To miss my Dc being little

[Balconyofdreams]

Dc is 7, but seems to be going on 17. Have noticed a big change compared to last Christmas, I think that was her last one being little, even though I know 7 still is.
She finds many things babyish, isn’t as excited about the elves funny tricks and I don’t think believes really in santa or is getting an inkling.
Xmas when younger was the stuff of dreams and I didn’t expect that to change so quickly.
I don’t have anymore children and just feel a bit sad things changed so quickly

7yo is really young still!

My DDs 19yo and I miss the excitement of when she was 7!!

Mine are still young enough that I’m looking forward to them being seven and five. I can see it’s a big change, as they generally go into juniors at this age, don’t they? My youngest is two. I won’t be looking back at this Christmas either nostalgia. Hoping next year will be better!

I feel like I'm in the optimum age bracket with my kids this year, 2.5y and just turned 5y. Everything is so magical for them! ✨

That’s lovely, but not very helpful when someone is feeling sad about it 😬

True, apologies. I should have said - I perceive what you're feeling further down the line as something I'll feel in the not too distant future too, so I'll cherish this one.

I’m in that bracket and it’s awful 😂

I think that’s a perfect Xmas age - not so old that they’re grumpy and hiding in their rooms, not so young that they’re having meltdowns halfway through the festivities. Seven is the perfect age to actually enjoy Christmas, appreciate the toys and understand some of the games.

6 and 9 and still very much magical. 9 year old has an inking and probably knows deep down but they are both so excited and old enough for me to enjoy rather than the drudge of the younger years. You are being unreasonable op. 7 should still be magical.

7 is a lovely age… if I feel nostalgic at all about the toddler/pre school stage I think back to the nappies, the tantrums, the non-stop ‘play, play’, the sickness bugs that saw me changing sheets several times a night.

If it's any consolation I have one the same age who still believes and finds it magical - and also is overwhelmed, asking 20 times a day if we can open presents, and generally being a pain when I'd love to be having Xmas family fun. It's full on over stimulation at the end of a long school term and a round of viral illness in my house!

She might go back to being a bit little - my 13 year old absolutely adores Christmas traditions and loves going to see what the elves have been up to each morning in December! The magic is still there, just a little differently now

Don't let looking back let you miss what's in front of you. Every year your DD is getting another layer of experience and personality for you to discover and enjoy, to add to what was, not to replace it. She may not be the same as she was last year, but she'll be offering you other things. Look at her now, because every one of her life stages brings its own joy.

Mine are 20 months and nearly 7 and I think this is the best year yet. However the eldest is very excitable and full on 😂

Honestly I thought you were going to say she was 18. 7 is so young. My son is 7 and this is such a magical age. Make the most of it!

My youngst is in Secondary School. No more elves and Father Christmas. I miss it too.

OP, if it makes you feel any better my DD (also an only child) is ten and Christmas is so lovely with her. You've still got some magical years left! Though I 1000000% get the sadness of no longer having a young child.

I don't miss it. DDs are 20 and 16 and I like having a lie in, having a grown up Christmas and they are good company.

Oh OP - you don’t know how lucky you are - wait til they’re teenagers. Mine will get up at about 1pm, open presents then go for a snooze or on their phones until dinner time.

I’ve just had a bit of a “lively debate” with the 20yo about politics and she got really aggressive when I stated a fact, told me “I’m boring” and walked off. This after I’ve just taken them all for lunch and bought her makeup in boots and then came home and cooked dinner for them all and cleared up.

Tomorrow we’re all going for a pub lunch which dh and I will pay for (cost for grown up dc’s, their partners and the teens around £500) and then we’ll run the older ones to the pub. We’ll probably be woken up by them coming home at 1am or whatever.

Christmas day il be cooking most of the day, and after spending around £5K on Christmas presents for them dh and I will be lucky if we get anything - last year the eldest (26) bought us a bottle of wine and a card (and I was pleased).

So yes OP - be very happy yours are still young and have some of the magic of Christmas. I feel like booking into a spa and leaving the fuckers to it..

Ah, it IS sad when you have to let a stage go, but I actually think 7 to 11 is a fantastic stage - they are really interesting, curious about the world, interested to learn.

Create some new traditions that fit with the child she is now.

(Mine are teens and 20s now and we have different traditions again, they do cocktails night, for a start).

Know what you mean but I think 7 is still really young?! I think it was one of my favourite ages actually. Young enough for excitement etc but old enough to be past tantrums and toilet training etc.

@Dollybantree

Gosh they ought to be getting you a present and doing a bit of the hosting - you sound like top parents.

Could each of you give them a list to chose from for the other?

Mine is 8 and she’s still super excited and excitable for Christmas things. She’s also old enough to take to things like carol services and the like… I am enjoying it more each year

What are the many things she finds babyish? Just curious as 7 is still young enough to find Christmas fun and exciting, are you maybe trying to cling on to past Christmas activities that she's outgrown?
Enjoy and appreciate the person she is now, maybe change things up a bit to suit who she is right now.

I am in the same situation as you. My children are 16,12&10. My 10 year old no longer believes and wasn’t interested in the elves this year. She’s not even been excited about her advent calendar. She’s still excited for gifts on Christmas Day but it’s the first year that magic hasn’t felt as much and it is so hard so I can fully empathise.

You’ve still got a good few years!

mine are 11 & 15 & this year just hasn’t been the same although i did still do the elves as dd doesn’t want to accept the reality of it all but obviously next year there will be no pretence. I miss nativity shows and santa visits and chirstmas parties building up to it & i’d love to go back 8 years which doesn’t seem like that long ago!