Worried about child growing up, so trying to fit in Xmas activities

[Greenbutterlfy566]

My son is 7 and I’m acutely aware of how fast time is going.

I’m panicking about the Christmas activities and places to go to and things to see before he grows up. I want to get it ‘right’ I worry that I haven’t taken him to many places before he stops believing in Santa. I don’t want to make a mistake of missing amazing things that can only have the ‘magic’ through children’s eyes before it’s too late.

I mean things like big days out to theme parks and Christmas holidays etc.

Is anyone else like this?

The only Santa I really like wears traditional green. I saw a programme on telly years ago, might have actually been a musical thing, and Santa was in green. Looked good.

It's all fantasy though, I never believed in it despite my parents trying to make me :-). I didn't teach my child about Father Christmas but when he started school, other people did and we told him Santa came through the cat flap as we had no chimney. He made himself small by magic :-). That sounds daft now but I clearly remember son lying on the sofa, trying to stay awake with eyes fixed on cat flap. That was just one year but it's a sweet memory.

Good friends of mine told their children that Father Christmas wasn't real but it's fun to pretend and that worked. Seems sensible to me too. They had several grandchildren and always had a party on Christmas eve, with grandad dressing as Santa Claus. Everyone enjoyed.

www.pinterest.co.uk/lisarenead/green-santas/

I think they look pretty good but, from what I've read, santa is authentic in a sort of sack coloured outfit too. S'pose it depends where you come from.

Thanks everyone

Christmas for me was the extremely lumpy stocking 'magically' appearing on the bed, despite me never having slept a wink before it arrived.

I can’t afford theme parks and holidays at Christmas and would anyway rather go places like that in the summer. One year I spent a fortune seeing about fifteen Father Christmasses in various places and it was stupidly stressful. Now we usually do a Village fete FC, one low key day out, the panto and the odd walk.

@GuppytheCat mine was a lumpy school sock!

National trust places are always nicely decorated so can be magical at Christmas. Our local one always has a themed trail around the gardens and a reverse grotto where you meet Santa and take something for the local food bank.

If you live in London you can walk around the lights for free.

You do you, OP. I ever went to theme parks as a kid - I did sit on a Santa's lap once but that was it. Most of my happy Christmas memories involve carol concerts (that I'd either be watching or performing in) or stuff to do with the family. You don't have to go overboard.

One of my 16 yo ds best childhood memories of this time of year is when I would declare it no electricity evening. Only works when the nights draw in.
After dinner I would light enough candles to see by then no screens at all and we played games like charades and Are you there Moriarty? Old fashioned parlor games. This was pretty much free. He keeps asking when we can do something similar for his younger brother.

Another year they broke up from school quite late and the only day we could get to see Father Christmas was the 23rd. We were running late and Father Christmas had buggered off so they didn't get to see him that year. We went home and they wrote notes to him. The next morning they got replys written on bits of wrapping paper wrapped up like scrolls with ribbon. They still laugh about it now and I think one of them still has the letter.

We go out for a walk to see the lights and usually do one late night shopping day where they have a take out hot chocolate and see the decs in town.
One father christmas trip for the youngest and that's about it for us.
I agree with waiting until its warmer to go to theme parks etc they are pretty miserable in the cold

Op, it's all got a place hasn't it?

Lots of things are charming and stick in the memory...

If you spend any money on any theme park, however, having done Disney Paris and most UK theme parks and some on continent do efteling in holland.

Much cheaper, easy access, truly magical.

Otherwise just do what you can! Making the house different and magical is enough.

Nouser what a brilliant idea

DD’s most Christmassy memory is the day she was off school with a sickness bug and we snuggled up on the sofa watching elf and making paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling.

Theme parks aren't especially festive are they? I wouldn't necessarily associate them with Christmas...apart from winter wonderland.

Former - lots of parks put decorations and Christmas trees up with Santa

Legoland go all out at Christmas , it’s really nice but expensive

I'm on the fence here. The two places I always wanted to take my kids before they were too old was Disneyland and Lapland. We went to Disneyland Paris when they were 6 and 7 and it was the perfect age as they were so into doing the whole dressing up thing. They loved it and we have many happy memories. However, when we asked them if they'd like to go again, they said "no, we prefer Pontins!"

They are now 9 and 10 with one doubter so the perfect age to visit the real santa in Lapland. However, I just can't justify the cost. Also, it seems far too commercialised now and the real Santa doesn't look any more real.than when he visits our local garden centre that comes with a private chat, delicious meal, toy and a story all for £17/child. So £17 or £500???? No more magical except for the snow. I don't think one child will cope with the cold and the other won't cope with the long day so I've ruled it out.

However, my 9 year old is soooooo into Santa this year so I'm making the most of it by visiting him in about 4 different places. Holding on to this last remnant of childhood wonder and capturing it on camera......

56- where are you taking them 4 times if you don’t mind me asking?

Fizzy- How expensive?

Me and my kids had a bit of a reminiscing kind of conversation the other day. They're 16 and 21. We just got talking about " do you remember when...." conversations about various things from when they were small.
They remember...hanging the magic door key on the door handle so Santa can get in....the Cristingle service at church and bringing the orange home....getting up early on Christmas day then having to wait on the stairs whilst I went and picked my Mum up before they opened their presents because she was on her own and loved to come and see them...Santa always making a mistake and putting one of her gifts in his stocking....reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve every year before they went to bed...the list is endless, BUT it's all small, simple stuff that they remember, not the big trips to them parks that cost loads- Christmas is expensive as it is- start your own family tranditions and they are what will be important in years to come

Loose- aww

Howmanysleeps my adult children (the ones who were there at the time) remember how, when the older ones were out with friends, we all curled up in front of the fire, watched Murder on the Orient Express and ate an entire bar of chocolate.

It's the change of atmosphere and relaxing of usual regulations that they remember. So they might not remember the theme park, but they would remember being allowed to eat something they can't usually have. So you could circumvent the whole expensive part and just let them have an unexpected treat whilst looking at fairy lights!

I get where you are coming from OP - there are so many more "opportunities" now than there were when we were kids.
We do a mix - panto on Christmas Eve every year. A visit to Santa somewhere. (Over the years - farms, Harrods, garden centres, mini railway santa express, school fair and Legoland last year which was awesome), messy church & making classy stuff at home.
One of the best ever for the girls was the £2 to go round the garden centre car park spotting the things that were on the list followed by looking at Christmas part of the shop & hot choc & mince pies in the cafe. Dd2 had just recovered from chicken pox so we had missed out on loads of Christmas stuff.
Do what you/Your child will enjoy & don't worry what everyone else is doing.

My very favourite Christmas memory from being a kid was going to see fenwicks window (department store in Newcastle) and looking at all the Christmas lights from my dads shoulders. Even now 30 years later it gives me a warm glow inside.
DD’s favourite thing last year was a carol service at the local church. With hot chocolate and a candy cane.
Didn’t cost a penny and she’s not stopped talking about it.
I couldn’t imagine a theme park to be any fun at all in winter. Surely you would just be freezing and half the rides off due to weather?

www.google.co.uk/amp/nedhardy.com/2019/06/17/doctor-ask-terminally-ill-kids-what-really-matters-in-life-here-are-their-answers/amp/
I’m just putting this here. It reminds us all that the simple things are the best. You don’t have to be all singing and dancing you just have to be there. Made me cry but it’s so interesting to see what kids actually want/crave and need and what they remember.