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Original poster

Stockings for teens who go to bed later than you

54 replies

SearchingforAnswers · 26/12/2023 08:33

How do people do stockings when your children go to bed later than you?
This year, I was exhausted waiting for them to go to bed.

OP posts:
inappropriateraspberry · 26/12/2023 09:18

We got given a full stocking to take to bed 😆 Do you really need to sneak around at that age, surely it's just the fun of having silly stocking fillers rather than 'the magic of Santa?'

Shodan · 26/12/2023 09:18

Usually I just shout that Father Christmas is tired and going to bed and they avoid the stocking-hanging area for a bit 😂

I thought I'd be off the hook for stockings this year because ds1 was staying at his girlfriend's on Xmas Eve and ds2 was at his father's, but there was outrage at the suggestion. So Father Christmas did the stockings on Christmas morning at his her leisure.

Original poster
SearchingforAnswers · 26/12/2023 09:38

Thank you everyone.
Think I'll send them off to watch a film together in their room next year when Father Christmas is ready to come.

Had discussed not doing stockings next year with them ... and they were gutted, so I guess the tradition needs to continue!

OP posts:
Aparecium · 26/12/2023 09:45

I fill them with as much secret as before, but just leave them outside the bedroom doors - including stockings that I fill for dh and me. Clearly Father Christmas does exist, because, come morning, more things have appeared in each stocking.

Aparecium · 26/12/2023 09:47

Things that I did not buy!

NotARealWookiie · 26/12/2023 09:48

SearchingforAnswers · 26/12/2023 09:38

Thank you everyone.
Think I'll send them off to watch a film together in their room next year when Father Christmas is ready to come.

Had discussed not doing stockings next year with them ... and they were gutted, so I guess the tradition needs to continue!

Oh you need to do stockings forever! Basically until they aren’t waking up in the same house as you at Christmas!

But I just fill them in my bedroom when I go to bed and keep them there overnight. I wake up before teens though and just pop them by the fireplace.

supadupapupascupa · 26/12/2023 09:50

Easy! Confine to rooms, sort out stockings, allow back downstairs for supervised last minute snacks. Back upstairs and DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ROOMS

They're teens! What exactly are you worrying about? They know about Santa!

Notsurehwhattdo · 26/12/2023 09:50

Always had the stocking hung on our bedroom door as Children and have carried that on with my own. Opening the door to check and seeing it there was always so exciting too.

OwlWeiwei · 26/12/2023 09:51

Hang stockings in living room. Fill them in the morning when they are lying in, while you have a quiet coffee in peace.

Teenagersscarethelivinshitoutofme · 26/12/2023 09:51

I just put it out in the morning before the teenager gets up.

Toseland · 26/12/2023 09:55

I had this problem this year. I went to bed and my teen was still awake, so I just slept and filled the stocking and sack at 7am!
I'm considering doing stockings for all close family next year as they are so much fun.

soundsys · 26/12/2023 09:57

Outside the bedroom door! Or make a joke of it and distract them when you go in to say goodnight when you go to bed and pop it in then.

Assuming they are aware it's really you anyway!

supadupapupascupa · 26/12/2023 09:57

We have piles of presents from Santa, and the stocking that hangs is for all your sweets.
Not going on the bed anymore. It's all in the living room.

twistyizzy · 26/12/2023 09:59

Easy, do it early morning. 6am up to walk dog so popped stocking in her bedroom. No way would she ever be awake at 6am!

SoupDragon · 26/12/2023 10:01

I used to shake sleigh bells and put them out before I went to bed whilst stage whispering "I can hear Santa!"

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2023 10:11

I used to do stockings when they were little , to keep them entertained at 5am when they thought it was fine to be awake .
Then when they got older , the presents were smalller and ££ , they went in the stocking and the bigger presents in a pile . They didn't like the lights on the stockings (beautiful tapestry with a battery light pack)

They have Dec 1st Boxes now and Christmas presents . No stocking or Christmas Eve Box
And yes , they sleep later than DH and me Xmas Grin

dancingsands · 26/12/2023 10:14

WarningOfGails · 26/12/2023 09:00

They know FC isn’t real so I go into their rooms at my bedtime with their stocking (saying ho ho ho obviously).

This!

megletthesecond · 26/12/2023 10:18

I do them in the morning as I wake up around 7am. They aren't up at that point.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 26/12/2023 10:24

@RedHelenB I still do stockings for all 10 members of my family and the eldest is 37! 😊

kittensinthekitchen · 26/12/2023 10:36

I am assuming they know 'Santa' isn't the person they grew up believing in?

What is the concern with them being in bed later than you? What did you do previously?

Here, Santa leaves stockings filled on the end of my bed, as he "doesn't want to risk waking them up", then they climb into my bed when they wake and open them there, before we go downstairs for presents.

Mine are 18 and 15, both have additional needs but know and understand the truth, but want to continue the "Santa magic" with a wink.

WaitingForMojo · 26/12/2023 10:43

Stockings outside the bedroom door rather than on their beds now they’re older. Can put them there in the morning before they get up!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 26/12/2023 10:50

I just put the stockings up and the sack of presents into the bedroom when I go to bed. They know there's no Santa. No need to stay awake late.

MermaidEyes · 26/12/2023 10:55

When I go to bed I stick my head round the door, hand them their stockings, say 'try not to open it until tomorrow' then 5 minutes later I hear the rustling of wrapping paper and figure they're no doubt messaging each other saying 'what did you get?!'

Sk8erboi · 26/12/2023 10:56

I'm definitely the minority but I don't put Stockings on the beds.
I did for a couple of years but I found it less stressful to hang and fill the Stockings downstairs And have them out next to the Santa present.
Mine are 9 & 13 and it's been this way for about 9 years.

SirChenjins · 26/12/2023 10:58

We’re up earlier than them so we open their door, put in the stocking and tell them ‘Santa’s here’ if they stir. They know Santa isn’t real by this age, you don’t have to stay up later than them!