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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Those of you with teenagers who still want a stocking at Christmas

52 replies

offtoseethewizard64 · 17/12/2014 14:00

Do they still hang out an empty stocking for you to sneak in and steal to fill up and replace or do you just put a full stocking in their rooms or under the tree.

When DS was small, he always hung his stocking on his bed and tried to stay awake and catch Santa out Xmas Grin. Even though he has stopped believing long ago, he still wants a stocking on Christmas Day. Our tradition was that they could open stocking presents (all indivdually wrapped to give us longer in bed) and then once brealkfast was eaten and everyone was dressed they could move on to presents under the tree. Have just been wrapping the stocking gifts and wondering whether to put them straight in to the stocking or keep them in a carrier bag and let DS put his stocking out on Christmas eve empty.

OP posts:
MehsMum · 17/12/2014 21:31

Mine all still ceremoniously put their stockings out by the fireplace in the front room on Christmas Eve, with much excitement.

They're allowed to open them at any time after 6.30am, but they have to wake me up first - I love watching them open the contents.

dementedma · 17/12/2014 21:39

Ours are hung from the mantlepiece then put on their needs when dh and I go to bed. As the eldest two are in their 20s now they are still up late so it gets pretty tricky.

Travelledtheworld · 18/12/2014 20:29

Blimey Choccoluvva your kids must have big stockings !
Mine now 14 and 16 still get them with a selection of small fun/ useful things in them.
Left by the fireplace in the living room and I usually sneak down after everyone has gone to bed and fill them.

ChillySundays · 18/12/2014 20:37

Always of the handle of the bedroom door. No way was DD going to let Santa into her room.

DramaAlpaca · 18/12/2014 22:54

Ours are always hung up near the fireplace in the sitting room. We've never done stockings in bedrooms because DS1 was terrified at the thought of Santa coming into his room. They are all late teens/early twenties now and still excited about stockings Smile

minkymuskyslyoldstoaty · 18/12/2014 23:01

have also invested in two identical stockings, and have dd's filled already hidden in my room for swap!

luckily convinced her last year to hang it up outside bedroom door, saying 'he'd' not disturb her that way. The yr before I had waited till 1.30 in the bloody morning, and thought never again. She woke at 6 so i got bugger all sleep!

misog2000 · 18/12/2014 23:07

I still get a stocking I'm 29, married and have a baby of my own. My poor mum thought she was getting out of it but we go to hers every Christmas so she does my DH one too now, wonder if the baby will get one this year Grin

rachyconks · 18/12/2014 23:13

Eeeep I'm in my 30's and my mum still does my stocking! Now she does one for DH too and my two kids (though I buy the stuff for the kids ones!). I love it. It is absolutely my favourite christmas tradition.

yeah · 18/12/2014 23:19

Just had this very conversation with DDs (13 & 15) tonight. I am under orders. They are going to pretend to be asleep and I have to "sneak" in to their bedrooms to put the stockings on their beds Xmas Smile.

They are getting hair products, chocolate coins, toiletries, winter hats.

Two years ago I decided to do a stocking for DH, just filled with daft bits and pieces. Last year he and DDs presented me with my own stocking. Was great. Four stockings in the yeah household this year.

BackforGood · 18/12/2014 23:23

FC has left them outside their rooms the last couple of years since I've needed to go to bed before ds, but I mentioned to him this year, to remember FC only does stockings for children and he prob wont get one now he's 18...... you should have seen the wibble and trying to convince me that was fine Sad

Thing is, I dont want to be doing them into their 20s, when dc3 will be 18, and why should she get fewer as the youngest?

I'm right, aren't I?

bloodyteenagers · 18/12/2014 23:26

Stockings start out downstairs empty. Before anyone wakes up they get filled and moved to rooms.. Tis by magic..

bloodyteenagers · 18/12/2014 23:31

My eldest one is 21. If they didn't get stockings I don't think I would survive the day. Think they would cosh me with the stocking they make for me. Fuck knows when they do it though. Last year I stayed up until gone 5. Still woke up before
Them but I had
A stocking

MarjorieMelon · 18/12/2014 23:35

Aww BackforGood, I would continue he obviously wants one and it will be a lovely surprise now he isn't expecting one.

It won't be long before he has left home and has a partner and won't be spending Christmas morning with you. Make the most of it.

EatShitDerek · 18/12/2014 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArcheryAnnie · 18/12/2014 23:42

I do stockings for me and DS, 13, and they each have to have: a satsuma and an apple in the toe; nuts; underwear; chocolate coins; something to read (book or magazine); something little that's fun. We hang them by the fire and they are magically filled in the morning.

I'm dead impressed by all your kids who were insistent at not having strange men in their rooms at night! (The fireplace was always our traditional spot so it never arose for us.)

BeHoHoHove · 18/12/2014 23:45

You drink too much rum Derek

It's Christmas, drink Advocaat. boak

EatShitDerek · 18/12/2014 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeHoHoHove · 18/12/2014 23:54

Scottish Santa prefers a wee malt
Blush

MarjorieMelon · 18/12/2014 23:54

My children hang their stockings on the fireplace and Santa fills them and leaves them next to their beds. My two have never been bothered about him entering their room.

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 19/12/2014 00:04

we sneak in. but a few years ago ds (then 10) was determined to stay awake, and at past 12pm he was still awake, and pretended to be asleep when I snuck in.
The next year we made him hang it up on his doorhandle. He fell asleep at normal time, so that has become the norm for anyone who is likely to be awake longer than me!
May move them downstairs as he gets older.

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 19/12/2014 00:07

and I do one for dh and he does one for me and we put them on the end of our beds and the vanish (when the other is in the loo) and then at some point reappear at the end of our bed.

We have beautiful sewn stockings from cental asia, so no chance of 2 and swapping them

PerpetualStudent · 19/12/2014 00:15

I had stockings (or rather a sack Blush) until I finished uni. We kept by the 'stockings in bedrooms to be opened any time. Tree presents after breakfast' rule, so it meant my mum got quite good at putting silly little things in my stocking that she knew I would appreciate. My favourite chocolates, nice bath bits & one year (after breaking up with my first bf) a set of stickers for defacing photos of old boyfriends ( think google eyes, pig noses etc!)
some if my fondest Xmas memories :)

bigTillyMint · 19/12/2014 06:31

DD always left her stocking outside her door as she was terrified of Father Christmas coming into her roomGrin DS had his on his bed. They would both come into our bed to open them early in the morning.

Now they are teens, they leave them downstairs and open them when they get up at lunchtimeGrin

IDismyname · 19/12/2014 06:44

DS gets his left outside his room on the landing.

He's getting choc coins, couple of books, new hoody and t shirt and a tiny crate of liqueur chocolates! He usually gets new boxers shorts and or socks, but he's well off for all those.

ILoveGreekCats · 19/12/2014 06:52

My DC are 15 and 18 and I think they'll always get a stocking! The stockings are under the tree and Santa fills them after they've gone to their rooms on Xmas Eve. Just a few silly things but I always had a stocking so it's an important part of Xmas for me. We live abroad and they don't do stockings here, just one main present. I even do one for the cats!!