Christmas with older children is so boring

[ALemonyPea]

Don't feel Christmassy at all. It's quite depressing.

None of them are interested in watching a Christmas film with us, they didn't want to decorate the tree this year either. There's been no nativity plays or trips to see Santa.

We were going to go to the cinema today, but we can't all agree on what to go and see, so we're not going.

Really wish they were little again this time of year, anyone else feeling like this today?

It's all so overrated anyway. My two teenagers and I have been in 3 separate rooms all day. I'm ironing now, and wishing I was anywhere else tbh. Sigh.

Yes you need to change things

We go ice skating and panto

I thought our traditional Christmas Eve baking wouldn't happen any more - however they invited all their friends to 'help' I will have a kitchen full later -

I have beer, cheese and Netflix, Dd isn't here so I'm just doing my own thing.

My older two are 14 and 15, broke up from school at 1:30 on Friday and have been in their rooms ever since 😭

Toddler is 18 months and although he knows somethings going on he doesn’t understand yet.

Next year will be more fun I hope!

Really wish they were little again this time of year, anyone else feeling like this today?

NFW! Having to get up at the crack of fucking dawn (I hate mornings), all that forced 'magic', pile of toys v. point and click presents, being able to have a nice drink the night before, kids helping with the dinner, being able to chill and relax as kids off on their games, talking to their mates, at work, etc. Bliss!

Yep. Oldest is 11 and not as excited by the decorations... Not as excited by Xmas outings.... Youngest however.... Wow.

Not sure which is better or worse to be honest.

Too right, missmouse, it's one bloody day.

I have beer, cheese and Netflix, Dd isn't here so I'm just doing my own thing.

Sounds amazing!

My 15yo DD has been leaping around like a spring-loaded giraffe, she is very excited.

Yy to new traditions

Santa express becomes Christmas Market and a fantastic local Christmas lights event.

Board games. Grown up ones.

No stockings at 4am bevause that's when the kids have woken up. Anyone wakes me at 4 in the morning is going to be pelted with Quality Street.... Actually thats not true the one with SN will probably still want to do 4 am stocking.

Feels much more laid back...m

Oh and anyone who wants Christmas prawns meats and nibbles is watching Muppets Christmas Carol with me this evening. I dont care how old or cool they are.

I suppose cards against humanity and a shit load of prossecco could be classed as our new tradition

I certainly don’t miss the 4am start on xmas day. DD has just asked about her xmas eve PJs/socks tradition as she’s going out to the pub for the first time on xmas eve and doesn’t want to miss out.

DD1 is working in a pub. I'll probably be in bed by the time she gets home as my guess is they'll do shots after closing. DD2 is working in a chippy. DS will be gaming. When they get up they get up.

I have two teens. One had a friend here sleeping last night and will stay till late afternoon. They have had Christmas songs and films on with lots of getting excited and giggling. The I took the adult one to pick up his girlfiend this morning and have spent a lovely day wrapping his presents to her family and getting to know her. It’s been a lovely day so far. Ds and girlfriend are off to work later. I’ll do the last bit of cleaning then settle down with dd to watch more Christmas films while we wait for dh to come back from work.
Very different from when they were young and actually the first time in years we haven’t been with family so I was worried it would all be a bit flat but the kids have still made it lovely.

Mine are 16 and 13 and still just as excited. We've been watching Christmas movies, went to see Mary Poppins Returns. They helped decorate too. I guess they are all different.

DC still want to get up at 6am to open presents, that's not changed 😁

They're all in bed, new pyjamas on, hot chocolate drank and feeling a little more festive (might be the wine)

Cards against Humanity
baking
picking bad Christmas songs on Spotify
the traditions change

Mine are 19 and 17. We're chilling out, watching TV, having a couple of drinks and eating.

It's nice, having little ones is fun at Christmas but it's hard work and I found it quite stressful. It's much more laid back now they're older.

My Ds Is 11 so we have changed things.

We always do something special . We have been to the pub tonight friends tomorrow afternoon . We always stayed home . Time to mix it up

Mine are 26 and 22 and have just text each other to ask what time they are getting up.
We took Xmas pjs round to dd1s house to keep the tradition and Dd2 has just put the presents into piles😀

Yes I agree it is so much more relaxed now mine are 21, 18 and 16. I did enjoy the whole Christmas routine at first but after three children by the time the youngest was 8 I was so over it. Every Christmas my stress levels got higher and higher.

Begging for presents in the lead up, over-excited on Christmas Eve, up at ungodly hour for presents, boring nativities, hiding presents and trying to please every child on Christmas Day.

Tomorrow we will exchange presents in a orderly manner after pancakes mid morning, nice adult conversations over a meal everyone will enjoy and help make, play board games (well somethings never change, there will still be arguing!), have some drinks together etc but we still do stockings.

It is definitely quieter!

Mine are 11 and 13 now. 13 year old gone quite independent and not keen on anything as a family but 11 year old very keen on family things. Both still excited to do a tree. 11 year old wanted a Christmas event together so doing Festival of Light at Longleat. All watching lots of Netflix. He's very into baking so he's baked cookies and a yule log with help.

I enjoyed Christmas when they were younger but wouldn't want to go back to it. When do activities its more ice skating, funfair, cinema, bowling now. They also both prefer money mainly which makes life so much easier and no waste / unused toys I didn't have space for.

Much of MN hate the Christmas Eve hamper thing but it’s definitely made things more fun today.

My boys are 11 and 14 and the teen would happily stay in his room all day if he could. The hamper lured him out and we spend a happy afternoon and evening in new pyjamas playing games, eating sweets and taking ridiculous selfies with the Snapchat Christmas filters!

It’s very different from when they were little but it’s been nice and probably the most stress free Christmas yet.

I kind of prefer not being woken at 6am

I love being able to watch nativities / carol services etc and just relax and enjoy them without all the stress of learning line beforehand / getting costumes together, etc.

I love no fighting (when the tiredness takes over) on Christmas day, and the fact they just morph off to their rooms when they've had enough.

We still go to Church together (but they drive me and I can have had some mulled wine first)

I love the fact I no longer have to count the presents to make sure I've given them the same number of presents each

There are a lot of advantages to having older dc, in my book.