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Original poster

When do you stop doing stockings ?

165 replies

KangarooKenny · 17/09/2022 09:42

Mine are older teens/20’s now and I’ve always done stockings. One has moved out now, and we may not even see them Xmas day.
DH says I should still do a stocking for that child, I think not. I’d rather not spend money on it, and not have to run round looking for stuff to go in it.
‘When did you stop doing them ?

OP posts:
DuchessOfDisco · 09/10/2022 13:27

Mine parents stopped when I was 18. My dd is 18 now but I’ll keep doing hers for now, as my youngest is only 6 and it would be a bit weird if everyone in the house got one except her. I imagine I’ll keep doing them for whoever sleeps at this house on Christmas Eve until he’s an adult and then stop. I can’t imagine doing them forever - I’ve already said I look forward to the day I just have to present everyone with a selection box and a cheque for £100 😆

FinallyMrsE · 09/10/2022 13:31

I stopped doing them for my DS’s when their request list got expensive and I used the pants/socks/smellies/sweets to make their present pile look bigger instead of in a stocking!

They both have their own homes now but like to spend Christmas Eve sleeping here as they like the tradition and want to see their younger sisters 7&9 open their presents and share the magic, but they aren’t bothered about a stocking anymore.

LayTheTableMabel · 10/10/2022 06:42

This year me & DSis will do one for me(37) DH(50) DSS's(15&14), DS's(2&4), DSis(40) & DB(36), my dog, DSis dog &, DSis cat. Our mum passed away this year but we won't miss the funny little bits from her as we found a box FULL of stocking bits so we will be adding socks etc from my mum wrapped in tissue paper so we know what is from her. Everyone gets a stocking in our family.

Weatherwax13 · 10/10/2022 06:58

I said I'll stop at 18. I said I'll stop when you leave home. I said this is ridiculous, I'll stop when you have your own children.
I'm still doing them.
Delivered to their doorsteps on Christmas Eve if they're not here.
Apparently they're the absolute best part of Christmas and they'd rather do without a present 🤷‍♀️
It's my own fault as I'm bloody excellent at them if I do say so myself.
DH has one too and also says it's his favourite part of the day.
Stocking-filling may be my one true talent 😄

Ladymama12 · 10/10/2022 14:03

@LayTheTableMabel that's so lovely you have the gifts from your mum for thos xmas. Sorry about ur mums passing.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/10/2022 14:24

I did one for DD up to 2020 when because of covid she didn't get home for Xmas at all. Then last year she was home but I'd not been mooching in shops so hadn't had the opportunity to pick up bits and bobs, also she was travelling by train so wouldn't have wanted to carry much.

AlternativelyWired · 10/10/2022 21:52

Hopefully never. My mum often stays with us at Christmas and she gets one. She's 83.

degsydoodoos · 11/10/2022 13:44

I still do stockings for my 3 (22, 18 and 15)
My mum still did stockings for us all until she became too unwell - up till she was in her early 80s! At that point her eldest child was 53, and she did them for kids x3, partners x3 and grandchildren x10!!
I don't want to fall into that trap, but I'm not sure at what point to stop it - I'd feel mean saying the 22 year old couldn't have one but the others could, but then again if I stopped them all at once then the younger one/s would have missed out on them for years that the older one had had them! (Does that make sense?!)

Letthesunshineonin · 11/10/2022 22:43

My 2 kids still get stockings and they’re in their 20s. Son had a right wobbler when I suggested stopping them. You would think I’d asked him to kill Santa he was so horrified.

AlternativelyWired · 11/10/2022 23:34

Dd has tonight assured me she will never be too old to have a stocking. She knows I still believe in Father Christmas too.

LillianGish · 12/10/2022 19:12

Weatherwax13 · 10/10/2022 06:58

I said I'll stop at 18. I said I'll stop when you leave home. I said this is ridiculous, I'll stop when you have your own children.
I'm still doing them.
Delivered to their doorsteps on Christmas Eve if they're not here.
Apparently they're the absolute best part of Christmas and they'd rather do without a present 🤷‍♀️
It's my own fault as I'm bloody excellent at them if I do say so myself.
DH has one too and also says it's his favourite part of the day.
Stocking-filling may be my one true talent 😄

I love this post. I love stockings, we always do them, but this year you've inspired me to make more effort - I want stocking filling to be my one true talent. Do you have any tips?

Claysta · 12/10/2022 19:17

My parents stopped when I had my DS and it was his first Christmas, I was 38…. I took a few days to get over the shock as I used to love all the bits and bobs ! Still miss it …

Ladymama12 · 13/10/2022 10:04

Letthesunshineonin · 11/10/2022 22:43

My 2 kids still get stockings and they’re in their 20s. Son had a right wobbler when I suggested stopping them. You would think I’d asked him to kill Santa he was so horrified.

😂😂😂

HappySonHappyMum · 13/10/2022 10:11

Weatherwax13 · 10/10/2022 06:58

I said I'll stop at 18. I said I'll stop when you leave home. I said this is ridiculous, I'll stop when you have your own children.
I'm still doing them.
Delivered to their doorsteps on Christmas Eve if they're not here.
Apparently they're the absolute best part of Christmas and they'd rather do without a present 🤷‍♀️
It's my own fault as I'm bloody excellent at them if I do say so myself.
DH has one too and also says it's his favourite part of the day.
Stocking-filling may be my one true talent 😄

So what's the perfect formula for a perfect stocking? Would love it if you could share your brilliance!

whenwillthemadnessend · 13/10/2022 10:17

I'd say once not living at home unless they stay over at Xmas.

Mine parents stopped once I left gone and never had one since.

Dh does a small one for me

My kids are 15/17 and I'd still do them.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/10/2022 10:56

If they’re sleeping here on Christmas Eve, never.

TheClitterati · 15/10/2022 06:14

Don't know. But this year my kids - age 12 & 15 - are doing a stocking for me 😀

BaconAndAvocado · 15/10/2022 08:58

When DS1 moved out aged 22, I stopped doing a stocking for him.
DS215 and DD14 still get them.
Strangely, DD said last night that she didn’t want one! I think it’s her way of saying she’d rather the money I spent on it went towards her big presents, usually quite pricey clothes.

1stTimeMama · 15/10/2022 23:54

I'm 40 this year and my Mum still does me a stocking. I'm married with 5 children of my own, but I do one for everyone else, so she makes one up for me. My husband didnt have this when he was young, so he never thought to do it for me.
It's a lovely part of the day when we all sit on my husband and my bed and open them togther.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 16/10/2022 00:06

Weatherwax13 · 10/10/2022 06:58

I said I'll stop at 18. I said I'll stop when you leave home. I said this is ridiculous, I'll stop when you have your own children.
I'm still doing them.
Delivered to their doorsteps on Christmas Eve if they're not here.
Apparently they're the absolute best part of Christmas and they'd rather do without a present 🤷‍♀️
It's my own fault as I'm bloody excellent at them if I do say so myself.
DH has one too and also says it's his favourite part of the day.
Stocking-filling may be my one true talent 😄

Right, if you are going make a claim like that, we need to know what you put in there! I’m struggling for inspiration this year (and most years) and usually go heavy on chocolate or other little snacks that worked for my parents but not my DH.

Help, please!

Violinist64 · 19/12/2022 19:30

At around eighteen. I loved doing the stockings when they were children but have no regrets as they are grown up.

HelenHywater · 19/12/2022 19:35

I think I'll do it for as long as anyone has Christmas in the house. Maybe once they are in their own homes, the baton can pass to them (and whoever has Christmas with them in their home).

I have student dcs now and they all have stockings - and don't want to give them up!

DuchessOfDisco · 19/12/2022 22:50

I was thinking about this earlier, I may continue stockings indefinitely, but as the dc grow up and move away (eldest is currently in uni so we’re not far from this stage) I may just put their actual gifts from us inside the stocking, and bulk out with some little fun things. Sort of treat them like a glorified gift bag under the tree as opposed to on the end of the bed

GAH3 · 19/12/2022 22:52

MIL (86) still does them for the whole family. Her eldest child is 48.

inappropriateraspberry · 19/12/2022 23:17

We don't! I do DH and he does mine. I even do small ones for my parents and drop them off on Xmas eve.
My parents never stopped doing ours, always back for Xmas or they gave it to me to take to my house when I moved out properly!
My older sisters used to do my parent's stockings but I was too young, so I make up for it by doing them now!