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Original poster

Ds just turned 18 -no more stocking?

260 replies

JustaPatioWithAspirations · 12/12/2020 14:28

Aibu to no longer give ds1 a stocking now he’s turned 18?

I can’t think of a better time to stop.otherwise I’ll be doing it when he’s 30!

I feel a bit mean though!

Ds2 (15) will still get one.

OP posts:
Lazypuppy · 12/12/2020 16:26

Not all uni students come home at xmas.

But if he is going to be there at xmas you can't do stockings for some kids and not others, thats really harsh

bellsbuss · 12/12/2020 16:29

I had one until I left home , eldest is 22 and will have one until she moves out. OH has a stocking filled by me and eldest does mine. You have to have a stocking.

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 12/12/2020 16:30

YABU. Stockings are lovely. My Mum did one for me until she died when I was 31, through my adulthood I also did one for her.

Gatehouse77 · 12/12/2020 16:33

We’ll carry on until it naturally declines but I, personally, don’t put an age limit on it. DH and I do stockings for each other but not a main gift. DH is crap at buying and receiving gifts and there’s nothing I want so it would be arbitrary to buy something just because.

OctaviaOrange · 12/12/2020 16:33

I have a 22 year old and a 14 year old. The 22 year old left uni this year and has started a grad job but still living at home.

Not only do I do both of my kids stockings, I also still do a pile of gifts for them still - and yep, my eldest gets as much as she always has. I appreciate I'm in the fortunate position to be able to afford what I do

But even if I couldn't, I love Xmas and I like giving gifts and I see no reason to stop just because they're a certain age.

Works for us!

Shuffled · 12/12/2020 16:40

Stocking stop when you move out permanently in my house.

But also stocking in this house are just most of the gifts you would give anyway.

IRememberSoIDo · 12/12/2020 16:44

I'm 41 and still get one as does my 36 year old younger sister as we both live closest and always see my parents even for a bit on Christmas. Those further away get hampers in place of stockings that they're not meant to open until Christmas morning! My mum also does them for her children in law either through the hampers or in the case of my husband and bil in person. Dh and bil have gone from being embarrassed to being excited! I think both of their mothers think mine is nuts.

Wornout12108 · 12/12/2020 16:47

No don't stop, I'm in my 40's and if I'm at my mums for Christmas I absolutely get a stocking from her, it's usually a magazine, some chocolates, a bath bomb, nothing huge but so lovely to wake up to in the morning. She does one for my husband too and I do my own kids ones.

Disfordarkchocolate · 12/12/2020 16:51

I still send stocking fillers (wrapped in tissue paper) to my adult children. I used the send them an actual stocking too but I stopped that after the went missing at my Ex's.

myhobbyisouting · 12/12/2020 16:53

Yes to the stocking. Hope you got him an advent calendar or you're as good as gone to him already!

santasmincepie · 12/12/2020 16:53

Keep it up, but don't feel it has to be elaborate. My DP's stocking this year is pretty much just chocolate and socks wrapped individually.

TheCrow · 12/12/2020 16:55

Everyone gets one in my house too! I would be buying the small stocking-sized gifts for adults (or adult sized children 🙄) anyway- socks, gloves, chocolate orange etc so why not put them in one, they always seem much more exciting in a stocking! I think I'd be gutted if I stopped getting one now in my 30s let alone when I was 18.

ILoveAnOwl · 12/12/2020 16:58

We had stockings until we had our own children. I'd have been gutted if mine had stopped at 18.

InTheLongGrass · 12/12/2020 16:58

If you sleep in my house on Christmas Eve, you get a stocking.
Same goes for my mothers house.

GreekOddess · 12/12/2020 17:00

I like stockings but I'm struggling to fill ds1's (16). Would be easier for a girl as you can put lipstick, eyeshadow in etc.

ScrapThatThen · 12/12/2020 17:06

Hmm I think it's OK to stop, but if you and he drink at all I might give him a bottle of his favourite tipple instead.

Haffdonga · 12/12/2020 17:06

My family's rule was that you keep getting a stocking until you have someone to give a stocking to yourself (on behalf of Father C of course).

DS1 (24) is home for the first Christmas in 4 years and told me the stocking was what he'd missed the most,

Fullofpissandvinegar · 12/12/2020 17:09

This will be the first year that my mum won’t have done a stocking for me ( and dh!) due to COVID, poor health etc (and we won’t see her at Christmas due to distance) and I’m already feeling a bit bereft! I’ve spent 30 odd years training DH but he’ll never be as good as my mum at making them...and I’m 60!
I have still made one for my mum, DH and my mid 20s dc!

OnlyToWin · 12/12/2020 17:10

Stockings only stop when you properly leave home - as in get your own place, not leave for university.

Redburnett · 12/12/2020 17:11

Let DS decide. If he still wants one make it minimalist. He will soon be asking for (large quantities of) money instead of presents.

Moonflower12 · 12/12/2020 17:12

YABVvvvU. I do stockings for DP, DC x4. Plus their partners and a step grandchild.

They all say they love their stockings.
This year I am sending them to each house prepacked as we can't mix.

Angel2702 · 12/12/2020 17:12

We had stockings until we left home so intend to do the same.

ApocalypseNowt · 12/12/2020 17:16

I get a stocking. I'm 39.

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 12/12/2020 17:20

DS is 18, I can’t imagine Santa bringing to one child and not another. In our house if you sleep over on Christmas Eve you get a stocking.

Deadringer · 12/12/2020 17:21

My adult dc love their stocking, they were outraged when i suggested stopping the tradition now that youngest no longer believes.