I love Christmas and as a family we always have a fantastic time but over the last 5 years or so things have changed. My girls are not kids anymore. They're my kids but are not kids. Becky is 19 and Ellie is 14 years old and some of the magic has gone but we are learning to do things differently over Christmas so it is special.
My girls haven't believed in Santa for years. I wrote about it way back in 2013 how Becky didn't believe anymore and soon after Ellie realised the truth. Becky didn't let slip, we kept the belief going for as long as we could and it was nice while it lasted but now it certainly makes Christmas easier. They used to love elf on the shelf and I was quite glad when they didn't believe but now I miss letting the elf get up to a little mischief.
There is no asking for Santa to bring ridiculous presents now that the girls know where the presents come from. They sometimes do ask for some overpriced tat but they know our limits. The girls ask for what they want and there is no having to sneak a look at letters written to Santa. I don't have to keep all the boxes and packages out of sight. I do still hide all of the presents but now if they see a big box being delivered they know not to ask questions. I have found it harder to buy my girls presents the older they have got. Now that they don't play with toys it does get a little tougher especially since they have all the electronics that they need. Thank goodness for Ellie being into Anime and Becky into Friends. hehehe
Christmas Eve is a lot easier now. There is no rushing the girls bed so that Stu and I can sort out the presents. I really love not having to sneak around. There are still plenty of surprises and presents that the girls don't know about so the excitement for them is still there and the bonus is now that Becky is working she has bought us all Christmas presents too and she's said they are good one's. I am very excited.
One of the things which hasn't changed about Christmas is all of the Christmas films that we are watching. You're never too old for Home Alone, Elf and The Polar Express and now Becky is old enough to appreciate Love Actually which was a real treat watching that with her.
The girls are at an age now where it is not cool to do things with your parents. When we went and saw the Christmas lights being switched on in town Becky stayed home as she was on a night shift that night and Ellie walked down with us and let us buy her a burger and hot chocolate and then went off with her friends. We were there a little too early so Stu and I nipped to the pub for a quick drink, a wee and to warm up a little. It was nice to have half an hour of freedom.
We will still be doing some baking this week. The girls have both said that they don't want to miss out on that. I think they prefer the eating rather than the baking but it's tradition we have kept up with. A couple of months ago I asked the girls if they wanted a gingerbread house to decorate and they said no so I bought myself one and thought stuff them but they are now regretting their decisions now. Of course they want to decorate one now but I am prepared and bought them one each to do. hehehe As much as they want to grow up they are still hanging on to those things they loved from years ago.
When it's come to doing the food shopping for Christmas I thought Becky would have asked for some fruity cider or would even want to drink wine with dinner but she has said no. She wants the Glitterberry J20 like she has had every year for years. She said Christmas wouldn't be the same without it and both of the girls have demanded chocolate coins for their stockings.
As I am writing this on Monday the girls are out. Ellie is at her friends house and Becky has gone to the cinema. This time a few years ago we would have been filling our time with Christmas crafts but I am not missing it, the mess part of it anyway. There is no glitter everywhere and no spilt glue or paint. I am sat watching a Christmas film and I am enjoying the quiet. It's nice.
Some of the magic might have gone from Christmas but it's still fun, admittedly the build up isn't quite as exciting but it is a nice time and I am sure there will be lots of excitement on Christmas morning.
Sounds a lot like our Christmas with teens! It is definitely very different but I do enjoy it. I don't miss the sneaking around at all or waking up in a cold sweat because I forgot to move the elf.
ReplyDeleteI can so relate, even though I still have an 11 year old, he has been forced to grow up too quickly :( I don't miss the hiding stuff and sneaking around. I don't really miss the craft sessions, but I do miss school plays and nativities. The presents are more expensive but fewer of them. I'll be making a gingerbread house by myself too, if I get around to it. I feel it like it's new, because even though I had older kids, I had the younger ones by the time the older ones had 'grown out' of Christmas. 33 years of kiddie Christmas and it feels like a long time!
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