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 should at least attempt to make Christmas Eve a bit more special

Shudder.

Leave them be if they can occupy themselves peacefully.

Turn the wifi off.
Make them help peel veg for Xmas dinner (and any chores you require assistance with).
Turn wifi back on and leave them to be teenagers.
Open the wine and enjoy your Xmas movie with them moaning.

Why "shudder"??

I take my three to the pub . They still get reindeer food which is often drunkenly sprinkled outside when we get home .
They also give their gifts to each other on Christmas Eve as they would be overlooked on Christmas Day.

One year, when I was frantically trying to prepare for relatives descending on Xmas day I got the older two to take the youngest out to a pizza/cafe in walking distance to get them out from under my feet. They felt very grown up and loved it and now they always plan their own Christmas Eve afternoon outing. or if not on CE, then a day around xmas.

Mostly, they were always so busy in the run up to CE that they did just want a lie in and a bit of a laze around, and eat Christmas treats, but that was nice as well.

Why does a mother trying to think of a way to make Xmas Eve special this year, because she usually works, make you shudder?

I'd just be dead chill - "I'm going to the coast for a walk, if you want to come, be in the hallway at 11am, then when I get back I'm opening the fizz and watching Home Alones 1&2, you are welcome to join me or do your own thing"

Let them do what they normally do when you are working on Christmas Eve?

It's their holiday day too. Other years they obviously aren't sitting at home going oh wish Mum wasn't working today.

This thread is batshit!!

Op ‘I make’ my teenagers spend time with me and my DH for one day in the school holidays too (terrible parent here 🙋🏻‍♀️). I don’t know if they’d rather be doing other things. I just say keep Tuesday or whatever day free cos we’re going to do something and that’s that.

We always do something fun for all, here are some examples….. putt shack, gamebox, cinema, bowling, battle bar (loads of fun things to do in there if you’ve never been), tobogganing, ice skating, dry ski slope. Pantos do get booked up in advance and I’m not sure if you’re near London but Pantoland is funny for teens.

We always get fish and chips on Christmas Eve but I know a lot of teens who seem to love Nando’s and Wagamama’s etc. so that might be an idea too 😊

Maybe they are. Maybe they are delighted she's at home this year.

Their behaviour suggests doing nothing more than in previous years.

OP said her kid ‘would rather be anywhere else than with his boring parents’

Cinema?

We watch a Christmas movie then quite like a wee trip to mcds, gets the kids out the house and they get wee bag of reindeer carrots. So cute.

We also often get a takeaway for dinner although if we've been to mcds sometimes we don't do both. Mine are little though. I imagine when they get older we wld probably do something they enjoy or take them for a treat.

"OP said her kid ‘would rather be anywhere else than with his boring parents’"

That's what they all say. Honestly, at school, in candid moments, you'd be surprised how many just want their parents to make the effort.

And even if they don't, it doesn't mean you have to write off having a relationship for a few years. There's nothing wrong with wanting to try anyway.

Midnight mass I'm.sure they go fit the wine.

This!
I have kids the same age and the weirdness of this thread has made me more determined to find some kind of activity to do as a family at some point over the holidays.
They have loads of time to see their friends and do their own thing, it's ok for teens to sometimes spend time with family as well.

We usually go swimming in Xmas Eve morning and then go home for films, cooking etc.

I started doing it when the DCs were about 6 and 8 and their dad was always at work. I was so fed up with them bouncing off the walls with excitement. Now they see it as part of tradition and insist on going. The pool is always very quiet.

This is the saddest post.

We make Christmas Eve super special for our teens, and they love being at home with us, I would be pretty devastated not to see them and they are almost adults. Things might change if they get to the age of moving in or getting married, but until then we have so much fun, I can't imagine how sad it would be to all 'do our own thing' Christmas is just as magical with teens as it is with little ones, it is a different kind of lovely, but still very lovely.

Agreed. I always suspect that people who say this sort of thing don’t really know any teens, and so assume those hulking great fellows they see on the bus can’t possibly enjoy games and magic and spending time with family.

Go out for a meal they will definitely enjoy then home. The best you can expect from this age group.

Midnight Mass goes down well with my teens.
In the day we watch a film and get any preparation done for the next day - vegetables peeked, stuffing made, pigs in blankets prepared, home made crackers done etc.

You’re overthinking this.

When I was 15 I had a Saturday job in WH Smiths and they asked me to work Christmas Eve as it was the busiest day of the year. That was obviously before the Internet. But I loved it. I wouldn’t have wanted to stay at home for all the money in the world. If I hadn’t been working I would have been out with friends. I think you’re trying to create a perfect Christmas memory of everyone snuggled by the fire with hot chocolate and snacks for your own benefit. If they don’t want to do anything, leave them be. And stop thinking your life has to be a Hallmark movie and stop looking at Instagram with “celebs” and their children sitting with matching pyjamas and fluffy cushions all twee and staged and think that’s how everyone has to spend Christmas.

Life your own life. Not someone else’s.

Oh bore off I thought we were passed this. I was asking for ideas of 1 thing to do with teenagers on Christmas eve. I didnt mention matching PJs 'making memories' or other twee Christmas stuff. As it stands I think we are going go karting in the morning after DS2 has finished his swim training then they will be free to do whatever they want before takeaway while watching a Christmas movie in the evening. None of which will be posted on Instagram.

We usually go out for a late breakfast, just do not much in the afternoon, in the past church at 6pm but they don't always want to go anymore, then cards against humanity in the evening.

Things our teens enjoy:

Cinema - new Avatar film out on Dec 23rd with popcorn and essential tango ice blasts.

Tubing/sledging then hot chocolate/coffee and cake.

Crazy golf.

Axe throwing!

In all honestly we have a regular Christmas Eve routine that has survived the teenage years. We go into town early afternoon and have a look around the shops, often buying last minute extras like sweets and random sale bits. We meet friends in the local for late lunch and a few drinks with all he kids/relatives staying that night (last year there were 22 of us, the year before 13 so it varies) and then walk home for a movie and sweets.