Christmas when all the children are grown up.

[PuppiesLove]

The usual Christmas was waking up to lots of presents under the tree. I don't think this is appropriate any longer, now they are all adults. It's just not necessary to be buying that many gifts anymore. So - what does Christmas look like when all the children are adults? How do you change things? Ideas for new traditions?

@PuppiesLove

I'm 59, I haven't spent Christmas day with my parents for decades.
My mum still gives me a little pile of presents - nothing expensive, some nice chocolate, handcream, fluffy socks

We get a set amount of money for Christmas presents. Usually we choose one big present, then if there's anything left my parents but some little bits like socks (because who doesn't like new socks) or scarves, books etc.

It all gets put under their tree ready for when we all go round fir lunch. We then put our presents under the tree.

32, 36 and 38 here

Mum buys us an advent calendar each 😬 and we also get a stocking under the tree but no more of the 'big' pile of presents. That's reserved for the GC these days!

I'd probably like to change to going away somewhere for a few days at Christmas. One isn't keen on that idea though, and it wouldn't be right to leave one at home and take everyone else.

So, failing that, I'd be happy to just do a few gifts, have a nice lunch (last year I ordered a box which just needed cooking, to make it easy), then maybe go for a walk and enjoy my new books.

What I think we're going to do is a few gifts, nice lunch (which I'll probably order in), play some games because everyone likes that, maybe a walk.

Oh, when you said go away i assumed you meant you and your other half!! It never occurred you’d take adult children, tell them they could join you yes but does take mean you’d arrange and pay?

Yes, I'd arrange and pay (discussing location with them). I have one that wants to stay home, but it doesn't feel right to go and leave him behind at Christmas alone. Would be nice if they'd go along for everyone else just this once, but I guess we're all making our own choices here - him not to go and me not to go without him. We go other times of year and then it's handy to have a house minder.

Its much quieter when they are grown up - I still do presents under the tree that get 'delivered' during the night . We open them mid morning/after breakfast , do lunch around 2pm then board games and TV.

This year will be another big change for me - my 3 adult children always spent Christmas Day with me since their dad and I divorced as his new wife has her family to theirs but last year, my 3 went to theirs and I had CD on my own which I was fine with and had plans for but ended up falling asleep on the sofa for two hours . This year, my youngest is going away for Christmas with her boyfriend and I'm not sure what the other two have planned yet. its going to be very odd not having youngest there