What age do they stop believing in Father Christmas?

In honesty, I’m sure my youngest two at 11 didn’t believe last year, and questions were raised way before that. I think they were hedging their bets. It’s also years since we visited Father Christmas at a grotto. However, last Christmas I kept up the pretence (my eldest had long known the truth and was a helpful accomplice). There were lists for Santa and a tray of goodies were left out on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Day most of the presents were from Father Christmas! This year, it’s the official goodbye even though we haven’t specifically discussed it.

I’m glad they’ve come to their own conclusions. It would have been awkward if they still believed in Father Christmas now that they’re at secondary school. However, it is yet another reminder that they’re growing up fast .

Does it ruin the magic?

It’s sad that we’ll no longer be watching Father Christmas’ progress on Santa Tracker. We won’t be leaving out carrots for Rudolph and I’ll never again utter the immortal words: “has he been?”. However, there’s still plenty to be excited about. I can see that the kids love and appreciate what the festive season means and offers. They’ve even said that presents are only part of it. They enjoy being with family and extended family, having time together, playing games and sharing special food.

The run up to Christmas minus Father Christmas

The start of advent is a very exciting time for all of us. I don’t let anyone play Christmas music in the house before December 1st. That means everyone’s ecstatic when they can finally unleash the festive tunes. Then of course there’s the advent calendars (old favourites and new)! Starting every day with chocolate; what’s not to enjoy about that!? We also love our annual advent candle.

Whilst we do have an Elf on the Shelf, I’ve never subscribed to the whole narrative. Neither have I spent hours I don’t have agonising over 24 creative ideas for him. Cheerfully, my twins enjoy setting up elf for the rest of us to enjoy. We’ve never done the whole North Pole breakfast thing on the first of December. However, I do dress the table festively and make special hot chocolates. This year I’ve even bought them personalised mugs.

The Christmas books come out with the advent calendars. We’ll still be reading Santa is coming to Surrey and Santa is coming to London alongside other favourites including Mog’s Christmas, which is one of my eldest’s favourites despite being a mature 14!

We might not be visiting Santa in his grotto. However, we always do something special. We’ve been to National Trust Christmas events, seen a production of The Nutcracker and done tours of the London lights. This year, we’re going to Christmas at Kew, which will be wonderful.

The kids want to make a gingerbread house, and we generally do a lot more baking in December. I’m going to attempt ricciarelli for the first time.

I no longer have to provide explanations/answer awkward questions. For the first time, I won’t have to do different wrapping and labelling for Santa presents and our presents. What a relief! My husband won’t have to avoid Santa traps at 2am, and can now have his whisky earlier! I’m happy that us hardworking parents now get all the credit! On that note, I’ve noticed that the girls are being more conservative with their lists. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty on there but there isn’t quite the wild abandon of previous years. Plus they all now get a lot of joy from giving presents too!

Embracing the Christmas spirit

The children are looking forward to plenty of family time, and passing on the magic of Father Christmas to their young cousin; and that’s what it’s all about.

It’s a wonderful time even without the big man in red.

PS love some of the ideas here: How to tell your children Santa isn’t real

The post When Children Stop Believing in Father Christmas appeared first on The Parent Social.

My husband is big on the stockings – so to speak – and was pretty adamant: stockings from Mr. Claus and the rest from us and the family under the tree, but surely it must be my way round otherwise what was the point of sending FC a Christmas list?

I asked advice on Facebook and got A LOT of replies. There were so many variations. There were quite a few in my husband’s camp, with some even doing the proper tradition of including nuts and a tangerine in the stocking. Some confirmed my thinking of stocking from parents and everything else from Santa, but there were a lot of shades in between. Many mums and dads had differing customs from their childhoods, making it more confusing. Also it seemed like there’d be quite a bit of resentment if Santa took all the glory!

So just who are all these from?

Here are just a few responses:

• Big present from the big man; they asked for it, he brings it!
• Stockings from Santa and big gifts from family
• Stockings (sacks!) from us and the big FC – we say we help him out and he delivers as was getting questions like “why is this from Sainsburys if Santa makes it” etc. He also delivers from the rest of the family too which is under tree
• In our house it’s stockings and one present, usually the main one, from FC then the rest from us
• Stockings and one present off ‘The List’ from Father Christmas. The rest are from us, family & friends
• We do stocking from us, main present under the tree from the big man. I thought I had it right!
• Stocking from Father Xmas – big prezzies from people – Xmas list is where Father Xmas explains to the parents what the children want!
• He brings stockings and then bigger presents from the list under the tree in our house. It’s what my parents always did so I carried it on!
• We do stockings from FC and he leaves some things under the tree for them too – but most of the under tree stuff is from us/friends/family
• I had the same dilemma last year as I realised I needed to find a story & stick to it! I remembered all presents from Father Christmas from my childhood; husband had the big stuff from parents and was quite indignant that the big man was going to get credit from his hard work!!
• In my house it all comes from Santa but he invoices Mum and Dad to get paid for it. How else will he pay the elves and feed the reindeer?
• FC brings us each a stocking… Mums and dads have worked too hard all year not to get the glory for the main pressie!!!
• I don’t know why Santa should get the credit for all the mummies’ and daddies’ hard work. Santa gives one present and we give the rest!!
• We do stockings, books & a game from FC and one present from the list. However big pressies come from Mum & Dad

Everyone does it differently, but I think we’re all agreed that the main thing is we have an enjoyable time with our nearest and dearest (if we’re that lucky). Let’s just hope the children don’t compare notes!

Just for the record, I’m doing stockings and two list presents from the big man and the rest from us I suppose the next big question is: what is Father Christmas’ favourite tipple this year?

Merry Christmas all. Hope you have a good one whatever way you celebrate it!

The post How do you do Father Christmas? appeared first on The Parent Social.