To feel guilty I haven’t done my DS a Christmas Eve box?

[Redonionsalad]

He’s 7 and we never have really, except a couple of years ago when I did a few sweets and a colour in a bauble kit.
He has new PJs to wear every Christmas Eve. This year I did get them from vinted as money has been tight.

Everyone I know seems to be doing them. I feel rubbish this morning.

My children are young and don’t have Christmas Eve boxes. Never have done. Christmas Eve is magical with or without them. Do not feel guilty.

Of course you’re not being unreasonable!

we don’t do ‘the box’ but always have a hot chocolate before bed & read an old copy of the night before Christmas. We then put the mince pie out etc. You can have family traditions that are lovely without having to spend money at every opportunity. I actually think my own childhood Christmases were just as magical and I didn’t have half this stuff!

I never do them, since when was it a compulsory thing?
People are just influenced by what others do.
Christmas Day is enough for them, without all the unnecessary stuff on top.

Dd is 11 and never had a christmas eve box. I find the concept weird. She gets xmas pjs for the following year in her stocking and they are in her xmas stuff box we get out of the loft around Dec 1st. We do hot choc etc but not always on xmas eve as too busy.

Don't feel guilty but be a little bit sad for those who think they have to give their children something unnecessary because they perceive every one does it.

You could have your own Christmas Eve tradition and you don't need a special box. A walk around a few streets to look at Christmas lights, put out snacks for Santa, Christmas film, new pair of pyjamas, but love and a good relationship with your son is all that is needed.

If everyone jumped off cliff would you? Wouldn't it be great of parents could leave the ''well everyone else is doing it and if i dont do the same as eveyone else i cant handle it' back at school

Never done them never will nor is there new pyjamas Christmas Eve, if others want too great up to them but no not all parents do the same

We have never done Christmas Eve boxes. It seems mad to me to give them Christmas themed “stuff” like PJs/mugs/books etc on Christmas Eve, when Christmas is nearly over!

I do Christmas PJs and jumpers (all from previous years unless new sizes needed for the older kids) in early December so they have a month to wear them.

I have Christmas mugs/tea towels that I keep year to year, again getting them out in early December.

Christmas Eve is manic enough with baking/veggie prep/Christmas film/reindeer food/Santa snacks. I don’t want to add in another thing to organise or another thing for them to unwrap/do!

Oh and if he'd enjoy it you could do a bit of really easy Christmas baking - some cookies to leave for Santa or similar

Four kids here and we’ve never done a Xmas eve box. New pjs yes but the whole Xmas eve box thing no. It hasn’t affect their memories of Christmas one bit. Tbh it’s just another thing to feel pressure about as a parent, but it will honestly make no difference to your child’s joy and excitement for tomorrow.

I think they are a load of nonsense. My youngest is 12 and never did them.

Christmas eve is chill out. They don't need more presents

You've got the pjs, just wack a small chocolate and a hand written voucher to watch a Christmas movie tonight then jobs done. That's all our Xmas eve 'box' (reused gift bag) has inside it.

@ShowOfHands but it is. I am talking about people spending money cos they feel pressured to (like the OP) and potentially even driving themselves into debt because of advertising - not that there is any indication of that by the OP, I am saying more generally.

Spending money should be about giving you time and space. It should not be because some commercial organisation makes you feel crap. Financial freedom is having the time and space to do what you want with your money. For example I have just booked part of a holiday for tens of thousands of £’s but that’s cos it gives me the time and space I need on that holiday with my family.

These boxes, the commercialisation of Halloween, baby showers and all of those ‘events’ are because big corporations make money from getting people to ‘think’ they need to who just churn out tat for people to mindlessly buy out of guilt.

She could be from a Family that showers her children with lots of presents, and elected not to mention that fact.

Christmas Eve boxes came along with the rise of social media - presumably as another way to promote products and showcase how “generous” people are with their kids.
I never had one and my kids haven’t either! It’s a non-issue that only becomes one when you start comparing against what other people are doing (a sure fire route to misery!!)
I’m sure you have chosen thoughtful presents that your kids will love, no need to worry about putting some of them in a box the night before!

Yabu to yourself here. Unless he's begged for one, you are just getting caught up in the fb/insta/WhatsApp group hype.

Do what works for you and your family, gives you the most peace and enjoyment.

Don’t feel guilty whatsoever. You’re doing a great job.

If anyone is looking enviously at influencer accounts with three personalised boxes lined up for each of their three kids etc. just know it's an #ad and they got all the shit free from somewhere like My 1st Years.

There is no need for a Xmas Eve box. Christmas Day is tomorrow. That is when they get presents.

I do not do them

I haven’t done a Christmas Eve box.. or elf on the shelf! I have however spent lots of quality time with both my children, decorating the tree, baking etc which is what Christmas is about. Not endless consumption.

Don't beat yourself up and make yourself feel miserable over a Christmas Eve box, which is something that seems to have crept into Christmas the last 10-15 years. Spend the day with him. Watch a Christmas film, play on playstation with him, etc.

I read the thread title and instantly thought 'said no man, ever.'

Free yourself from taking on guilt about some tat made up by cringey Instagram 'celebs'.

☝

My dc are older, but it wasn't a thing when they were young - they're fine

My kids have never had one. They don’t feel hard done by.

I’ve never done Christmas Eve boxes! I do wrap up their new jammies to open - but every year they go “oh yes, that’ll be our new Xmas eve jammies” because they already know 😂 In the past I’ve included a bath bomb (they prefer showers these days) and maybe a colouring book, but they are much older now. The only point to this was to emphasise calming down and getting ready for bed !

The idea of filling a box with even more tat doesn’t thrill me. New (to them) jammies is perfect. If you have some spare paper you could maybe wrap the jammies to make it more of a ‘thing’ but I promise you it doesn’t matter.

Having a Christmas Eve box doesn't make it a good Christmas.

Personally I think it's more commercial stuff to sort out. It's not for me and tbh I know few families who do this.

Ser your own tradition - watching the Snowman/playing a game/Christmas Eve walk etc...