Being Santa is the most stressful thing you can be

[SparkleSpangle]

Ok, so I started this same thread last year.

This is for all the adults sitting up waiting for their children to fall asleep so they can fill stockings.

Last year my DD could not get to sleep and I was up for hours after I was ready for bed waiting for Santa time.

So who's still waiting? How are you doing?

I'm lucky in that I only have one and he is asleep 😴 he's 9 so I'm quite surprised he fell asleep quickly tonight.

Presents and stocking are ready downstairs and I am sat in bed mumsnetting.

That said, he will wake us up at 6am, on the dot to go downstairs 😂

Stocking by fireplace!! Fill up and then just slip in and put it by the bed

My two put their stockings out ready for Father Christmas, went to bed on time and went straight to sleep, much earlier than usual.

However, due to being organised, Father Christmas has delivered their presents to the house we would have been staying in tonight, had we not all come down with covid. 😬

In 8 hours we will have two teenies with empty stockings and some explaining to do. Wish us luck.

Sat downstairs trying my hardest not to fall asleep whilst dh is upstairs trying to settle 2yo ds who has been fighting sleep for an hour and a half.
Presents are stashed in the spare room which is right beside his, so can't risk it til he's completely asleep!

Ahhh no!! Is it far away? Could someone deliver them? Any pals nearby who can do an emergency delivery of some sweets and things?

What a shame

I remember those days but if it helps my 14 year old has just insisted on helping to put the presents under the tree. This will be the first Christmas morning where the presents have already been put out and seen beforehand and it feels a bit flat to me.

I’m a little sad as even though they are teens I still liked setting up the presents on Christmas Eve and them coming down in the morning to see a pile of presents.

As it is I’ll likely be up showered, dog walked and on my third cup of coffee before they surface!

It sucks having to stay up and wait for them to sleep so you can sort stockings but enjoy it whilst they’re young!

DD spotted the chocolate coins in our suitcase this evening and figured out that I am sometimes Santa. She is 8. Ds is 11 and I'm wondering how much longer he can go on believing? He's ASD.

I've actually just had to set an alarm!! My kids are 9 and 12, 9 yr old still believes and 12 yr old has learning disability so is like an 8 yr old. I was on call last night and was out until midnight then called out again at 5am and I've been up since and keep nodding off 😴

I pulled a blinder this year. "Your bedroom is too messy to POSSIBLY inflict on Santa. Either tidy it, or your stockings will have to be hung outside on the landing".

They plumped for option B, but it's still a win.

Mine are 9 & 11 and only just settling down now, so ages yet!

Me. Currently sat with my 8 year old as he is always scared at night, he asked if he could go to be the same time as me tonight I was like noo not tonight 👀 I have just had to wash my hair so that's still wet andddd I need to put my fresh sheets on the bed and i have been poorly! I am going to give myself a time limit that all presents will be out by 11, hair dried and sheets made and me in bed! Fingers crossed

I’m currently lying in the toddler’s bed being bashed about the head with a board book while he sings jingle bells.

It’s going to be a long night.

Oh no!

Wrap anything that can plausibly be from santa. A piece of fruit, a coin, toys they have forgotten about, an ornament off the xmas tree, etc.

Mine are 11 and 18. I still wait til they go to bed. But bedtime on Christmas Eve is 10pm. Even for the 18 year old. I am not spending the morning trying to drag her out of bed. That’s the rule! Just brought everything down and settling down myself.

When they were younger, (now ex) H would bring stuff down while I read to them. Always been quite lucky. Dd (eldest) would always take a while to fall asleep but never came down. Ds always fall asleep easily on Christmas Eve. Just not any other time of the year.

oddly both have always slept in on Christmas Day. Again, never any other day of the year. 🙄

My almost 3 yo went to bed at 7pm, got herself all worked up and promptly threw up all over her bed, floor and brand new Christmas pjs . She's still not asleep and has been crying on and off all night.
Currently 24 weeks pregnant so can't even drown my sorrows.
So fed up. Santa can do one...

Can't you get ready for bed, fill stockings as your final job and then be in bed asleep? If she comes to down full stockings now it's late enough evening that Santa might have come just after you went to bed? Some people have got to be early on the list after all.

I chewed on the carrot and threw some outside them dc woke so I’m in bed with them waiting

and waiting ...

It's 3 hours away. My parents are going to drive the presents down in the morning, drop them on the doorstep and drive straight back again.

I've got a friend to send me a voicemail from Father Christmas explaining the mix-up. The bigger one is already a bit dubious about magic and I hope this doesn't push him over the edge.

That's a good idea. Might jump in the shower and get in my PJ's. One last glass of wine, fill stocking and bed.

I will add that my parents insisted they do this, not me. They have no other plans for Christmas Day now everyone else has the lurgy. 😔

It is the best feeling ever

Finally asleep here! Stockings and sacks filled and can finally go to bed. Problem now is 4 year old will be up at her usual 6 and 7 year old will want a lie in! Note to self, we need to take them somewhere next year to fire them out!

Omg this is genius. Why have I never thought of that?! Definitely doing this next year!

Yep still waiting.

6yr old DS who usually messes around at bedtime was asleep hours ago but 9yr old DD will just not go to sleep!

Complicated by the fact that she was sick all over the carpet earlier so currently scrubbing that for the third time and now DH is being sick too .... 😭

Been doing the identical stockings thing for years, 20 ish in fact!
Got the hint off MN back in 2003.

Prefilled one is in my wardrobe waiting.
Stocking outside her door.

Huge difference!