Bibliogirl

The oldest of our six children is 56 years old. I have suggested over the years that we do away with the Christmas boots (we have boots made from oalmeal boxes from a pattern in Farm Journal instead of stockings) since the kids are all married with children and have their own stockings at home. Sometimes I have as many as 12 boots to fill. Gets expensive, but more than that, I have a hard time thinking of what to put in them. So many different people! When I suggested we do away with the boots, you would have thought I asked them to sacrifice their first born! Same with dinner. We have, for 58 years. had a ham for Christmas dinner that I pour brandy over and light on fire before serving. This year I said maybe we would have a nice big fat roasted hen and noodles next year. They were all in my face about changing the menu. Traditions die hard for my family. They want everything the same every year, no matter how old I get! I'm pushing 80 now and would like to let up a bit!

Honeynga

My Ex's family had a Christmas Eve tradition of File Gumbo with shrimp and crab; salad, bread, etc........his Dad and Mom would make gumbo and all I had to do was contribute salad, desserts, etc......even after our divorce I still continued with them in this tradition. The in laws have been gone a long time but my youngest still wants to continue tradition.....SO, this year, we spent the evening with her Dad, my Ex since 1993.......I made a huge vat of File Gumbo and he provided every thing else......it was a very nice evening....he even said it was as good if not better than his parents made for years (maybe he just forgot) ! On Christmas Day we had ham and I made potato salad and other side dishes; plus dessert. Since I live alone and am lonely it was sort of nice to revert back to tradition for the day.

Lee in Richmond

I didn't have a stocking between being a kid and marrying my present husband, but his practice was to make stockings for a significant other and/or any kids around on Christmas day. We began making one for each other, and then when we had moved and were able to celebrate Christmas morning with my grown sons, they each bring stockings made for their spouse and one or two things for everyone else's stocking. We open in a round-robin (one thing at a time) and then have breakfast, later going to their father's home for dinner and real present opening (yes, it's an unusual setup). Fun!

romanojg

My youngest will be 23 tomorrow and she just moved out. On Christmas eve I called her boyfriend and told him just how important her stocking is to her and he'd better not ignore it. I told him some of the things he needed to put in and what kind of chocolate she wants. A couple of hours later she called me and asked me to call him to do the same thing because he was acting like it was no big deal. I told her that I already had called him. Then I went out shopping and got tons of things that she expected including chocolate for him. He had gotten her stuff but I also gave him my stuff to put in. Christmas she was so surprised because her stocking was over flowing. She thought it was all from Rob and I'm so fine with that as long as she's happy. This has been a rough yr for me and she's been my rock so anything that I can do to make her happy, I will. By the way, she snuck into my stocking on Christmas eve and filled it since this is the first yr that I live totally alone with her and her dad gone. She's great and I'm proud of the things that I instilled in her. I want my kids to be happy no matter how old they get.

omaluvs2quilt

I only have 1 child and kept up the stocking til she got married. Now I do the "Family Stocking" for them with dutch goodies I make for them, ornaments, and other little stuff. They still like it, so I'll probably always do it.

Grandma Mary

All of my sons are married, and I have continued to fill their stockings with things for each couple. However, this year I suggested they take them home to their own houses (they were hand knit by my mother with their names on them), and was surprised by their reaction. They said it wouldn't be the same as having them on our mantle each year. I teased them saying I couldn't afford to fill them each year, but they said they didn't want me to fill them...just let them hang like they always do!

writerwomen

One thing we do is hit the dollar store- on a tight budget it's great. We all take time to get things to fill stockings. Candy, nail polish, etc. Kids pick great stuff for each other we wouldn't think of. Things like glow sticks or gel that when you stick your fingers in it it makes a farting sound. A spatula for Mom, Dad gets an energy drink and so on. Then there are the things they search out in their rooms and wrap for each other- that toy they wouldn't part with a few weeks ago, a note offering to make a cup of tea for Dad or walk the dog. Stockings are for fun things at our house.

kathyd

The girls are 30, 28 and 27 two are married and one gk. I still do stockings for them. Spouses are in one. It does get harder to figure out what to put in them but that is part of the fun and challenge. I think it is done more for me and dh than for them. Got some great ideas from what has been said here for next years stuffers. Thanks

catrancher

When I got married, my mother gave me my stocking. When my son was dating his wife and she started feeling like a member of the family, I made a stocking for her. My two boys already had stockings. When my son and DIL married, I gave each of them their stockings to hang next to their own fireplace. My other son is in college, but when he is more settled, wife or not, I'll give him his stocking too.

quiltymom

My sons are 32 and 27 and they would be so disapointed if I didn't do them!!! Frist things they open granddaughter too!!!