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Original poster

Early morning stocking fiasco...

87 replies

BumbleyBum · 01/12/2018 08:43

Help Grin I can’t take it anymore.
Every blinkin year, my two ds’s start waking about 2am on Xmas morning. They spot their stockings and start stage whispering to each other ‘he’s been! Has he been to you?! Mum... Dad... he’s been!!’ They’re then told ‘yes, but it’s too early go back to sleep’. They then toss and turn, get up for wees, call out that they can’t sleep, on and off until we get up at 6. It’s exhausting and ridiculous. They’re 13 and 10. I could put the stockings downstairs but I think they’ll still wake wanting to go downstairs to check if he’s been.
Oh and elf on the fucking shelf. They were awake at 5am banging on about going to find him. I finally said yes. 13 yeh runs like an elephant back up the stairs, bursting through my bedroom door to tell me where he’s found him. I couldn’t help myself, ‘I bloody know!! Obviously!! Now let me sleep!!’. They KNOW I move the elf. So, can’t we just stop this ridiculous game and throw I’ll throw the elf over the fence for next doors dog to ravage?!

OP posts:
Jaxtellerswife · 01/12/2018 09:25

We would wake up to find one present on our bed to open whenever we wanted but that was it until we were called downstairs.
I always thought they were arranging everything down there but they were having coffee and breakfast lol

Starlight345 · 01/12/2018 09:29

My mum and dad used to wake us up at 1-2 in the morning and tell us Santa had been . We would open presents and go back to bed . When we got up in the morning and let our parents sleep.

PiperPublickOccurrences · 01/12/2018 09:32

Move the elf into the bin.

Job done.

Almondio · 01/12/2018 09:32

They're old enough at 13 and 10 to be asked/told to stay in bed, and to respect that request/instruction. Put the stockings downstairs, with the strict instruction not to get up until a time you all agree.

Catsandbootsandbootsandcats · 01/12/2018 09:34

Put them downstairs. Every time they wake you up half an hour is added on to the time they are allowed up to open them.

Worked for me and mine were a lot younger!

JasmineMcCarth · 01/12/2018 09:35

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Witchend · 01/12/2018 09:37

Tell them the stockings are from now on in your room and every time you're disturbed before midday 8am you remove a present.

Or tell them also that the elf counts seeing them too early in the morning as naughty and has gone back (on day 2) to report to Santa that they are too naughty for presents this year. That way you take away the Christmas morning issue.

Or perhaps just tell them that unless they can be sensible over this (and give them time you consider sensible) then you won't do either next year.

Yutes · 01/12/2018 09:38

I still open my stocking first thing Blush

Put the stockings in your room and remind them not til 6 am.

Orrrrr let them up at 2. They’ll wear themselves out by 10am.

Kelsoooo · 01/12/2018 09:44

Way too old for this behaviour!

Toddlerteaplease · 01/12/2018 09:58

A few years ago I was shocked when my friend rang me after midnight mass to ask if I'd opened any presents yet. Err it's not morning yet, you can't open anything!

Nicknamesalltaken · 01/12/2018 10:16

Your 13 yo needs to be in on it more - tell them to keep the 10yo in bed.

One of my fondest Christmas memories was seeing oldest DC playing along with the youngest.

whojamaflip · 01/12/2018 10:26

This is why stockings are left by the fire downstairs! My dc were always very light sleepers as toddlers so there was no way I was going to be able to sneak in and leave their stockings in their rooms (old house =squeaky floor boards)

Last couple of years I've been up before them as they are all heading into teenage territory Grin

Valasca · 01/12/2018 10:49

@Rousaylass

“We have a Christmas tree on the landing outside their bedroom doors. On Christmas Eve I put a timer on the plug and they are only allowed up when the tree lights are on as Santa switches them on when he leaves. Has worked so far.”

That is pure brilliance! 🎄🎄🎄

Cheekysquirrel · 01/12/2018 10:50

My 9 year old is the same. He doesnt believe in santa either.
He was also up at 4.30am today to find his advent calendar and the fucking elf. I can’t cope. Last Christmas it was 3am he was up and we made him go back to bed but then he’d woken his sister and they were both up on and off until I finally gave in at about 6.30am. It ruins the day because everyone is tired and fed up by lunchtime. Last year I put a gift on ds’s bed and said he could open that one if he woke to try and reduxe some of the excitement but it didn’t work. He just wanted to open more. I always want to throttle him by the time it really is morning.
He woke his 2 year old sister this morning as well so they’ve both been up since 4.30.

whatwouldkatyactuallydonext · 01/12/2018 10:56

But Father Christmas magics the presents away if you get up before 7am (stockings in the lounge).

Works on my 2 anyway! Grin

Original poster
BumbleyBum · 01/12/2018 11:32

I hear you @Cheekysquirrel Sad I’m proof it doesn’t always get easier a few years down the line. For once, bring on these teenage years!

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 01/12/2018 11:42

They are 13 and 10. Put your foot down on this... they can get up at 7am; and get their stockings then. They can read quietly until then, but if you get woken up, they're staying in their rooms for an extra half an hour.

They don't believe anymore, they're just running riot and you're letting them. You can still have a lovely Christmas if they get up at a decent time.

VittysCardigan · 01/12/2018 12:16

The rule here has always been if the heating is not on it's too early! I obviously set the timer for 5.30/6am which is early enough! Stockings have always been hung downstairs too.

JeanMichelBisquiat · 01/12/2018 12:25

Really?! They're 13 and 10 and doing this even when they know it's not real? And they're neurotypical, without any additional needs?

If so, this is ridiculous behaviour. My kids aren't the most compliant, but no way they'd behave like this, and youngest is 6. Stop with the stupid elf, and I'd be seriously tempted not to do stockings either if that's how it plays out every year. If you feel you must, then put the filled stockings in locked cupboard (location unknown to the boys) and tell the boys they'll get them in the morning if you're not woken until a reasonable time.

For what it's worth, keeping them up so late the night before is also a rotten idea, as they'll be completely overexcited and overtired, and therefore far more likely to sleep badly.

But yeah - they're way too old to be behaving like that and making everyone exhausted for Christmas day.

Lovemusic33 · 01/12/2018 14:23

People that are saying they are too old for this behaviour.......surely this is what Christmas is about? The excitement? I still get excited and I’m 37.

My dd’s are 14 and 12, the 12 year old finds it really hard to sleep, she gets way too excited (she has ASD which makes it even harder). I know put the stockings downstairs and no ones allowed out of bed until it’s light outside, dd2 finds this hard and if she does wake I will let her go and get her stocking (after 5am though) and take it into her room, this gives me extra time in bed. Dd1 loves her bed too much and I have to wake her up.

OP, I would move the stockings downstairs and set a time that they are allowed to go down and get them. They might surprise you this year and wake later (mine did last year).

Perfectly1mperfect · 01/12/2018 14:29

It's lovely that they are so excited.

2am though.....we are usually just going to bed then after sorting all the presents out and having a cup of tea. Luckily the kids tend to sleep til at least 7 ish, last year they didn't wake til 9.30, it was lovely.

akmum18 · 01/12/2018 14:31

Now they’re older you could start thinking up some new traditions maybe? Don’t fill the stockings until morning or fill them and don’t rehang them until everyone’s awake. Elf as a decoration rather than moving it? Have a later night Christmas Eve with movie and hot chocolate so they’re tired? All children are so excited and barely sleep I remember it myself and it is just one night a year, I’m sure it won’t last many more years enjoy it Smile

KingLooieCatz · 01/12/2018 14:39

I hate to tell you but 9yo DS sleeps later than me Christmas Day, easily beyond 8. I'll feed that cat, make myself a cup of tea and be sitting in bed waiting.

I don't think I could tolerate that behaviour from 10 and 13yo. There would be dire warnings not to make a noise/get out of bed/wake parents before a given time or signal.

I have heard of wrapping empty boxes that you chuck in the fire when there's naught behaviour.

CantSleepClownsWillEatMe · 01/12/2018 14:44

Sorry but I'm another who thinks this is ridiculous at their ages. Of course it's ok to be excited but that doesn't mean waking the entire household at 2am! Even as toddlers ours would have known they couldn't make lots of noise or get up at that time. Have a word Op, they're old enough to understand why this is frustrating and exhausting for you.

MiniMum97 · 01/12/2018 14:48

Personally I think their behaviour is completely unacceptable and you've made a rod for your own back by letting it carry on. I always set a time for my DS that was acceptable to wake anyone on Christmas Day and if women before then there wouldn't be any presents. I've seen friends kids waking them up like yours at 3 in the morning. I just wouldn't have it. They have to know you are serious though. Santa doesn't come fit naughty children so why would Santa bring presents fur kids who wake their parents up in the night when they've been told not to.