Light sleepers and Father Christmas traps

[Nightynight]

I am pretty sure that any attempts to collect/deliver stockings to my sons will be met with a shower of books/mugs of water and ds1 popping triumphantly out of bed shouting "Ive caught Father Christmas!!".

He knows that there is no FC, but thinks it is funny to pretend that he believes in FC and is setting a trap.

My plans so far are
a. either pretend to be taking some laundry in at 10pm, spring the trap, get irate and hope it isnt set again
or
b. spring the trap at 10 pm, fake a large OW! and something falling down the stairs, come running and say "oh no, you just scared FC away, he wont be coming back" (I have a similar juvenile sense of humour to ds1's )

anyone got any better ideas?? I do actually want to get presents into stockings on the end of beds, as this is the first year we have really celebrated christmas without trying to tiptoe round the ex, who hates christmas, and cancelled it completely last year.

instead of "large fake OW!" I read it as "large fake OWL" and I though what a wonderful idea - at ten pm stand outside his room and throw in a number of fake owls and make owl noises.

I don;t know how this will help or why it is at all relaveant but i think it is very funny.

Don't try to put anything in the bedroom but put under the Xmas tree. Slide a letter from FC under the bedroom door saying something like "I knew you were planning a trap but you won't catch me out like that - look under Xmas tree!"

Actually, thats not a bad idea!

throw in an owl, with a message attached to its leg saying "Delivery cancelled due to high risk"

Have just cried laughing at your idea BBB... the mental image I have is just too bizarre

Last year, ds hung his stocking on the end of his bed, and GOT NOTHING because only miserable ex was in the house (long story, he got rid of me for Xmas). So I'd really like to get stockings onto beds.

yes I would leave the stocking elsewhere - we put ours on landing

I know otherwise ds would wake at half past two and never sleep again

OK. So have you any idea what kind of trap he may be setting? There must be many "bomb disposal experts" on MN who can tell you the equivalent of which wire to cut.

oh sorry cross posts

I think your first idea about springing the trap yourself taking in some washing is the best

you can repeat as required until your ds is asleep and there is no more traps

yes, he leaves the door slightly open with books and water balanced on it.

yes, I like the idea of repeating as required. may be til 2 am, though! ds is phenomenally good at not sleeping.

I have no better suggestions but the thread title made me Smile and feel all Christmassy This is something my Sister and I would have done.

did you ever catch FC??

Stepladder to carefully remove books and water from landing side of door? Insist that FC will not come if door is not fully closed?

Pay a local friendly teenager to take the children on a VERY LONG walk on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
Then they'll be far too tired to wake up even if you do set off a trap or two!

How old is your DS? I think you just need to keep telling him that FC won't come if he thinks there are traps and tell him that you will keep checking. And check.

What time will he go to bed? I let DS (6) stay up late as I know it is the best way of making sure he will be tired enough to sleep. He is not keen on idea of FC in room so we put stocking downstairs although may do on landing this year - like the idea of opening in bed!

Once he is in bed keep checking and do the necessary once you know he is really asleep.

Your ds1 sounds like a very clever/funny child.

Like your both your ideas. There's another thread this morning with a link to an amusing application form for a visit from FC which your boy might enjoy...

Oh - a tip I read on here is to have two stockings - one empty one hung on bed and then you have the "twin" filled and just have to swap over - less chance of being caught!

who knows what could be lurking behind a closed door... I could make them promise to leave the door wide open, so that warm air can circulate.

am pretty sure ds will sleep with one eye open though. I will try and tire him out, but he is an incredibly resilient child.

Buda - yes - that's why you traditionally fill a 'stocking' (sock) or in some countries a shoe - because there is always another identical one for you to have ready filled so you can swop them

he is very funny and clever

My mother used to do the 2 stockings thing. I couldnt do it, because we only have a few stockings (they are adults kneelength socks) and I think there is only 1 complete pair (have 4 children)

Probably threats are the way to go, buda!!

was seriously thinking about buying tow new stockings/pillowcase type things, if I can find two cheap enuff, so can do a swap.

Or do you think I could get away with giving her a new one, filled, thats different to the one she hung out.

Maybe say, he must have thought you needed a new one??

oh i love it - it should be encouraged. Why not join forces with him to set elaborate traps (then you know how they work) and then do hair tearing and anger when he escapes the traps (maybe leaving some red underpants so you can say you nearly got him)

get the fake owl in there somewhere too.

I have 4 stockings, all identical. The DSes put the empty ones on their beds, which I switch with the full ones whne they are sleeping!

Love the OWL idea. it made me LOL!

Much needed relief as my DC are decorating MY tree! I may have to throw a cover over it is anyone calls.