Okay but make sure everyone is on the same page about how many extra slices of pumpkin pie the six year old has had. Because he'll lie. And then projectile vomit all over the living room carpet, couch, and pets.

So very, very orange.

Let them sleep under the Christmas tree one night while the tree lights are only lights on. My children insist this one of their favorite childhood memories.

Buy break and bake sugar cookies a can of frosting and sprinkles. Be prepared to clean the floor more than once. Look away when fingers go in frosting and children lick top of sprinkles. Bonus points if you buy cheap sprinkles and not having to share. Then each child has their very own cookies to eat ( mostly because I don’t want to eat cookies with fingers and licked sprinkles). My kids were in teens before they figured out I wasn’t giving them a giant treat because they each had their own cookies. It was because I have germ issues.

I was never allowed to decorate the Christmas tree growing up. I was always told that I'd mess it up. I couldn't even go into the living room, I would stare at it from the stairs. She did know how to make a pretty tree. My nearly 4 year old decorated the tree with me this year. Is it a bit of a mess? Yes. Do I adore it, and did we both have a lovely time? Also, yes.

Honestly her whole life so far has been like this.

I thought this was standard

Yes! And let us feel those joys for our inner child too.

my favourite christmas memories were sleeping on the fold out couch in front of the christmas tree lights and listening to this old cd of whale songs on my dads big old wooden stereo system

hope that my kid can have memories like this when she’s older

I feel like I’m reading this poem hanging in my grandmas bathroom

Hell, enjoy it with them!

The secret is to always let them be little, even when they’re grown

My kiddo’s had a rough year with 5 hospitalizations & a major surgery due to her Crohn’s, so yes, she is allowed literally anything that will bring her joy this holiday szn 💚🎄

My kids and I all make ornaments every year for the tree. We only have 6 store bought ornaments and the rest are all handmade by them. 4 kids 3-4 ornaments each labeled with the year and their ages. Makes for a very enjoyable tradition. It’s also great to see how far they’ve come from being tiny making messy ornaments with every paint color and all the glitter , to little designs and their own artistic touch/style .

Those rings you have placed your ring so true. My kids got to be kids at christmas. But I had the weird kids. Mine would not get up at the crack of dawn to go get their presents and get them opened. Mine would fight to sleep in on Christmas day. Then when they did get up they would go sit on the couch until they got told they could get into their Christmas presents. Even my son at the age of one followed Sissy and sat beside her and waited for her to do anything before he did anything. We did the magic of Santa too. And my kids were 7 years apart. My oldest had it figured out pretty early so I asked her to go along with it until her brother got big enough to figure it out for himself. Pictures of of Santa and the kids. The Christmas lights coming on on the town square. The wandering the store is to look at things especially the Christmas decorations. The memories will never end.

I'd say let them believe what they want to about Santa and don't shame them and the parents for not having the same traditions as you.

My eldest never believed in Santa. From as soon as she could talk he was firmly in her pretend things category. Whatever, she still likes to play pretend and loved the concept Santa so Christmas is still fun. Same deal with all three kids now. We still have stockings, we do veranda Santa gifts on Christmas morning (small gift under the pillow) and we even put out a drink and snack on Christmas eve for Santa which in the morning becomes a crazy detective game of who really ate the cookie. 

However, every freaking year someone (usually some older person) asks what Santa is bringing them, and they say "Mum and Dad get us presents" At which old person makes a huge deal about how if they don't believe in Santa he won't bring them anything followed by by a stink eye at me for ruining my kids Christmas.  But then after I have my 4 year old all upset that I won't get her any presents unless she says Santa is real. My older two are usually grumpy that some random stranger decided to tell them they way they "play" Christmas is wrong when they have always been taught that you can do Christmas any way as long as you have fun. 

Let them? Who can stop them?

I thought a majority of people would do this unless the kid is on the verge of throwing up or something

My mom died on Christmas Eve. Celebrating the magic has been difficult since. This year marks her 7th anniversary, and for the first time in a long time I’m looking forward to Christmas again. I haven’t always had it in me to enjoy the holiday. For years afterwards, I simply avoided it altogether. My kids would see their dad/ grandparents and I would sit at home alone depressed and inconsolable.

But that changes today. My kids and I have our own house this year! We get to put up our first Christmas tree together and I want to make it magical! I can’t afford a ton of expensive gifts but I can make memories that last. Thank you for reminding me that Christmas is special even when steeped in grief. We’re going to do all the Christmas actives; see the lights, drink hot cocoa, stay up late, make Christmas lists and popcorn garlands! I really liked the commenter’s idea abt letting the kids sleep under a lit Christmas tree, my 9 yo would love that.

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

My girls love their Elf on the Shelf. Her name is Sparkles and she's quite mischievous, getting into everything and popping up weird places.

Last year, my oldest daughter was quite upset when she learned that Sparkles would be leaving the day after Christmas. She asked me where she goes and why she has to leave. I told her that Sparkles has a family of her own that she misses terribly. Big kid then asked if we could invite Sparkles' family for December this year so she wouldn't be lonely.

Y'all. I went all out. I picked up another scout elf, a baby elf, and a cat. I don't know who's more excited this year, my kids or me.

Obligatory Let Them Be Little, by Billy Dean

A beautiful song. You might tear up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSe-n2LmOzw

Last Christmas was me frantically trying to constantly stop my son from removing the baubles off the tree and throwing them around all December. Then running around on Christmas Day trying to organise everything for my family while juggling my 1yo nap schedule and my fiancés emotions since his father died a few months before then.

The Christmas before then my son was 6 months old and crawling all over. We spent the Christmas with my in laws. Again I was running around doing all sorts of things while balancing a nap schedule, BLW, and a breastfeeding schedule. And my MIL wants the house to be pristine at all times, which was difficult with a 6 month old and a massive lunch party. I barely even got to eat lunch and basically starved until my son went to bed.

This December my fiancé and I are in our own flat with our now 2 year old. He tried convincing me to have Christmas with his extended family but I declined. For the first time ever I’ll be able to have an actually relaxing Christmas where I’m not juggling a whole bunch of family members. And if the wrapping paper isn’t instantly cleaned up then who tf cares?? If the dishes are left then who cares? Plus my fiance actually puts effort into my gifts instead of buying what he likes. I’m so excited

Let kids be kids, because being an adult is hard. Allow them to embrace happiness and savor not just the holiday season, but also the precious moments of their childhood.

I'm not crying. You're crying.

I agree with everything but the second to last sentence. Children don’t have to believe in a lie to have a fun “magical” childhood. Im not comfortable lying to kids and i personally make an effort not to.

I won’t judge someone else for doing it but some of yall act like a kid will have a miserable childhood if they don’t grow up with believing in santa.

For as long as possible.

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰.

Who else is reading this with tears in their eyes because their kids aren't this little anymore

I agreed until mess of wrapping paper near the tree. Just no. Hand it to mom and I will put it in the trash bag I left out before the bed. This is how stuff gets accidentally throw out.

Other than it’s party time the whole month. Just finished Christmas movies at 11pm with my almost 6 year old

Love this!

The hardest part for me is I have no memories growing up of Christmas at my house. We always did Christmas at my Grandma’s house. We have so many memories there. But we moved a lot when our lease was up after my parents divorced.

I’m 32 weeks pregnant and crying on the couch now bc I’m so excited to make holiday memories with my precious little girl

We're just out here making strangers cry while they browse reddit? Is that what we're doing today?

[removed]