Worried about dc growing up to fit in all the Christmas experiences

[Purplegreenredblue]

Worried about dc growing up to fit in all the Christmas experiences. There’s only a certain amount of time you have, to take them to places like Lapland, Disneyland, Christmas lodges and holidays, days out. Does anyone else feel like this?

They're not compulsory.

We haven't done any of the things on your list and DS is 10.

We used to do a local Santa visit and we do a Xmas eve panto but that's it.

😂

Nope definitely not.

My dd is 18 now and we haven't done any of those things but I would say she had lots of happy Christmas memories to look back on.

Er no my kids are managing fine without those "memories"

ive heard so many families doing these experiences. Loads and loads.

Gosh, I feel this is such a sad post. Do parents really feel the pressure this much that they aren't proper parents if they don't stuff their child full of commercial, consumerist junk? I'm so glad I had my children years ago when this wasn't a thing. Hope this doesn't sound smug; it's not meant to be. I'm genuinely grateful I'm not a parent now.

No. Jesus is the centre of our Christmas story.
We never did any of your list ( we did go and admire Christmas lights and count trees in windows etc) and my children are delightful adults!

But you don't have to do any of that? Why would you worry about this?

I am enjoying Christmas now they are older - more likely to try new and interesting foods, think about what people want for Christmas.

Er. No. Why on earth would I? And what the fuck is a Christmas lodge? What social media bilge are you consuming that is giving you such warped ideas?

My children are teens/tweens and love Christmas but they've never done Lapland, Disney, Christmas Lodges (whatever they are) etc. Christmas is insanely busy with school activities, parties and outings with family and friends and just enjoying the anticipation and the lazy family days, games and country walks afterwards.

They've done things like Christmas lights, Winter Wonderland, Thomas Christmas steam train, panto, visiting Father Christmas, Ice shows and Hamleys events so it's not like we're unmaterialistic and spend December crafting homemade artisan gifts and singing carols. But I barely know anyone in my (quite well off) circle who does Disney/Lapland. The odd skiing trip maybe.

Dial down your expectations. Kids like presents, fun and family. Not stressing about whether you'll make your connection to Helsinki in a blizzard.

No, we haven't done any of those things but always have really lovely Christmases at home or with family. Our children aren't missing out at all.

Time to take a break from social media OP, it’s setting wholly unrealistic expectations

lol no. Dont fall for it OP! Kids remember amazingly little of the stuff parents break the bank to do - Winter Wonderland? Forgotten! I love a panto and the ballet and Christmas fetes but kids really love being at home, The tree going up, putting out carrots for reindeer and a mince pie for Santa. Then Santa coming so they wake up to open their presents on the bed, grandma coming over, eating Christmas dinner & making a gingerbread house. Cosy things.

I've literally never done any of those things. Christmas was always magical.

If you go to centre parks or Lapland, the highlight for the Children if asked "what did you do over the Christmas holiday?" Will always be "visiting McDonalds" on the way to the Lodge / airport or going to a park with a fancy slide.

Christmas is already incredibly expensive, why add these extra costs? It's just so unnecessary. We prefer to have amazing holidays in the summer so save our money for that.

Hang out with a new crowd of people of that's possible. Think carefully about what you and the DC's other parent consider important about Christmas. Making memories does not have to cost ££££.
Have a happy Christmas OP!

Doesn't mean you have to though.

Loads and loads of people do all sorts of things that I wouldn't contemplate doing for a nanosecond. Why do you "need" to copy them.

Teens & young adults like these out of house things much more - skating, winter wonderland, Christmas lights etc so you’ve got AGES

And?
Doesn't mean YOU have to.

You can still create nice times with older kids.
So maybe until they have their own family they will still want to spend time with you in a non frenetic way. Create your own rituals winter walks hit chocolate make a light trail board games hygge etc

My children are older now but didn't do a single Christmas experience when they were younger bar a santa visit at local village fairs in church halls, I can absolutely guarantee that they couldn't have cared less.

So you feel your childhood was worth less because those things hadn't been invented then?

We did the Christmas lodge at Centerparcs a couple of times when the kids were small, it was magical but do they remember it? Do they fuck.
Now they are late teens/early 20s what they do remember is making silly decorations, going for a walk on Christmas Eve to see everyone’s lights and lighting a candle to read Christmas stories in the dark.
Honestly, creating real magical memories shouldn’t cost a bean 🎄 ⛄️

You're getting sucked into the marketing hype. Most of these experiences are absolutely shit for the money you pay. The things your kids will remember are: making and decorating gingerbread men, shopping for the tree, decorating the tree, making wreaths, icing the Xmas cake, church if you do that (I hate church except at Christmas), playing board games and watching a Christmas movie with you . None of these involve setting foot outside your front door, or indeed paying >£100 to trek around a shitty light trail [insert any other commercial activity] in the pissing rain.

So? Do you actually want to or have you just been conned into thinking you should want to?

I've never been to Lapland UK, Disney land, a Christmas holiday or stayed in a Christmas lodge and have no interest in doing so. Others are welcome to do whatever they want to do.

That's reminded me that my children's must do each year was to drive to the next village where a collection of streets went all out with decorated houses, cost nothing but some money in a charity bucket. It's sad that it's all now about commercialized activities