smorebore Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Well, with one in high school and now one in 5th grade, for the first time, our house will not have the "magic" of Christmas......(I don't want to use THE word).....just in case some eyes are around. Very depressing since my husband and I LOVED that part of the holidays!
mgmckny Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Mine are 14 and 17 and I'm sad since I know that they know the secret, although they would never admit it. My household is a "If you don't believe you don't receive household." But their favorite part now is the stockings since I don't have the money to go overboard.... Having a hard time finding affordable gag stuff that I haven't already done before...
Bopeep Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I understand where you're coming from, because I worried about that too when my youngest got to that stage. But I just kept on doing things the way we always had and guess what - The magic is still there :). Also, you could find whole new blessings this year. Pick a card off an angel tree somewhere, and get your kiddos involved in making the magic happen. I know it is bittersweet letting them grow up though. Hugs to you Mama.
AndreaInNC Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 DD20 finally admitted to me a few months ago. We have the rule that the gifts stop at that point. Makes me sad bjut we are headed to orlando christmas day!
stacyk9 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Even all through college when I would come home on Christmas break, my mom would wait until my brother and I were asleep before she would put the presents under the tree. I loved it! Kept the magic of Christmas alive.
Turtle Mommy Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Even all through college when I would come home on Christmas break, my mom would wait until my brother and I were asleep before she would put the presents under the tree. I loved it! Kept the magic of Christmas alive.My Mom did the same thing. I also do it too..my boys are 10 and 17 and they love it too! :)
AndreaInNC Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I still do that too. It does make it more fun to see their faces when they see the stockings and gifts.
Princess7915 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I'm 32 and I still get 'those' presents from my mom at her house! She always had a rule of "If you don't believe you don't receive" So she gave special presents with a certain gift tag and nobody said a word :) But after a certain age and understanding the good and expensive stuff starting coming from Mom and Dad.
Suzy Crampton Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 The magic is there if you want it to be! Christmas is a time to see and feel your blessings, that is part of the "magic".
ohitsunshine Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 We are also at that point- but we still carry on with old traditions and mix some new in. We don't rush them to bed so he can come- we stay up late together watching a special movie. They all get new pjs and a new movie that night. We still wait for them to go to bed to put everything out too. It is what you make it!
starbeck96 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 My boys are 13 and have known since they were 8 (almost 9). They started asking questions and my husband and I had always agreed that we would never lie if they asked... Anyway, the magic is still here. I put a few of their presents out, but their main gifts don't go under the tree until after they are in the bed. We also have a 5 year old sowe still get to have fun with her also. The cool thing is that the boys get to help put her stuff together! They love it! It has kind of made a new "magical Christmas" for us. To make it a little more special for the boys, we started a new tradition last year. After my daughter goes to bed Christmas Eve, my husband, me, and the boys stay up and watch a movie. I think last year we watched "A Christmas Story". It is all about memories.
abentley Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 We are faced with "less magic" at our home as well. My youngest is 13 and we will not be lucky enough to have our grand daughter until later Christmas day. I have suggested trips, going to Disneyland, ANYTHING to try to keep us busy!LOL! I am hoping for snow and a good movie that we all can enjoy watching!
conj Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 my 13yo was talking to me about what presents Santa might be able to buy for her vs. her grandparents.... she knows... and now she is trying to get the biggest bang for her buck - talk about no magic!
dealluvr Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I still do that too. It does make it more fun to see their faces when they see the stockings and gifts.ditto
fluffkin79 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I've been debating whether or not to have the discussion with DD8 this year. She not really feeling the magic and has mentioned it in passing a couple time throughout the year. I haven't decided if I should talk to her about it directly in an attempt to keep the magic alive for the younger ones, or just let it go and see what happens. My sister attempted to squash the magic out of my holidays at a very young age. I never let my parents in on it. I was dissappointed the year I turned 18 and the magic was completely gone. It was never the kind of magic that would leave you squealing in delight in our house - just a bit of pixie dust to put a smile on your face - but I still missed it.
Illinoismom Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Mine are 24,21,14,12 we have the magic, They are traditions that we will never let go of. I still leave Santa his cookies, the reindeer their food, and Santa leaves their presents. They know but tradition in our house is very important, and Christmas will always stay the same.
tokanm Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Mine are 24,21,14,12 we have the magic, They are traditions that we will never let go of. I still leave Santa his cookies, the reindeer their food, and Santa leaves their presents. They know but tradition in our house is very important, and Christmas will always stay the same.I do the same thing...including reading the night before Christmas every 12/24 eve. My saying is "if you don't believe don't bother to hanging up a stocking. Mine are 24 and 22 lol. I will be skyping the holidays with them this year most likely They grew up so quick
starbeck96 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Mine are 24,21,14,12 we have the magic, They are traditions that we will never let go of. I still leave Santa his cookies, the reindeer their food, and Santa leaves their presents. They know but tradition in our house is very important, and Christmas will always stay the same.My oldest are 13 and my daughter is 5. even before my daughter really understood we still did Christmas stockings and leaving cookies for Santa. The boys knew already, but I am like you. I want to keep the tradition alive. It is traditions that the kids will remember anyway. One of our traditions is to let them open one gift Christmas Eve. It is usually a game or DVD for the boys (since they don't wear PJ's) and my daughter got PJs and house shoes. They were wrapped together for that reason..lol.
starbeck96 Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I've been debating whether or not to have the discussion with DD8 this year. She not really feeling the magic and has mentioned it in passing a couple time throughout the year. I haven't decided if I should talk to her about it directly in an attempt to keep the magic alive for the younger ones, or just let it go and see what happens. My sister attempted to squash the magic out of my holidays at a very young age. I never let my parents in on it. I was dissappointed the year I turned 18 and the magic was completely gone. It was never the kind of magic that would leave you squealing in delight in our house - just a bit of pixie dust to put a smile on your face - but I still missed it.This is why we had a talk with the boys when we did. when they started asking questions we decided to go ahead and tell them. We also told them not to spoil it for their little sister. She was only two months her first Christmas, so it really didn't matter that Christmas. They have done really good keeping it alive for my daughter, who is 5. When I start talking about Santa and Reindeer and things like that, they get involved too. One of them even helped us make the cookies and set it out for Santa..lol. I wanted them to understand how important it was not to ruin it for their sister. They had 7 years of great Santa fun and I want the same for her...lol.
santaclaus Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Ours is 41 and we still do the stockings. He would have a calf if we didn't. As long as the spirit of giving is alive, you know who will live also.
Cinnamonhuskies Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 My 19 y o just moved out this year, and I have a 16 y o left at home. I was looking at all the cool toys and realized it just isnt as much fun anymore. Pretty soon it'll be just dh and i.
mgmckny Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 This is why we had a talk with the boys when we did. when they started asking questions we decided to go ahead and tell them. We also told them not to spoil it for their little sister. She was only two months her first Christmas, so it really didn't matter that Christmas. They have done really good keeping it alive for my daughter, who is 5. When I start talking about Santa and Reindeer and things like that, they get involved too. One of them even helped us make the cookies and set it out for Santa..lol. I wanted them to understand how important it was not to ruin it for their sister. They had 7 years of great Santa fun and I want the same for her...lol.I have brothers that are younger than me and I think that it helps to maintain the excitement. Of course I remember my oldest brother and I cussing over several Christmas eves trying to assemble toys and bikes.... Mom and Dad were smart...
BDF Posted October 20, 2011 Posted October 20, 2011 My DD is 17, will be 18 in Dec. Even though she knows, she's still in bed before 10 on Christmas Eve, and still wakes up early on Christmas morning to open her gifts. She gives me her list, but just because it's on the list doesnt mean she's getting it. So it's exciting to see her face on Christmas. The one thing that made me mad about her finding out........was the kids at school! Just because your kids don't believe don't spoil it for other kids that do. My DD believed until 6th grade.
starbeck96 Posted October 20, 2011 Posted October 20, 2011 My DD is 17, will be 18 in Dec. Even though she knows, she's still in bed before 10 on Christmas Eve, and still wakes up early on Christmas morning to open her gifts. She gives me her list, but just because it's on the list doesnt mean she's getting it. So it's exciting to see her face on Christmas. The one thing that made me mad about her finding out........was the kids at school! Just because your kids don't believe don't spoil it for other kids that do. My DD believed until 6th grade.I agree. That was something else that we told the boys. We made sure to tell them not to tell anyone..
hillbillyswife Posted October 20, 2011 Posted October 20, 2011 Our house is If you don't believe you don't receive....lol
smorebore Posted October 20, 2011 Author Posted October 20, 2011 So glad I am not alone! We do have traditions that we do every year, including going to buy cheese. Weird, I know but still a tradition. But no matter what, it still won't be the same. Plus, I used to love being able to start using the "magic" as a ploy for behavior! That is gone, too! LOL
Illinoismom Posted October 20, 2011 Posted October 20, 2011 So glad I am not alone! We do have traditions that we do every year, including going to buy cheese. Weird, I know but still a tradition. But no matter what, it still won't be the same. Plus, I used to love being able to start using the "magic" as a ploy for behavior! That is gone, too! LOLI still use the ploy, they lose gifts and Santa's bag gets light if they are not good
momof3luvs1 Posted October 20, 2011 Posted October 20, 2011 My favorite part of the holidays is the magic in my dd9's eyes when she wakes up Christmas morning. She always writes Santa a big thank you letter in advance, makes him a little gift, and leaves him cookies and chocolate milk. It is the sweetest thing ever, and that magic will have to always be there or I will be heartbroken!
leefamily23 Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 I think the magic can remain, it's just a different type of magic. My son is now 18 (almost 19) and we still have a lot of excitement over Christmas in our household. One positive is we are no longer up at the crack of dawn, I say we all gather closer to 9-10am to open gifts. Christmas morning is no longer over by 7am. Also meaning dh and I are not exhausted all day Christmas.
KrisinTn Posted October 26, 2011 Posted October 26, 2011 A funny story... I always told ds who is now 18 that when he stopped believing he would only be getting socks and underwear for Christmas, (a family joke). 2 years ago he saw a pair of boxers that he really liked at AE- they had penguins on them. He told me he wanted them for Christmas, and quickly followed the request up with... "but OF COURSE,that doesn't mean that I don't BELIEVE in santa!!!":D
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