Anyone got older kids that haven't been bothered tonight?

[NotAgainUh]

:(

Youngest is 11, eldest 18.

No one wanted to watch Xmas film with me. Groans at family photos.

They went upstairs without putting mince pies down for Santa,

Just feeling a bit sad.

If you have little ones cherish the magic. It doesn't last forever :(

PS, they're good kids. Not ungrateful, just... growing up.

Yes. They came for dinner then buggered off. Eldest got drunk last night so is tired and grumpy. The 18 yo has been in his room all day and all evening.

Bless them.

mine are now in their thirties so tomorrow is going to just be like the boys coming round for dinner i know i used to get all stressed about getting everything done in time when mine were small but got to admit i miss their faces on christmas day and them opening their presents

Mine are 17 and 19 and it's a tricky time - they veer between wanting everything the way they had it as small children, and suddenly dipping out/talking over the movie/taking the mick/disappearing upstairs. I'm cultivating zen and rolling with it, enjoying the bits that do go well, and trying to have patience with the bits that aren't so smooth.

They are great company most of the time, witty and kind and lovely. I think the only real threat to us having a nice Christmas would be ME channelling my own mother and hyperventilating over things Not Going To Plan - so I'm trying really hard not to do that.

DS13 considerably less bothered this year. He's excited about gifts though! He did put on some Christmas pyjamas, that I asked if he wanted buying this year, but nothing has been "put out for Santa" this year which makes me sad. Still did a treasure hunt this morning though, a tradition that was still requested.

I'm seriously thinking of just sodding off next year my youngest is 16 my eldest is 30 I've got four children. I love them all deeply but I've been doing this shit for too long.

Aww, I am in a similar situation (11&17), I wanted to watch a ANY film together. Nope, they just disappeared in their rooms!
On the bright side, DH & I are busy testing a few drinks... you know quality control for tomorrow! 😆

Dd 15 still wants to leave a mince pie and have The Night Before Christmas’ read to her

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow oh bless her little cotton socks

Roll with it and do what you want to do 🥂🍾

Yes exactly the same here. I have two boys, almost 13 and 14. We usually watch Home Alone together every Christmas Eve, this year I watched Single All The Way alone.

I'm in Australia, so it's actually early Christmas morning here and the boys are still in bed. No more rushing up at the crack of dawn apparently. We will have a lovely day but it's not as exciting as it was when they were younger.

Merry Christmas everyone

mine were all down earlier....up and down like yoyo's for food and to say hello to their big sis and her partner

all got on for once and good banter. one helped prep food

still feel sad i have no little ones here. theres no magic even though the house is full.

I have older ones and a 10 year old. They've played along with it for him, and we've watched Nativity this evening with treats. I actually prefer it now as I used to be so worried about making it all magical. It's much more chilled and low key which suits me down to the ground.

Mine was up for watching a film after a few games of trivial pursuit. But couldn't choose a film. DH had fecking Gardeners World on and wouldn't choose a film either. I refused to choose to as I have done all the xmas headspace and would probably have dozed off anyway. So she's gone upstairs to sulk and DH is watching a fucking film that he chose all by himself. I am not feeling the xmas love.

My 20 year old DD has just been to tell me that she’s left a carrot and a mince pie for FC!!

Mine are 21/20/16/10. Very different this year as 10 year old doesn't believe.
We all gathered for Chinese in lounge while a Xmas movie was on before splintering off to bed by 9:30pm.
DS10 is still super excited for his presents though.

Mine (ages between 14-22) have had a couple of years of not really bothering, but tonight they insisted on putting Muppet's Christmas Carol on so we all watched that while eating the Yule log 17yo DS made yesterday.

They've all buggered off back to their rooms to stare at screens now the film has finished, but it was nice to spend a bit of time together.

I've got ds12 and dd14... First year of ds 'knowing'.... it's been interesting.... but I've still had to do the elves (he loves them, we're at year 11 of them!), normally dd and ds have a sleepover in dd's room but this year she said no... he's now sleeping on my floor! We've put out milk and carrot then I've just read all 4 christmas eve bedtime books.

Dd is 19y and still so giddy for Christmas.
I keep thinking she'll grow out of it but not so far.
We have grandparents over tonight and she's had them all playing quizzes and games, along with drinks and Christmas music.

I quite like it without all the 'magical experience' bits . We've watched a film and we're all watching the Father Ted Christmas special now. I'm knackered after a long week of work and preparation, so sitting down and being relaxed together is all I want to do.

Of course I was young and had more energy when they were little, so faffing around didn't seem as unappealing as it does now. My desire to make things magical has naturally decreased as the demand for it has I suppose.

My younger 2 (14 and 11) came and watched the snowman with hot choc.
All of them, even the 20 year old, had a family meal, which was lovely.

Managed to get my teens out for a walk and a hot chocolate earlier today, but when we got home DS wanted to go on his laptop and DD was grumpy and pretty-menstrual and pissed off I wanted to watch Carols From Kings so slunk off to her room.

They perked up when we got a takeaway but then DD went to bed at 9pm and DS is listening to music on his headphones while we watch TV.

I don’t mind. Getting them to join in anything at all is a win. I remember being a teenager and that pent up, ‘is this all there us? / my family are SO boring’ feeling very well 😆

My DD (13) has said a couple of times that it doesn’t feel Christmassy enough. We have been watching Xmas movies and have decorations up. I have put on some carols. I don’t know how to make it feel more Christmassy! She said she wants to feel more excited. But it occurred to me that maybe she is just growing up but comparing it to when she was little. It is a bit sad.

Nice chilled day and evening here. We've watched Encanto and the Ghosts Christmas special. No mince pies etc since the believing stopped.

Mine are 15 & 17. The 15 year old has spent the day revising for GCSE mocks, and the 17 year old has been at work (and is also at work tomorrow morning). It’s just different. I quite like the lack of pressure.

Same here. I’m bored. Ds out all morning with his gf, coaxed him out of his room for an Indian, literally 10 minutes to scoff that then disappeared again