Is this an awful present for a 14 year old?

[DobbleBobble]

I have 14 and 8 year olds, both get stockings and (small-ish) Santa presents plus presents / money from family. 14 year old has always been full of Christmas magic, never had a conversation about no Santa, last time he asked was 4 years ago and I just reminded him how much he loves the build up and if he doesn't believe he will lose that (8 year old has never questioned, I don't think she ever had any Christmas magic although she still loves the holiday and is my best bet for watching a Christmas film).

So, scene set, my 14 year old doesn't want anything for Christmas, there are a couple of things he wants but to do with computer games and he is very aware that it's all a rip off and he doesn't really want to spend money on it. He has chocs, a t-shirt and a couple of things he might like plus money and probably a computer voucher from family, but his stocking is quite empty (compared with sisters and previous years) and I'm thinking rather than trying to fill it I put a note from Santa (obviously he knows that is me although we haven't discussed it) saying he's growing up, nice to see he appreciates what he has, stocking a bit empty, no child should be without gifts so hope he likes what has been chosen for him and Santa has given an extra gift of xxx to a child whose family can't treat them like his can.

I feel happy with that and I think he would be but what do you think, is it Christmas ruined for a 14 year old and what on earth do I do instead if it is?

I've put boxes of biscuits in my kids stockings to bulk them out in the past. They went down very well

When I got to that age, the percentage of satsuma to toys went up.. I think mum peaked at 6 satsumas :D

Well I have a 25yo son who has everything he wants, within reason, but I still manage to fill a stocking for him! Toiletries, a toothbrush, edible items, same with his slightly younger sister - it’s not about expensive gifts, it’s about the fun of opening a stocking on Christmas morning! And they definitely don’t believe in Santa 🤣🤣

I was at a concert last weekend, a lady came to sit next to me, with (what I presume) was her elderly father. One of her questions to him was would you like me to do you a stocking this year. His answer was a very excitable yes please. I had tears in my eyes. It’s not what it contains that matters, it’s the thought behind it.

@Genevieva I don't consider sheet music to be a Christmas present because I will happily buy as much as he wants.

I don’t understand this comment, surely it applies to lots of Christmas presents, esp stocking fillers for older children/adults.

My DS plays the piano, although less so these days, but when he was a teenager I would always include a set of sheet music in his stocking.

My DSS at that age would have had (avengers/Xbox themed mainly) socks, boxers, smellies, chocolates, little puzzle or game (like those metal ones you have to unhook) extra long phone charger, power bank, Starbucks gift card etc. always felt like so much easier to fill DSD stocking but doable. Date I say it but a Tesco/Asda or primark haul usually did it

My daughter would love that. Currently her stocking contains flavoured vodka and vapes.

OP I think you've over thought this a bit. Your son means he can't specifically think of stuff he wants for Christmas but it doesn't mean he doesn't want gifts. I think you're also applying a grown ups logic when he isn't. Get him gaming vouchers (even a £10 one) as a one off. Also you could get him an escape room vouchers so that he could go with a few friends?

Just because you consider something to be not a good gift doesn't mean he won't appreciate them.

Fucks sake what a booby prize! Please be nice to your kid and buy him a few pressies for god's sake.

Well, tbh have not much idea about helpful response for OP but have now filled my DCs stockings, so thank you all!

Me too! I love the guilty pleasure ideas - my 13 yr old definitely getting a pot noodle in his stocking 😂

An unintentional helpful thread - thanks op. I was worrying about stockings for my 13 yr olds boys this year but now have some extra ideas!
I think for me there are 3 issues:

1. money - I can think of loads of cool techy geeky items but times by three and it soon spirals into an expensive stocking. Compared to a bottle of bubbles/hot wheels car of toddler hood!
2. boringness - I have to say, some of this suggestions I find so boring. Pants? If I have mine pants they'd be really disappointed. Mine are not children but they're not at the stage of finding designer underwear or expensive toiletries a fun item. And to be honest I'm 40 and still wouldn't. So, it's hard to find something with the same fun factor as when they were little.
3. eco - I do struggle with tat buying. Sort of wish we'd never started stockings because of it but hey ho..

On a separate note, some of the things mentioned are not stocking gifts but actual presents - rug,? How do you fit that in a stocking?!

@HellonHeels

she said she’s already bought him some chocs

Possible reactions to getting a handwritten letter from “Santa” at 14 years old…

(Based on my own experience of being 14 and having teen sons)

1. Inwardly sighing at having to spend the morning pretending I was chuffed with a letter and reassuring my mother that I believed in the magic so she wasn’t upset

2.Feeling uncomfortable that my mum treated me like a child and concluding that she didn’t want me to grow up. Awkward

3.disappointment that this was my mums excuse for not making more effort and wondering if she had actually given presents to children in poverty?

4.Taking the letter into school and showing it to mates so we could absolutely piss ourselves laughing

You must remember what it was like to be 14 op?

Don't do it op it's a terrible idea.

I have a 14 year old boy. You can fill their stocking.

Chocolates, bath bomb, shower gel, book, socks, boxers, snood, pens, cake mix, Pringles.

It's not that difficult.

I have a 16 year old and i can find plenty of things to fill her 'santa stocking' with. Currently both Children (one young and one older both have 35 (cheap) presents as it is part of our Christmas tradition and one of their favourite parts of Christmas to sit on our bed and open each of their santa stocking presents at exactly the same time.
I would doubt that your 14 year old belives in 'santa' anymore but, it is all part of the fun etc :)

Probably because generally 'santa's stockings' are cheaper bits and pieces that the kids want/need/silly/fun etc.

Strength of feeling bit surprising here. Doubt op's ds will be scarred for life if there are no pants and deodorant in his stocking. On another thread "useful" presents for kids were slammed too. No wonder people get into a spiral of panic buying at Christmas.

He’s 14. Go to savers and buy him a smelly gift set, make skin care/hair care/shaving ng presents, a roll of sweets etc. job done

Loads of good suggestions on here! I agree, fill it with basic things like shower gel, socks, pants, hat, scarf, sweets and/ or chocolates, PJs, water bottle maybe - loads of little things teenagers like

Oh man, the poor little sod is getting the note, isn’t he?

Thanks. I'd actually decided to get him one of those this morning, good to know it has gone down well with someone. I'd seen cleaning putty as a suggestion on a list but was wary of that as reviews weren't great and it's a very expensive keyboard.

Thanks for all the ideas and comments, he won't be getting the note and he won't be getting pants, socks or a toothbrush either!

Agreed. Feels like it's one of those threads that sets off in a particular direction and then snowballs, with some people's responses by the end barely related to the proposal in the OP.

I always put a "crisis at Christmas" meal in my kids' stockings (as well as their presents, not instead of)- have done it since they were small and it's a family tradition. Not sure what the issue is with that. We all know our own kids though.

OP, some more ideas for you- sushi making set, interesting instant noodles, moon ball, one of those wallet multi-tool things, football shirt (pricey), shin pads/goalie gloves/mini training football (if he plays football, natch), gift cards for Costa/Nandos/whatever local things he likes or for a delivery service if he'd enjoy ordering his own takeaway, Posca pens (these are brilliant and v popular), whatever the computer game thing is that he wants that might be a rip off.

Seriously! Yes it is harder as kids get older and I do find boys harder but please don’t put some ridiculous note in his stocking to justify the fact you can’t be arsed to give him a proper stocking.

Sorry I don't think it's a good idea. Think you need to fill it. Agree toiletries. 5-guys or nandos or cinema voucher in a gift box to fill up space. Slipper socks. Fancy hot chocolate. Useful stuff (that you might need to buy him anyway) is fine but not empty.

he won't be getting pants, socks or a toothbrush either!

Absolutely nothing wrong with getting pants or socks for Christmas! (Especially if they’re brands that young lads like. Adidas, Nike, North Face, Calvin Klein, Armani etc). And definitely nothing wrong with a toothbrush! I remember getting an electric toothbrush for Xmas as a teen (it was pink, sparkly) and I loved it!

These are practical gifts that won’t get wasted. So much better than some plastic crap from the poundshop that will get shoved in a drawer on Boxing Day and never looked at/used again.