To think it’s weird that we try and keep the ‘magic’ alive for teen and adult children.

Kicked my dc to bed (15) and mentioned to her as a joke we hadn't left a mince pie. She was actually gutted when she remembered and really wanted one left out for him! I convinced her to leave the lid off the Celebrations instead. Ha.

Half hour later we've tiptoed down to put the presents out for the kids. 15, 22, 24. All still love it. Stockings filled with chocolates on their piles, and lots of smiling faces tomorrow (at a lovely, sensible hour).

However, it's nice to see the gifts under the tree FROM them, too. I miss the young days with the sheer excitement, but something special about these times, too.

When DS told me he knew the truth he was sad about it. I asked him if he still wanted to pay the Santa game and he said yes. So that’s what we do for now at least

he does ask me what I think Santa would like to drink 😂

I think it's a bit of fun at a cold dark time of year.

Maybe you could rethink doing it, if you consider it weird but in all honesty I don't think it is particularly weird. Up to you OP!

My 22yo appeared at my bedroom door last night, asking in a very furtive voice whether he could add a little something to his dad's stocking! It's so lovely seeing them become adults and joining in with everything we've been doing for them since they were tiny. I know it's very de rigeur to sneer at "the magic" on MN this year, but it doesn't resonate with me at all.

I agree. I have adult kids and they are here for Christmas - we've just put the flour footsteps by the fireplace, taken a bite out of Rudolph's carrot and had a glug of Santa's milk! It's a fun, sweet tradition.

My adult dc are now creeping around the house adding things to each other's stockings while no-one is looking. Dh and I know that things will appear in our stockings, too.

We left all tomorrow's veg for roasting on the kitchen counter when we went up to bed. When we come down tomorrow morning, all the veg will be peeled and sitting in bowls of water, ready for roasting. The kitchen will be as clean as we left it.

That's the magic: when your adult dc join in the spirit, and want to make the day as magical for us as we made it for them.

We did the stockings when I was a teenager but there was no pretence Santa filled them 😂

What do you care?
my dc still want to put out a carrot and mince pie. They’re 13-16. They seemed excited to do it - it’s just routine for Christmas Eve bedtime. If they want to do it then they can.

We never did elf on the shelf - I know my parenting limitations. Our tooth fairy was regularly forgetful 😂🙈

I did think last year Christmas would feel less “magical” but it was actually really special. It’s different but still so lovely. I’ve no reason to stop all of that.

Yeah I get you. I'm a bit shocked to see the responses tbh as it never even crossed my mind to do this for teenager that is more cynical than I am. So I'm here to say you can skip it and you won't be alone.

Mine are 22 and 20 and this is the first year they've helped stuff the stockings and bring all the presents down! It's wonderful 😊

Mine are 23-15 and would be disappointed if we did away with stockings, mince pies etc. I ask each year if they want to continue, and it’s unanimous.

No infantilisation whatsoever. We have great fun, we laugh and it’s a lovely start to an otherwise grown up, joyous day. .

Don't know, why do you do it? I do stockings but not leaving mince pies etc

Yes i agree. I can't understand people trying to force older children to believe in Santa too. I think i stopped believing at a young age, never bothered me, and don't think my parents tried to force it on me once the so called "magic" had gone.

As long as it's fun for all and not stressful then I see no problem.
People making martyrs of themselves to get very little appreciation totally baffles me.

This will sound insane but I'm 34 and my dad still insists gifts are from "Santa", and presents them to me in my childhood stocking and sack. He answers the door saying "Has he beeeeen?" which he used to do when we walked downstairs on Christmas morning when I lived at home.

I've asked him to stop as it actually depresses me (having the same things from childhood without the actual feeling of magic makes me upset) but he still does it. I need new traditions, as this makes me dread Christmas!

I'd much rather have an adult Christmas where we exchange gifts openly while having a glass of wine.

DS2 openly doesn't believe this year and teenage DS1 really couldn't care less.

DS2 did want to put the mince pies out. He decided to peel and eat the carrot himself. The mince pie mysteriously disappeared in the 15s that it took to go to the loo. I did point out that I couldn't have eaten a mince pie in 15s!
(I was very careful not to crush it into the sofa with my buttock before he finally went to bed at midnight 😂)

Just following on from your update... I think it's tradition. We don't watch the same movie year on year for Christmas Eve, but I watch Polar Express solo (it creeps DS out 😂) on the night I get all the wrapping done. I don't care it's a kids film, or that I watch it every year. It genuinely makes me happy and let's me feel warm fuzzies as I wrap gifts for people I love - high up on my favourite Christmas things I do!

I really don’t think anyone is doing elf on the shelf for their adult children….

It's fun! I think a lot of 'keeping the magic alive' things are actually nice treats people can enjoy at any age.

We leave out a brownie from my favourite bakery and a can of lemonade for Santa, and I hope we continue once DS no longer believes. It's nice to have a yummy treat whilst doing last minute Christmas Eve chores, and I imagine those will continue even when DS is a teen 😂

Waking up to a stocking full of treats, again, is lovely. Even if you don't 'believe', it's more fun for them suddenly to be there - as you won't have a clue or the opportunity to guess what'll be there. Same goes for gifts under the tree.

Because it’s a bit of fun and laugh, and when we’re on our deathbeds these are the moments we’ll look back on and smile about.

DSS is about to be 16. I still absolutely love doing him a stocking because I get to buy him silly shit and we’re all in on it. Will very happily still do this when he’s 26 because it’s just nice.