To not know what to do with teens on Christmas Eve

[Hellocatshome]

Normally I work Christmas Eve until late afternoon so we watch a movie have tea, play a few board games and go to bed. This time I'm not working so what on earth do I do with a 15 year old who would rather be anywhere else than with his boring parents and a 12 year old who has recently found his inner Kevin? I can only think of ice skating or panto and they are apparently bored of ice skating and all the pantos are sold out on Christmas Eve.

We usually do McDonald's and Christmas movie at cinema

We always go for a wander around the shops, chilled because we don't need anything. Then it's KFC and home for a movie (or they then go out). My teens are happy with this, mostly because of the KFC.

Great post.

It just makes me cringe when I read about mums who are desperate to treat their teens like they’re still 8. Just let them do what they want - it’s their school holiday. Be cheery - offer out some good food and for older teens a cheeky Baileys but chill out and enjoy YOUR Christmas Eve - they’ll be more likely to join you if you are having fun.

"It just makes me cringe when I read about mums who are desperate to treat their teens like they’re still 8."

You don't need to cringe. Many teens love their parents, enjoy spending time with them, and enjoy Christmas traditions that develop over lots of years.

Many teens don't have to be forced to take part because they enjoy it and would be disappointed if they were left to their own devices on Christmas Eve.

My teens and their friends get together a few days before Christmas, between Christmas and New Year, and of course for New Year itself. But feel that Christmas Eve to Boxing Day are for family. I am certainly not complaining as I love spending time with them too!

It is not a bad thing for op to want to spend time with her children on Xmas Eve, and good that she's asking for ideas and planning it in advance to try to make it fun for them. Don't be deterred op. They might be reticent because you are not usually all together during that day but it doesn't mean you can't all plan a lovely day that might be the start of new traditions or a day they'll think back on fondly.

I teach and can tell you - teens might grumble about this stuff but secretly love it!

Go to a Carol service or Midnight Mass?

Yabu.

We go for a walk at 3pm round our nearest city and take a flask of hot chocolate (started one year we were skint and now DC insist on it). Then home for bath and jammies and Arthur Christmas and M & S party food.

They are nearly 13 and 15.

I find Xmas eve exhausting so in your shoes I'd let them do their own thing too and have a long bath and eat truffle crisps.

I really don’t see the need to ‘do’ anything. Just let them please themselves and you can please yourself. 🤷‍♀️

We bake in the morning with Christmas music, get ready and have friends over for drinks with teens. It is fantastic and is sometimes better than Christmas Day!
Invite their friends over and have a blast, it is Christmas after all!

I don't have kids so I guess I'm out of touch, but so many of the suggestions on here sound like they're aimed at primary school-age kids.
At 15 (in the late 90s) I would have been on a big night out with my mates!

Yeah that's really going to entice a 15 year old boy away from his girlfriend.

But that's like every other day of the year. It can't be that unusual to want Christmas to feel special and different.

OP, get them baking. Even if they start off grumbling, they'll enjoy it and be proud of the results.

I wouldn’t take them anywhere! Let them hang with friends in the day and have them home for a takeaway tea if their choice and a film?

"Yeah that's really going to entice a 15 year old boy away from his girlfriend."

They're not mutually exclusive. He can do both.

I'm a teacher and can tell you - even if they moan about doing cheesy family stuff at Christmas, they love it. They're all already talking about advent calendars.

Hot chocolate or mulled punch, mince pies and midnight mass. Get to stay up late, have family time, low pressure.

Perhaps not the teenagers you know but there are those who would enjoy doing it as well as seeing their girlfriend.

I'm yet to know a 15 year old who would willingly go to a Carol service rather than spend time with their friends or girlfriend.

Don't equate an advent calender to a church service ffs. Maybe it's just me but at 15 I'd rather have shat in my hands and clapped than spent my Christmas eve listening to carols with my parents.

As I previously said - there are those who would enjoy Church on an occasion such as Christmas (as well as doing other things the same day if they wanted to) and the fact you don’t know any who would is neither here nor there.

My older two have always been happy to do family stuff. Even in the sullen 13-15 years they've made a bit of an effort at Christmas.
We usually have a festive breakfast and play some daft games like Christmas bingo, I buy small prizes- chocolate reindeer etc.
They help with Christmas dinner preparations, they're in charge of filling the crackers sometimes we have a big party, go to a party or do some other activity. Last year DC1 was working for a few hours in the afternoon so we all walked to meet her from work, went out for drinks and dinner, then home to watch a film.
I wonder if things will be different with my younger two because there'll be no little ones in the house.

Take advantage of the fact you no longer need to be a children's entertainer and do something you want to do.

My teens always join in family stuff. They have been very unfortunate to have close friends whose Mums have died when they were at primary school, no warning, just ill for a couple of days and then dead. Also both their Grandmas who went all out at Christmas. With one Grandma they knew it was her last Christmas and with the other they didn't. We celebrated as normal and the following year they were isolated due to chemo. They have learned that life can be short and that looking back on photos or video of times spent with family is precious to those left behind.

We have family traditions for birthdays and Christmas which they join in with. Don't give up on them. I would try to get everyone to do something extra for the time you have with them on Christmas eve, not the whole day but at least something that makes it a bit more special for you.

I don’t remember ever doing any particular thing on Christmas Eve when I was young, I think we just pottered/slobbed around at home. I still remember our Christmas’s very fondly, I don’t think it’s a day that needs to be marked in any particular way - just be relaxed and have a nice day chilling out.

Actually yes once I was a teenager Christmas Eve was definitely about having a big night out with my friends, we had some cracking times and are still friends now so I don’t consider it wasted time!

I’m hoping my teens will help peel potatoes, lay table, tidy house, entertain grandma!