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Christmas

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Original poster

Do you receive a christmas stocking?

62 replies

HelebethH · 27/11/2020 19:26

Just that really. As a family we do a secret santa for the five adults but I still do a christmas stocking for my DH, 2xDD and SIL. Last time I had one I was about 9 years old , Thats 51 years ago! This year I have been musing over the fact that it would be lovely just once to have a stocking as a nice surprise. I know it won't happen and I do get a lot of pleasure choosing thoughtful little stocking fillers for everyone, . Just wondering if I am being silly.

OP posts:
FestiveChristmasLights · 27/11/2020 22:20

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners

No, I don't, but my 32 year old sister does (still lives chez parents) - apparently my marriage ended that particular obligation. DS20 has two - one at home and one at my parents' - and says he will never be too old for a stocking. I think I've been mugged off. I left home at 18 but DS has never lived with them and still gets one...
I agree, you’ve definitely been mugged off. Maybe do one for yourself if needed?
Original poster
HelebethH · 27/11/2020 22:25

Thats how I started doing one for DSIL Cherry Pavlova. I couldn't give my daughter one and not him. Although I say it myself , christmas has always been great fun although hard work with a housefull of extended family and any other waifs and strays on xmas day (although not this year). I think because I do not have great christmas memories from my childhood I have always tried to make it lovely for everyone and magical for children. Problem is I lost myself in the process making it great for everyone else. As GETYINGLIKEMYMOTHER
Says I may have to train him. In all fairness to DH he is open to anything I suggest. I just need to make sure we change things.

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SquishySquirmy · 27/11/2020 22:27

That's such a shame if you do it for others, but don't get one yourself! Does your dh still believe in Santa?? Confused

Ask him to buy you some nice bits, but you could also buy some for yourself as well... whatever you want. Hat way you get a few surprises, but if he's not good at buying presents then you're still guaranteed something nice. I'd get the kinds of self indulgent, small luxuries I normally couldn't justify buying for myself. A small white company candle. Small tube of gorgeous smelling posh hand cream. A paperback book. Small box of very posh chocolates. Miniature of my favourite drink...

Lovemusic33 · 27/11/2020 22:33

I do myself a stocking as I’m a single parent. I never had a stocking as a kid and only started doing myself one a couple years ago. Everyone should have a stocking x

Original poster
HelebethH · 27/11/2020 22:37

Oooo I love your suggestions SquishySquirmy. Think I will add a nice mascara to that list

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Original poster
HelebethH · 27/11/2020 22:40

Just glanced over at DH who seems to be looking at Amazon on his tablet . Hmmmm watch this space Smile

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SquishySquirmy · 27/11/2020 22:54

I think that if the rest if the household still want to continue with stockings in future years, the load should be shared more. There is no reason why the contents of a stocking must be bought by just one person! One thing I love about staying over with family for Christmas is that although dh and I do the bulk of each other's stockings, I always get slipped little extras to put in dh's by parents, and they give him extras to put in mine. It's very exciting! We open them in bed with dd and it adds to the surprises... not only do I not know what's in MY stocking but I don't know completely whats in dd's and dh's either!
It's not for everyone, but it's a lovely tradition and we try to do it in a "low pressure" way.

CrownAddict · 27/11/2020 22:55

Thanks Helebeth. Yes it's definitely time to buy a treat, nice idea .

pincertoe · 27/11/2020 23:40

We do them for each other. I do try to go to bed before my dh so I can wake up with my stocking on the end of my bed. Its my favourite part to feel my stocking at the end of my bed.

Holothane · 27/11/2020 23:42

Dh is doing bits for sack, not big things but I’m looking forward to it as it’s a surprise from him.

MaverickDanger · 28/11/2020 00:05

I do one for DH if we have Christmas with my parents, as they do one for me.

This year is our first Christmas just us (and hopefully newborn DS whenever he decides to grace us with his presence) so I’ve made DH one and have made myself one - the stocking is the best bit of Christmas!

MarshmallowManiac · 28/11/2020 00:11

I do them for DD1 and her partner, DD2, DS, DH and MIL. Usually everyone buys one present for each other in the stockings too which I do enjoy. I get a few things in my stocking but last year it looked half empty so I did have a bit of a moan. Hopefully this year will be a little better. I pretty much get everything but DH does help with the wrapping. Never had a stocking growing up but my kids seem to love them.

jocktamsonsbairn · 28/11/2020 00:23

I'd love one but am a single parent so nae chance!!!

Stompythedinosaur · 28/11/2020 00:26

No, we just do them for dc and pets here.

Poor show of your dh to accept a stocking and not do you one.

Not quite the same, but I fill my own crackers and buy myself a gift I want.

endlesscraziness · 28/11/2020 00:26

We do stockings for everyone that's here (sadly no guests this year)

I'd be pissed off if I was doing stockings for everyone and not getting one myself. My husband is rubbish at it compared to me! We do stockings Christmas morning and main presents after Christmas dinner

Mustbethewine · 28/11/2020 02:40

I've always done one for the kids. Not bothered about one for myself and haven't had one since I left home but had a conversation about stockings with my DP the other day and he said he never had one as a kid, just wasn't a tradition at his house growing up so we're doing eachother a stocking this Christmas and I feel this will be a new tradition for the both of us.

LegoPandemic · 28/11/2020 02:58

Of course! DH does mine as I do his. Stockings are the best bit!
Don’t let your DH off the hook so easily, ask him to do you one - give him a list of ideas if necessary.

Spacerader · 28/11/2020 07:03

I do them for the dc, and me and dp do them for each other, and take them up stairs christmas eve to open christmas morning in bed.

kowari · 28/11/2020 07:21

Depends on the person, I would hate to receive one, and so would my DS, unless it was decent chocolate.

littlestpogo · 28/11/2020 08:06

I’ve never had a stocking but I did one to send to my mum this year as she is over 70 and on her own as very anxious ( lives near my sibling but far from me). I have to admit when I’d done it I was quite jealous and wished someone would do one for me! Actually I’ve never thought I’d minded about Christmas but it did make me think I’d love to get a wrapped gift this year. I’m a single parent though so don’t think that will happen!

Lazysundayafternoons · 28/11/2020 08:42

I did one for DP last year and it went down so well that he now wants one very year but I'm apparently getting one from him aswell this year. I have all his stocking fillers bought already though and he hasnt started so we will see. He is the type to go out a few days before Christmas and buy then, but I dont think that will be as easy this year with covid.

TheChosenTwo · 28/11/2020 08:57

Stockings are only for kids here. They are filled by Father Christmas and everyone knows Father Christmas only delivers to children.
Dh and I buy presents to each other and put them under the Christmas tree.

Twobrews · 28/11/2020 09:01

No and I never had a stocking as a child either, I do them for my kids and DH and have done them for my parents too.
I have mixed feelings about them, on one hand I find them a PITA to do and they end up expensive but on the other hand I think they can be a really nice treat.

TheStarOnTheChristmasTree · 28/11/2020 09:08

Whoever wakes up here on Christmas Day gets a stocking, so always my 3 DDs who are now 24, 20 and 13. They're filled with cheap useful items, opened in my bedroom together once everyone is awake and they all say it's the best part of the day. I'm a single parent so when the kids were younger I did one for myself a couple of times. My memory is so shocking that I still got some surprises. Last year the DDs made one for me and I had no idea they were doing it.

christinarossetti19 · 28/11/2020 13:42

@HelebethH

Bring on libeeration!!!!! I am certainly taking a leaf out of your book Christinarossetti19. We have both recently retired and I intend to enjoy retirement as much as him. Fair division of labour is the way forward.
Do it! You will never look back.

The only way is to decide your limitations/boundaries, let your dh know and stick to them. Hold your nerve through no Xmas cards being written, no address book searched for, no furtive sneaking out to the shops, no unusual parcels arriving for your dh.

As Xmas day approaches, practice saying very calmly, "I did say that I wasn't doing X this year and you said that you would," looking as surprised as him that X hasn't magically done itself.

I found it difficult the first couple of years, a mixture of a realisation of all that I'd done with no-one noticing and irritating when dh tried to involve me 'have we got any cards/stamps?'.

But it's worth it.