New Christmas morning routine......what do you do?

[batey]

Hi, I need some ideas as to what to do now on Christmas morning. To cut a very long story short my dear Mum died this summer, and what we normally do isn't necessarily going to work. We would usually have the kids wake with a sack of presents from Santa and us. Then later in the day open presents under the tree from friends and Grandma and Pa. This year my Dad hasn't the heart or the money to do many presents for anyone so I am unsure how to play it.

So what do you do? Any suggestions?

there will still be pressies. So stick to the norm. He will probably prefer that.
Maybe save some of your gifts till later

Your poor Dad, and you too.
I think Auntybrandy is right, stick to the norm as much as possible, and save some of the presents from you for later to put them under the tree.

We do stockings in the morning and a couple of presents and then save some under the tree stuff for after lunch. DH is very good at working out which ones to keep back. You could stick to the same routine but make it presents from you under the tree. Sorry to hear about your mum.

Thanks for those. What kind of things do you put in stockings then? I'm not sure how we're going to get through Christmas really. But at least the dds will keep us going.

Our stockings hang from the mantlepiece and presents are in sacks on the sofas.

First one awake runs in and wakes everyone else and we creep downstairs in case Santa hasn't gone yet - as he doesn't like to be seen. We let the children open the door to the room first to check whether he's been yet.

They then sit and start opening stocking presents while DH and I make tea/drinks and light the fire.

After stockings we make bacon butties and open champagne then the real present opening starts. This is done from the youngest to the oldest in turns and can take most of the morning if we have a lot of family here

Then it is time to clear wrapping paper and rush and put turkey on etc. (We eat at 5pm ish). Canapes and more champagne about 12ish to keep is going until christmas dinner.

Batey - stocking in our house follow a set format

They must contain a CD, a DVD, chocolate coins, a book, felt pens, colouring pencils, note pad, something jokey (this year it is a bouncing eye ball which lights up), tangerine, and a small game (this year pack of cards each).

But whatever you can think of will do I think

I'm so sorry about your mum, the first year after my father died was difficult but by changing the routines (we went away on holiday as a family that year) it was possible to enjoy the day!

batey! I was thinking about you the other day. Sorry to hear about your mum .

We do stockings first, then breakfast, then big presents - some of which we save.

There was a really good thread on stocking fillers a while back. I have two dds too (6 and 3) and they will be having:
Lindt choc santa or reindeer, tangerines and nuts, mini box quality street, little tiny cuddly toy, glitter pens, some really nice unicorn/fairy figures, top trumps card games
3 year old will get a wand and a Shelly doll,
6 year old will get an invisible ink pen and skipping rope

It will be hard but it might help the dds if Christmas is kept 'normal'.

xx Enid

Thanks again,they have given me some food for thought.
Nice to know I'm not forgotten Enid!! I don't seem to get the time to post these days, I seem to spend my life running around in small circles!!Hope all is well with you though.

i know its a slightly different sideline but I wasnt looking forward the first xmas i had after my mum dying.. i kept my dd's rountine the same but rather than getting out the best crockery which you cant put in the dishwasher i used everyday items so there was no stress as to the amoun of washing up to be done and also I bought all prewashed / pre-made etc veg, stuffing etc so it made the day a lot less stressful and in the end we all enjoyed ourselves and I felt quite relaxed.
hope that is helpful. Take care

Thanks Amylou, any tips on how to get through it are more than welcome.

We put stockings on the kids beds, they are filled with lots of little things and a always chocolate orange (was tangerine but neither like them), chocolate coins etc. Only one or 2 more expensive items like a CD. DS has asked for a Haggis!!! this year so I got a furry toy one and will ut in a note that the real one is in the fridge.

The kids drag the stockings into our room and open them with us.

Everyone then gets dressed and must attempt some breakfast before we open presents under the tree. Children act as posties and read the tags and hand out to everyone. We give things like biscuits and sweets to family that will there. They are shared anyway and gives them something for them to open too. The kids usualy get engrosed in something halfway through so we stop for a cuppa and toast.

Saving your presents for downstairs and changing the run of things a little might help a little. As others have said keep things very simple with as little prep as possible.

Perhaps make sure your room is tidy and say to Dad to feel free to go up there if he wants a bit of quite time or to watch the TV if you have one in your room. You might feel like that too so let DH know your taking 5 and take time out.

Not sure how old your kids are but I would perhaps discuss before the day how different members of the family including them might be feeling a bit different this year, but that it is Ok for them to still enjoy the day.

Take care .

Ours is a little odd.. stockings which kids have decided come from Santa in bed with us( about 8 am!) Breakfast downstairs after that and 1 present from under tree. go for a walk. Come back Mrs Claus has left gift bag with special clothes in on fireplace. Drinks,playing and lunch .. and then presssies from under tree.
I always want to make it last as long as possible and being the cook don't want to miss any of the present opening.

we found the first xmas after losing a parent really hard as dh wasn't really in the mood but his mum loved Christmas and we got a lot of consolation from watching the kids and seeing them so excited.

When my darling Grandfather died, we decided to do Christmas differently as it just couldnt be the same. It was absolutely miserable and only reminded us more that he wasnt there. I would therefore suggest that you keep things as normal as possible. My thoughts are with you and your Dad, wishing you the best Christmas you can have given the circumstances.

I'm sorry about your mother. My mother passed away this year too, and Christmas is turning out to be harder than I expected. It was her favourite time of year, and that is reflected in all our decorations and Christmas stuff she gave my kids.

Anyway, on Christmas morning they open their stockings and Santa presents. Then in the late afternoon, they open family presents, ie. from each other and from us. We used to have them open everything in the morning but they were completely overwhelmed.

Thanks again for these, and sorry I've not responded sooner. Feeling exhausted at the moment as have just seen my Cruse counselor,but feel "better" for the moment. I really appreciate your comments and think keeping it simple is the way to go. I think we'll maybe have a little less in the morning to make the under the tree ones last longer too. Thanks again.
P.S. Hope things are going well for you Bron.