping trip with friends and said 'Mum, I know you lost Grandma this year, but this is her angel and she will be always with you'. Don't think I will ever take it off.

[Travelledtheworld]

DS 13 sent me to the living room with a glass of wine while he and DH did the washing up.......

[thornrose]

My dd is 14, she has AS and finds Christmas really hard. This year she has been so mature and a pleasure to be with.

She had a big disappointment and major change of plan yesterday and even that didn't phase her. She also came on unexpectedly today and that means she had no PMT. I could cry

I feel as though we've turned a corner.

[ShrekTheHalls]

love this thread.
ds1 is 13 next week and has AS - has done amazingly well today. no hitches, no strops, no panics. generally been a decent human. which he hasn't been for at least six months, btw. he often finds Christmas difficult as routine is lacking, but has done spectacularly today and has just given hugs all round

[Caoilainn]

What a lovely thread, DS didn't have as much as usual this year due to driving lessons. He was extremely grateful for everything he did get even though much of it was clothes etc that I would usually just buy.

He also helped prepare veg on Christmas Eve, first time ever! Also actually spent Christmas Eve with me watching random tv and wrapping.

Christmas Day we played card games with his card and chip set and it ended up with me saying its time to tidy away rather than him begging to leave! Going to set up a games night as DS has requested

[clary]

All 3 DC rallied to put together the fruit platter for pudding when I realised at the last minute I had forgotten it.

DS1 (14yo) loved his new grown up pyjamas. DD (12) loved her Disney dolls and just squealed when she saw them. Late in the evening we played a spur of the moment game of Consequences which they all thought was hilarious :)

[clary]

Also DS1 who earns money from his paper round had gone to town on his own and picked out really thoughtful things for his dad, sister and brother bless him.