Being Santa is the most stressful thing you can be.

[Sparklespangle]

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'?

I'm so tired. Hugs to everyone still staying up with me. Good luck in your Santa endeavours.

Santa leaves stockings downstairs by the fire. Makes life a lot easier. If we were really on the ball we would have got twin identical stockings so one could be ready filled for an easy switch.

Still up - wax wrapping a few things for family coming tomorrow

DS14 hasn't long gone to the bathroom and DH downstairs prepping veg

DS too old to believe of course but I noticed he has taken his old sack and laid it out on his bedroom floor - I think I bet sneak a small gift in it and leave the rest just outside his door

Was always down stairs when my two were young, but they used to come and wake me and my late Husband up, to come downstairs as well,, they never sneaked down themselves though.

I have a nearly 18 year old and a 15year old I have just woken at 6 to fill the stockings of people who went to bed between 1 and 2am.

I only did stockings first few years (I didn't have them growing up). Santa delivered the gifts under the tree after that. Now I have an actual mantle I got cute stockings for our (four) pets.

How did everyone get on this morning? I don't have children but I've been cheering all of you Santa ninjas on!

OP hope you managed some sleep?

Oh god this thread has brought back painful memories! With them now late teens I said to them last night 'don't come downstairs until I say so, you'll be disappointed, I can't be arsed wrapping anything tonight I'm doing it in the morning ' they mostly get money as they are difficult to buy for so I don't have much to do.

Mine are 17 and nearly 14. Obviously they don’t believe any more. But I agree it was the most nerve racking thing, think is this the year I get caught and ruin the magic!

These days stockings go down stairs and we all get one. So much less stressful, but not quite as magical.

I woke up in a panic at 3am once because I hadn't pretended to eat the mince pie and carrot. I got up and made a bit of a mess with them and then swigged they brandy .....

After finally getting to bed just after 1am ds was wide awake at 4.20am. Thankfully we opened stockings and went back to bed till 7am.

@Dimondsareforever

Stockings have always been downstairs because DC scared of Santa going into their room at night!

Feel v sad that it’s the last Santa for 9 year old (although they will benefit from it due to younger siblings!)

Anyway - santa has been. And I’m about to tuck into bed :-)
Good luck everyone!!

Santa still comes here and my youngest is 16. You just have to believe

Santa ninja haha

@Covidclaire

This is exactly why stockings go near the fireplace.

This! I have clear memories of my father sneaking in with the stocking late at night so for my dc's it was always the sitting room fireplace.

@MotherofPearl

I've thought of the 5:30 alarm too Mary, but what if the DC wake up before 5:30?

My 5 year old has woken up now so no chance of doing the stockings now until she goes back to sleep, but she's so excited that's going to take ages.

The advantage of 5am is if they wake before then you can convince them it's still night as Santa hasn't been yet and hopefully get a few more hours sleep.

And if they do get disturbed it's not that early!