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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being Santa is the most stressful thing you can be.

115 replies

Sparklespangle · 24/12/2021 21:30

Sitting here trying to decide when to go and do stockings. (Relatively light-hearted)

Ds is a baby and won't notice or care when I do his.

DD is 10 and hasn't acknowledged the truth about Santa out loud. I think she is still hedging...

She went to bed at 8.30. her room is pitch black. When do I go up, what do I do if she's still up? What if she wakes up and I've got her stocking in the other room. What if she she sees me taking it.

Is it just me or does everyone worry about 'ruining the magic' by being Santa 'wrong'?

OP posts:
MotherofPearl · 24/12/2021 23:39

I'm sure she knows Fawn, but we keep up the pretence, partly because we also have a 5 year old (who has woken up and has still not gone back to sleep!)

YesPleaseMary · 24/12/2021 23:41

Stockings delivered… 6yo stirred but I think I got away with it… fingers crossed…

Original poster
Sparklespangle · 24/12/2021 23:45

Done DS stocking. Went in to do DDs and she is still awake! Played it off with night night going to bed soon. How long do I wait now? Bloody kids and their excitement and joy!

OP posts:
petridishmystery · 24/12/2021 23:47

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

My husband nearly ruined it- he wrapped my sodding present in the Santa wrapping paper he found hidden in the bed- I had to unwrap it and throw it (the wrapping) away. He thinks I’m overreacting and the kids wouldn’t put two and two together (ok the toddler wouldn’t, the other would!!) men gggrrrr
That’s how my sister figured it out when she was 5!
UsuallyJustLurk · 24/12/2021 23:48

My DD (10) is still awake too. I could cry... so much left to do and I know she's going to be a grump tomorrow once the present joy has worn off. Trying to remind myself that these years will be soon gone... good luck comrades!

TechGinny · 24/12/2021 23:51

I was caught for the first time ever tonight! Thankfully it was by the 12 year old, who just plays along for the fun of it now. So relieved it wasn't the 6 year old!

LunaLoveFood · 24/12/2021 23:51

8yr old ds still wide awake. I just want to go to sleep!

LoveGoldberg · 24/12/2021 23:52

My mum stays Christmas Eve, I’ve told DC that I get her presents and not Santa but not to tell her, and then get them to help me wrap her presents and hide them under my bed. She pretends to go to bed in the spare room at the same time as them and then I take her presents down straight away - she helps us carry whatever is upstairs down. The rest we put in the car boot so we can bring them in easily. That way they think the rustling is me sneaking down her presents when really it’s theirs.

petridishmystery · 24/12/2021 23:54

Also, this stocking thing does sound incredibly stressful! We never had them growing up, just sacks in the lounge of Santa presents. Tbh our rooms were so messy I think it was a good choice, no way could my mum have snuck in without waking us up!

Bunnycat101 · 24/12/2021 23:56

Waiting up to do the stockings. We’ve been caught out as my 5yo came downstairs and saw her presents. I’m so annoyed her us/her/the whole thing as it feels like she’s too young for a big fuck up. Worst of all I’m so tried and my husband is snoring after suggesting I set an alarm for 2am and I have been run off my feet for the past two days and I’m ready to just cry tbh.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 24/12/2021 23:59

Never stockings in the bedroom! Sounds way to stressful. This year they are on our chairs round the breakfast table.

Lex345 · 25/12/2021 00:08

This year has been a revelation, first year with no santa as they are all in Secondary now. All informed me they have known for years but played along Grin
I will miss the excitement in the morning, but probably not miss the shoenhorning in to bed and 4am wake up call!

BewareTheRedNosedDragon · 25/12/2021 00:28

I solved this by hanging the stocking downstairs.

mynamesnotMa · 25/12/2021 00:37

It is...ensuring they don't twig the wrapping paper is the same as other presents ....Even as teenagers they still want Santa's sack to appear .we will see...Blush

KilmordenCastle · 25/12/2021 00:44

Argh my 6yo is still awake and I'm so bloody tired, I just want to go to sleep.

I've resorted to sitting on the end of her bed until she's asleep as popping back in to check seems to be waking her up as she's just drifting off.

FlyingPandas · 25/12/2021 00:47

Feeling everyone’s pain. Before I had DC I thought it must be the most magical thing ever to play Santa and make Christmas amazing for your own children.

The reality is that it’s hectic, stressful and anxiety inducing and laden with the feeling that you have to get it just right and every year I’m just so bloody tired by the time I can get the stockings done on Christmas Eve, all I want to do is sleep.

My older two don’t believe any more (frankly at 17 and 12 I’d be worried if they didGrin) but I think the 8yo still does - or if he doesn’t he’s playing along. But even so I still feel the pressure to create this magical sackful of Santa gifts plus another magical pile of gifts by the tree. We’re our own worst enemies I think!

I’m looking forward to Boxing Day though. When the pressure’s off and it’s all calmed down a bit and I can just relax.

Merry Christmas everyone WineGinBrew

Hallowbat · 25/12/2021 00:54

I’m done! Didn’t hear anyone stir so hopefully the magic has been kept for another year!

AllGone · 25/12/2021 00:56

My 8 yo is still awake! I am panicking that once he's asleep the 6 yo will wake up!

Erictheavocado · 25/12/2021 00:56

@HemanOrSheRa

I had two identical stockings for DS. One on his bed. The other one filled. Quick switch when he was asleep. Then as he got older stocking went on his bedroom door handle. He's 16 now and likely to be awake later me than, so not sure what to do Xmas Grin.
We also had duplicate stockings - one to be hung on the bed and the other was filled and switched quickly once dcs were asleep. Quicker, quieter and much easier. My dcs are grown up now and one of them is Santa to his own DC. I've been sitting here tonight envying him because it was a role I loved.
Guttedbuyer · 25/12/2021 01:00

Everything is done here but I can’t sleep now worrying about break ins and going down in the morning to a big empty space where the presents used to be Sad

Original poster
Sparklespangle · 25/12/2021 01:04

Dd still awake. Trying to sleep but it's all too exciting. DP has been in and said since she is struggling to sleep,maybe it's best to hang the stocking on the door so Santa can still come. Stocking is on the door. Will go and fill it soon, just hope I don't get caught, we have the world's noisiest stairs!

OP posts:
StarryNightSky26 · 25/12/2021 01:14

Ds13 and ds4 are out like lights.

Ds11 is always the one that means we're up till the early hours waiting for him to sleep. He's a light sleeper anyway but on Xmas Eve he's just beyond. I've not long heared him go to the bathroom again.

Yanbu op, Xmas Eve is so stressful, all I want right now is to get into bed!

Happierwithouthim · 25/12/2021 01:15

Ds is sleeping in with me, presents are in top of my wardrobe he sleeps soundly though, just hoping I don't need a chair to get them down, I did to get them up there Grin

DappledThings · 25/12/2021 01:16

5 and 4 year old here. Stockings left by the fireplace for Father Christmas. All other presents been under the tree for a couple of weeks. Zero stress.

Happierwithouthim · 25/12/2021 01:17

@FlyingPandas

Feeling everyone’s pain. Before I had DC I thought it must be the most magical thing ever to play Santa and make Christmas amazing for your own children.

The reality is that it’s hectic, stressful and anxiety inducing and laden with the feeling that you have to get it just right and every year I’m just so bloody tired by the time I can get the stockings done on Christmas Eve, all I want to do is sleep.

My older two don’t believe any more (frankly at 17 and 12 I’d be worried if they didGrin) but I think the 8yo still does - or if he doesn’t he’s playing along. But even so I still feel the pressure to create this magical sackful of Santa gifts plus another magical pile of gifts by the tree. We’re our own worst enemies I think!

I’m looking forward to Boxing Day though. When the pressure’s off and it’s all calmed down a bit and I can just relax.

Merry Christmas everyone WineGinBrew

I hope your 8 year old believes sure they don't even get it properly until about 4, would be sad if it was gone already