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.

What, so Christmas Day isn’t magic enough? They need a box the night before filled with yet more sweets and socks and lip balms and shower gels?

They get jammies on Christmas Eve which I turn into a treasure hunt around the house, then we have a kitchen party with snacks and a Christmas game.

Is that not magic enough for you? Enjoy your random box of stuff that nobody has even thought of ten years ago 🤷‍♀️

Oh god you were kidding.

Sorry. I’m having a very shite Christmas Eve and misread the tone.

Wow, I don’t do one and I don’t think I know anyone who does. It is a particular bit of the country thing?

Neither do we do new Xmas PJs, everyone is fortunate enough to get pressies on Christmas Day, that really is quite enough. Is it a social media thing?

I think they made more sense before you could watch films on Netflix and amazon prime, for a few short years I think the idea was basically a dvd of a Christmas film, snacks and pyjamas, not early Christmas presents as such. You can watch a film and eat snacks on Christmas Eve without the box or a physical dvd. This is why I just buy pyjamas and don't do the "box"

I’ve never done them, or 1st Dec boxes, or The Elf, or new pyjamas (we get winter pyjamas at the start of the winter). None of my children have ever taken issue with this, they have all had so much fun every Christmas, and my teen and adult children are very happy with their childhood festive memories.

Don’t worry about what you haven’t done, enjoy what you have done! One of mine still remembers and talks fondly about when we made junk-modelling presents for his favourite teddies, and wrapped them up and put them under the tree, he was eight at the time - it was just a spur of the moment thing.

We do it, but I wouldn't feel guilty for not. He gets PJs? That's one of the main things that goes in ours. This year, DS (nearly 4) got PJs, a kinder egg, colouring pens, a colour-in dining cloth, and a bath bomb with surprise inside and jelly cubes for us to make jelly together. Just simple things.
It was never a thing when I wad a child, so I don't feel it's a necessity, just like the Elf on the shelf!

We do exactly the same as you - new PJs is the Christmas Eve tradition here. Couldn't give them a box of sugary treats before bed on Xmas Eve - it'd be carnage!!!!

And we don't do the elf thing either - i told them that if a naughty creature was messing up my house while I was asleep, it wouldn't last a month! (Also really difficult to explain to an undiagnosed neurodiverse child why the elf could get up in the night, be naughty and make a mess but they couldn't)

So you do what's right for your family and have a great Christmas your way xxx

We do but it’s just a box of the same stuff reused every year… plate for Santa, jar I refill with porridge as ‘reindeer food’, a Christmassy book then I add a bag of popcorn or something to share while watching a film.

same box tied with same ribbon for at least the last 10 years now.

if you have some of those bits you could collect them together for him, I’m sure it’ll be a lovely Christmas Eve regardless though so don’t stress.

Perfect! Chef's kiss 💋

YABU

It’s just another thing to ramp up consumerism and guilt for mothers. Many children have far too much now and most of it is Chinese-made pointless crap we are damaging the planet with. That is where the guilt for all of us should lie.

….And I bet there is not one single man/dad who would’ve posted your AIBU. You are worrying far too much over nothing.

Christmas Eve boxes are absolute BS and should be avoided at all costs!

. No need, only bought in by retail to make more money.

Christmas Eve boxes were not even a thing a few years ago. Its all bs to sell more crap.

I hadn’t even heard of the concept until about a year ago. They seem absolutely pointless to me and another exercise in consumerism. Christmas Eve should be all about the anticipation of the next day and you don’t need more “stuff” to do that.

We don’t do Elf on the shelf either and my kids seem unscathed and still enjoy Christmas!

I have never done one and never plan to. I feel Christmas Day is enough. Find ways to have fun with your dc today - go to the park, watch a Christmas film, make a simple craft (snowflakes for the window - all you need is paper and scissors), play a board game/cards etc. Bring a good Mum has nothing to do with Christmas Even boxes! Promise!

I don’t see the point in getting Xmas PJs and jumpers etc on Xmas Eve .. it’s too late. My kids are 20s now so missed all this stuff thankfully but I do get my god daughter a 1st Dec box with advent calendar, jumper, PJs, socks which she enjoys for the whole month.

We have never ever done a Christmas Eve box and my eldest is 15 - it’s a load of made up Instagram rubbish - I feel zero qualms and neither should you!

when you are single everyone seems to be in a couple
when you are in a couple everyone seems to be single

i I think it’s because we are social animals and like to conform at some level so we always spot what is different to us

my guess is on average Christmas Eve boxes are not the norm / it just seems that way to you

God no!

Christmas Eve is to have a party, tire the kids out so they have fun mummy can have a drink with friends and sleep as late as possible on Christmas day.

Can't think of anything worst than supplying the kids with pjs, hot chocolate and make them all sleepy early in front of a movie - they'll be up at dawn the following day, hell no 😂

It’s all just a trick to get you buying more and more new crap.

We are having a trip to
Disneyland Paris so told my kids not to expect loads, and have still managed to buy more than I planned on . I usually do the Xmas boxes which started as I had Xmas pajamas that I wanted them to get the wear of, and it kinda started from there getting bigger and bigger each year and tbh it was a load of tat in them, usually pj’s, a bauble for the tree, pens, a bit of jewellry, xmas books, sweeties just what would be in stockings usually. Then I would need to fill the stocking as well!! .! It just got too much and was more hassle but this year they have not even asked for it and I’m thankful, it is all getting out of
hand when it comes an expectation.! The elf I bloody hate, due to a colleague who really went ott years ago, I swore I wouldn’t get caught up with that and I didn’t. But my 8 year old wants the elf, I still didn’t do it cos they do it in class all December so that my reasons and I’m sticking to them lol

He is not being let out.

Anyway don’t follow SM trends. Xmas Eve boxes weren’t heard of by me until 2010 give/take two years

It's yet another made up thing which adds to the weight of expectations on (mostly) women at an already exhausting time of year. Release yourself from the expectation and move on.

Never done it and don't understand it. The presents are the next day, why there'd be two days of presents I don't understand.