To be a bit sad I’ve never received a Christmas stocking?

You’re not being unreasonable at all! I echo other suggestions to get your kids or husband (although it sounds like he’d not be keen) to do a stocking for you. Or a close friend and you could do the same for them? I’d even do one for myself if my husband hadn’t taken over stocking duties from my parents!

No- they should be buying all of it!n

That’s so sad. I lm a single parent who both firmly believes in Father Christmas and does her own Christmas stocking. If my dc ever tell me they don’t believe I’ll be asking them to do it for me. They are 18.16, and 10.

No hints.
Just say you want one.

OP I would just drop a very strong hint, well in advance!

I would buy myself a few small things and then give them to DH and your DC to put a stocking together for you. Or tell them what you'd like. They don't have to be tat. Some good ideas up thread. I'm doing one for DH and he's getting a book, socks, chocs. Also each stocking has to have some walnuts and an orange! My dad used to put a piece of coal in mine - for luck!

I had never had a stocking until about three years ago (we had pillow cases when I was a child)

Not sure this is quite the same 😂

Tell your husband you want one this year.
Decide what type of things you'd like in it and he can get them (so you are getting a semi idea of what it will be but it's still surprises).
Maybe go for that concept some people do of the 4 things -
Something to wear (so for example socks)
Something you want (new paperback novel)
Something you need (actually maybe change this to something fun 🤔)
Something to eat (chocolate coins)
(although I'd insist on 2 of everything to make the stocking more fun 🙂)

YANBU at all. I spent a lot of my life wishing I’d had various fun elements friends did as kids and eventually decided to do it all for myself 😂 So basically any time I see something small and a bit too frivolous throughout the year I buy it for myself and stash it. I also take lots of joy out of building stockings for various close friends/extended family who don’t have anyone to make one for them - and of course, keeping DSs magic alive as long as possible 😊

OP I’ve DMd you but if you don’t find it too weird I’m happy to send you one/add you to my ‘Santa list’ if you’d like x **beware it would come in a comically badly hand-knitted stocking because I refuse to buy them in the hopes my non-existent knitting skills get better the more I knit

I had never had a stocking until about three years ago (we had pillow cases when I was a child) when my adult children presented my husband and me with one each. We (well, I) do the stockings for the children. They do the ones for us.

You’re not being unreasonable and you don’t need to get a grip. I’m sad for you, OP. You deserve to have a stocking and if you were my friend, I’d do one for you.

YANBU at all. It was hugely unfair of your parents to cheat you out of Christmas.
Either suggest to someone close to you or put a lovely stocking together yourself this year (I buy & wrap all my own things anyway!)

I think you should have a chat with your DC and tell them about your childhood and how much it would mean to have a stocking now. Ask them to do one between them. Tell them it doesn't need to be expensive, just bits and pieces.

Your childhood sounds like mine OP, it was a miserable way to grow up. My parents never bothered with Father Christmas, stockings or even a tree, and they could certainly afford it. They saw it as frivolous and a waste of money. We were given 'sensible' presents that they thought we needed (noteably an Oxford dictionary when I was ten, and a laptop case when I was a teenager). They wouldn't even light the fire, because it would make too much of a mess... The whole day was joyless and depressing. One Christmas Eve we stayed at our grandparent's house and DGM put some chocolate coins and a book in a pillowcase at the foot of my bed - waking up to find that is my happiest Christmas memory.

I always make a big effort for our DC as a result, gather little bits and bobs that I spot throughout the year for their stocking, so they get things they will actually like. We decorate the house, play Christmas songs, have our crappy electric fire fire going, make cookies for Santa. My parents turn their nose up every time our DC talk about Father Christmas.

Sadly, our budget doesn't stretch to a stocking for me, and DH wouldn't entertain the idea anyway...!

s this just about stockings or is it part of a bigger issue? If you ask your DH will he embrace the idea or will he dismiss you as being unreasonable?

Because you are absolutely not being unreasonable.

how could wanting a bit of joy and frivolity from someone you love ever be considered so?

if your DH embraces the idea run with it and love every minute. There are so many options that are neither wasteful or tat. If he is not keen then buy yourself some treats and have a serious think about what you want your future to look like

i would do one for myself! It wouldn't have the surprise factor, but I would have a book, nice bath and body stuff, some chocolate just for me! Definitely get yourself a treat.

Stockings do need to have tat in. Dh and I do one for each other it has in it things like book, a more luxury shower gel, chocolates, socks or scarf, some bits for our hobbies or sports sometimes a fun piece of jewellery. We love it and means so much so please make one for yourself!

I don't see the point in dwelling on it tbh. You can't go back and change it so enjoy what you have as an adult. No harm in asking your kids if they'd do something for you now though.

I gave my mum her first ever stocking when she was 66. She (and I) are from a different countries with different traditions from the UK. She spent one Christmas with us and made her a stocking, she was thrilled to bits. I'm sure your kids would be pleased to do this for you!

One Christmas I spent with friends and their adult kids where everyone was in charge of one person's stocking, with an overall price limit. It was really lovely and spread out the responsibility.

What a shame that you married somebody who has the same weird values as your parents. I used to do a stocking for my parents. I hope your kids will do the same.

This website has pre-made stockings with gifts, you select the person’s interests and what you get is a complete surprise:

https://santasorted.co.uk

equally Amazon do similar (but you can see the included gifts so not totally blind): www.amazon.co.uk/pre-filled-christmas-stockings/s?k=pre+filled+christmas+stockings

DH & I give each other smallish stockings - about 4-6 high quality consumable items like chocolate, soaps, mini cocktails or high spec versions of things we each like (I had the nicest Korean bbq sauce from DH one year). It's not wasteful as we eat or use everything, but still feels special.

Oh bless you, OP. I wish I knew you IRL then I could do one for you.

Ask your partner or children. Stockings don't have to be waste or plastic tat- there are lots of things that make nice little stocking gifts and are also useful.

To be honest my parents never did stockings either, but I moved out at 18 and then got my own place after uni halls. So pretty much as soon as I moved out, I got myself my own stocking. Yeah it might be weird to some, but sometimes you have to set your own traditions. I’m hugely into all the Christmas things my family wasn’t into, and celebrating allllll the occasions that they didn’t like Halloween etc and I’m happier for it.

Even if you feel ridiculous, tell him how you feel. It’s important to you. Tell your kids if they’re old enough too x Also tell your friends. As someone who has fab Christmases but who hopes for presents I don’t get because I told nobody …. Just tell him!!!