I really love how positive your relationship and depiction of your teenagers is. I get so tired of all the negativity and shaming of teenagers. Most teenagers are amazing people if they've had the support they need.
Agreed! The parents of the video embraced the fact that the teen was older and capable, instead of trying to force them to act younger and repeat the traditions they had as young children. The video really highlights how doing all the "Xmas magic" with little ones is EXHAUSTING, and the teens can enjoy Xmas in their own way
My older daughter packed a box with remotes, a hanger, Tupperware and a pot and spoon for her younger sisters 1st birthday. That’s all she played with that day too!
One year olds love remotes! And phones, with this generation. Lol - I was going to take a picture of one of the twins “talking” on a play phone being cute as can be, and I pinged my phone because I couldn’t find it and it dinged in his hand. 😂 Also, I had a couple discussions today of what littles actually enjoy playing with… it’s rarely actual toys! My 8 month old nephew was happy as can be playing with crumpled up wrapping paper today.
As a child I really wanted boxes. Even tried to tell my parents to make it a Russian nesting doll of boxes with the smallest box being a shoe box filled with crayons, scissors, glue, markers, stickers, ect. Even said they could wrap each box so they could get the "kid tears open present" photo. They never went for it. I still don't know why. Kids just want boxes, give them boxes and some crayons!
😂 the babies played with the gag gift of potatoes 🥔 (was to make a gift card feel heavy so no one could guess) ignored the toys, played with potatoes 🥔 😂
I love this! Older parents told me constantly when I had littles, “treasure every second, you’ll miss this so much!” As if it was all downhill from there. Now I have both, and I love both, for different reasons, like the ones you illustrated!
My daughters are 14 and 6. The thing I miss most with my oldest is the magic ability to make everything better just by existing. I wish I could still have that effect. There's little things here and there, like the way she said certain words, but I'll trade those for memories and the really awesome teenage daughter I now have.
Part of parenting is adapting. It used to work, now doesn't. It's okay, it's part of life. After all, I was in her shoes before! Just gotta appreciate it for what it was, and find new ways to effectively deal with things like that.
The best present I ever gave was to a set of 3 year old twins plus their 1 year old brother. We walked in with three large boxes. The look on their parents' faces was the first priceless moment. They had told everyone they just didn't have room for much more and to limit the gifts. I made sure they opened the boxes at the same time. Inside each was a helium balloon. The best laughs ever! The parents were relieved and the kids had a great time with both the boxes and the balloons.
Cookies with babies, so true! One year my mom called at 10 am, "Your Aunt, Dad and I are finished opening presents. How was Christmas?" Me, "Mom, we have teenagers now. They are still in bed. We'll call in a couple hours. You might want to check in with everyone else. Their kids will have been up since dawn. " 🤣
Haha, this is so accurate, especially being woken up near the crack of dawn when they're younger to look at presents, but getting to lie in for longer once they're teens.
@@hcare9785 Haha you could be one of my siblings. My parents did/said the same thing. They would put our stockings in our rooms too so in the morning we'd have them there in our rooms.
We still do the things we did when they were younger. My oldest is 20 and engaged and we still go see the christmas lights and bake cookies, now we just have extra hands helping out!
Try Christmas with 9 day old twins. The new grandparents all came over and held the babies while I fell asleep in the chair. It was the best nap I've ever had. They're turning 11 next week.
Congratulations! Awww. I remember those days. My twins are now 25. They both live away, one an hour's drive and one 1.5 hours away. I miss when they were younger. I know being sleep deprived sucks, but enjoy every minute with them. 💗
@@thymelapse4838 Congratulations! My twins are now 25. I had one daughter (3) when they were born. Wow, 11 kids! Your sister sure has her hands full! Merry Christmas to all!
I wish I had family willing and able to help with mine. It's so hard never having any kind of break. I love that his happened so many years ago and you still remember it! That's the true testament to how good it was/how much you needed it!
My daughter was a rough baby with colic and feeding difficulties. Her first Thanksgiving we drove up to visit our families and stayed with my in-laws. They took turns getting up and feeding her all night, getting puked on and cleaning her up so my husband and I could sleep for a change. My daughter is an adult and my in-laws are gone now, but I’ll always love them. For many reasons but that one night would be enough for me. 😊
I really appreciate the positivity toward the teen years! I have four kids 6 and under and yes I love them but also I feel like I'm drowning most days. It is HARD and it is annoying when people constantly tell me this is the best time and they miss it and they would give anything to go back. Like--I'm actually looking forward to them getting a little older and able to see the people they develop into, but people make it feel like it's all downhill from here and I HATE that. So thanks for shining a positive light on what I have to look forward to!
Im a teen right now and I wish you were my parent and I barely know you 😂my dad, as much as I love him, blames my developing brain for my emotional state when it's usually his fault. Good luck when they're teens but you probably won't need it with an outlook like that! ❤️❤️
People who hate watching their kids grow or regret watching their kids grow are people who don't give tools to their kids to grow older, wiser, more creative, and more independent. Or they never think to. So of course, the child ends up being limited, which is frustrating to the parent, but a huge disservice to the child more than anyone. That's how you get adults labeling themselves "25 year old toddlers". I want my 25 year old to be an adult who feels their life, future, and world is in their hands, not to still feel like a baby.
In Finland we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, not Christmas day. Santa comes in usually after dinner. I think it's because parents realized that of they give the kids the presents in the evening, they are entertained while on a sugar rush from all the candy, and they are so tired in the evening that they'll go to sleep without a fuss and sleep longer the next morning. The perfect ruse for sleeping in on a Christmas.
This is what my family does here in Canada. Since the parents' party goes on until 3 or 4 am, we prefer to give the gifts after diner and let the kids run wild. We get plenty of rest this way.
My family is American but we are of German descent and we open gifts on Christmas Eve. It’s nice that way, imo, since you get more time to enjoy your gifts and just hang out.
I've woken up between 4 and 5 am every Christmas since I've been married because my husband is a Christmas fiend. It's been 16 years. I like you, Finland.
I agree that it’s SO much less stressful with teens. Even buying more expensive gifts is easier because I give them less stuff. It’s fun and the Santa thing only lasts for a short time, but the pressure of Christmas with littles is something I DON’T miss.
Same. It’s like one big thing. And I have to say, my kids aren’t greedy. And I find so many teens the same. Obviously there are exceptions. But they don’t expect. Also with supply chain issues and things maybe being late, older kids understand. Younger kids would be upset
As a mom of littles, watching Kim excitedly suggest baking Christmas cookies only to spiral as the kids touch everything and make a mess really spoke to me. Thinking of mine as teens makes me a little sad, but the sleeping in part sounds great.
I miss my 11 year old being a cute little girl, but the other day she wanted to clean the kitchen after dinner and she can pretty much take care of herself already so it’s great. The gifts definitely have gotten more expensive though. And smaller. 😂
God forbid you teach your kids discipline and appropriate behaviour not making a mess in the kitchen. This neoliberal "kids can do anything" style parenting is absolute BS. You suffer and they grow up to be spoilt entitled useless people who will be massively slapped in the face in the adult world. There's a place for play and mess, and a place for learning and creating. It's OK to not let kids walk all over you 🙄
The first Christmas after my oldest son started working, he opened his gifts and stared at me for a minute. He gave certain ones back and informed me that I spent too much money. I was offended at first but then I realized it was him being considerate and realizing the value of things.
My kids are all young adults now but I had 5 over those babies/teen years of Christmas. I think the most fun and hardest was my husband and I staying up til 1 am so “Santa” could get the gifts that were hidden very strategically and trying to sneak those under the tree and fill five stockings without getting caught ! 😜
Man I remember one time I caught my mom wrapping presents late night Christmas Eve as a young kid. She said that she was being Santa's elf and I remember her being a little grumpy (probably from the stress of Christmas lol). The memory is really fuzzy, but amusing to look back on after reading this comment
My mom would wrap them at my aunt’s house and say “Santa dropped them off early, act up and I’ll tell him to come take them back.” She stayed up cooking, but not doing gifts 😂
Ah mate, my parents were in a similar position. There were five of us and they would also make reindeer footprints out of an old horse shoe we found in the yard, make a mess of the carrots and biscuits we left out AND get coal all over the carpet in front of the fireplace and front door. I can't imagine how they cleaned that out (the carpet was a light colour). They went above and beyond for us although they didn't really decorate the outside of the house, it was just as cool inside.
I agree! That is the most inaccurate part. My kids are in their early 20's now, and I have yet to see them voluntarily clean after making anything in the kitchen.
I’m 17 and I honestly picked that up for my mom, and when I’m done, I’m like, why is this so clean, because I kind of just had it stuck in my head that I got done faster if I just put things away as I was doing it, lol
Just texted my own Dad this video. It's so true Peak Christmas is slightly older, college or early 20s years, you finally have some money but still the time to finally make it special for your parents... Than you get older have your own family and responsibilities, your special recipes and gift giving tricks get used up. Not going to lie I really miss the feeling of being the adult child that was the best.
That last part is especially true and I love it. There have been times that I have slept in until close to noon because the kids do not do mornings. There was one year that my husband was away for work and wasn't able to come home until later in the day on Christmas. My kids were perfectly OK with waiting to unwrap gifts until he got home and settled. I was so proud of them. I have never once had a kid that had a temper tantrum or screaming fit over the holidays and I had four of them. They are now all over the age of 18 and I couldn't be prouder of the adults they grew into.
My daughter makes a Amazon wish list every year. It's kinda of neat to go back and read her older ones to see how her tastes change which BTW just gets more expensive. It's like the virtual version of circling items in the physical toy (Sears) catalog.
My mom still makes sure to give me the closest thing we have these days Target flier, and my daughter and I go through together circling stuff as "Ideas".
My husband is an electrical engineer. He takes all of the toys to "assemble" and adds resistors so the sounds are super quiet, lol. It's like the opposite of Tim the Tool Man, he makes the toys less crazy, ha.
@@believetheunseen That is so cool!! I wonder if my brothers could figure out how to do that. Most toys are so loud. “I’m glad you’re enjoying that 15 second clip of ‘Away in a Manger’ that the little people nativity plays, dear little one, but 30 times in a row is enough for me!”
As the oldest, now 14, I relate to both parts of this video! My family goes to church Christmas morning so sleeping in just never really happened anyway, but my siblings still love to get me up at the crack of dawn to open stockings. As a teen it is hard to find really fun exciting things to ask for, but I still do love opening a big wrapped box with a bow. We have a lot of family traditions, so that kind of does a job of keeping parts of the season the same. One of my favorites is adding hints on the To/From tags for family gifts- it's more fun to try and riddle out a mysterious hint than just shake a package! (Especially now that people may get gifts that shouldn't be shaken.)
OMGOSH... I loved this video! Almost cried from laughter. Our young daughter gave us a computer presentation with photos, pros and cons, care information, etc on her pet choice for Christmas. I absolutely loved it! She's probably not getting the new pet, but thoroughly enjoyed her presentation, as well as this video. Priceless!
Love this! Certain things are definitely easier with babies and other are easier with teenagers. Decorating is so much faster with kids helping, but, like, GOOD helping, not just hanging the antique glass ornament on the very tip of the flimsy branch.
my favourite christmas, me and my sister were old enough that we had our own cash (i think maybe 17 and 19?) so we made mum and dad stockings. in our family they're more of a thing - you have half the presents in the stockings to open with immediate family and half under the tree to open with relatives there. anyway, we coordinated it all christmas period. our code was 'they did surgery on a grape' for 'we need to discuss presents again' and my family got really annoyed that we kept bringing up the same punchline meme but they didn't suspect. anyway, we got it all sorted and dragged them up in the middle of the night and mum and dad thought we'd pulled a prank... and, yeah, we had sort of, but they got full stockings that year and it was great ...in restrospect, a little financially irresponsible for the ages we were and they told us not to do it again, but so, so worth it to see mum and dad's faces
I really liked positive representation of teens my least favorite phrase of all time is. “Just wait till there teenagers.” They say it in such a negative way but a lot of teens are kind and hardworking and creative and empathetic. It just gives teens a bad name so whenever there is someone to blame you blame the teens because “there brain hasn’t properly developed” this happened to one of my friend’s until later they found out a 30 year old man was the one who started..doing something to the food at a fast food place. But there was a teen so obviously they should be the one to get all the blame at first. It’s messed up.
Hahaha, Omg I so remember putting toys together, going to Target at the last second looking for batteries, and the 5AM Christmas mornings! My kids are in HS and college now and I love having them home during the holidays. Time goes by so fast!
Just had the gift pile vs. gift card debate last night. While hiding in the closet to make sure the teenagers didn't know we were looking over the gifts. They knew. They asked how the Christmas present wrapping went. Gift cards it is!
We have tweens (12 and 9) and I have to say that Christmas is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable than when they were little. They help with the baking, the cooking, and the gift shopping and wrapping, and we get to just be happy in each other's company.
My kids (now 16 and 21) made bottle cap and can tab bracelets and necklaces when they were young, oh yeah, not as comfortable to wear (or conceal) as macaroni I tell ya! 😂
We have teens and littles too! The stress of making the little ones wait a little to open the presents and if trying to wake up the teens at a decent hour! 🤦🏻♀️
I got so tired of losing our scissors I bought one of those classroom scissor bunches, six of four different colors. I assigned us each a different color. Turns out, I keep losing mine.
I don’t think I have laughed so hard in a long time! That is so relatable!!! It’s my 23-year-old who is married who is always saying to me “oh I learned this on TikTok”! (Usually cooking. And she hates to cook!) My 19 year old full time college and full time working son…not so much! There is so much to love and appreciate about your older kids though, I agree!
Why was my first thought after the polar Xpress thing, oh, she stayed up all night just like people stayed in line forever for the Taylor, Swift, tickets, and then it was the next thing, lol
When presenting cookies, put a little bump of peanutbutter underneath, makes it a lot easier. Also, love your vids! Recently became a parent & way too many things I recognise myself in ;D
Having older kids at Christmas is SOOOO much better 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤣🤣 Especially the making cookies and how I don’t have to do it with them anymore. We’re still working on them cleaning it all up on their own. 😊
Fun video, as usual. I always get my niece to create a list for Christmas by November. A couple of years ago she started using Google Docs and added at least two links for the gifts she wants. She researches them and finds options that are midrange in price. She created a group chat and we discuss who is buying what. She doesn't unnecessarily get everything, but she gets most. The more expensive gifts are parent gifts. There was a music theme for Christmas 2022. Her big parent present was an electric guitar and amp. She provided links for several used Fenders. She understands the value of money and she saves and buys things herself. She bought her first Samsung tablet when she was seven years old. That is why she researches everything. She is the least demanding 15 year old I have ever met.
I attach the gift cards to something much larger and very cheap. Especially when they are in college. Gift card attached to a box of a dozen ramen packages? Sold!
I fostered my nephew when he was two until about six. I learned quick with the babies/toddlers to take all shortcuts you can to save the experience. Like the real joy of xmas cookies for kids is rolling out the dough and using the cookie cutters. So I bought premade dough. Then if I wanted real cookies i'd either make them and he watched (like only watched) or he would squirrel off to cartoons or toys. Just this past christmas he was over with his parents (hes 9-10 now) and asked me to make real cookies with him, and he did most of it. Children are such a joy. Those years were such a gift. I always did the easiest choice possible to get the experience I was hoping for. Loved the video, you nailed every part of it, hilarious as always. I think you guys are great! ^_^ My favorite part of christmas, is late morning, early afternoon when all the kids go outside with their toys, and you can hear a whole parade of laughing, giggling neighborhood kids mixed in with horns and bells and everything else. Such a joy 😊
I'm definitely still in the "babies" phase but my kids never wake up early on Christmas! Dad and I are always up before them (about an hour). At first I was super bummed about it (I've always wanted that excited wake up) but now I love it. I get the cutest photos of them as they walk out to the living room in their Christmas jammies, still a bit sleepy with their hair all a mess 😍
Okay, but there is something to that small-gift-in-huge-boxes thing. My folks did the “nesting doll box” trick with me one year, and inside the last one was this great ring I’d wanted.
I love how accurate this is, when my Son was smaller, I always wanted to buy him the big gifts too but then hated the fact that I was gonna have to deal with the annoying noises the tous make and now that he's a teen you end up buying them smaller gifts and then feel like it's not big enough lol but at least the parent(s) of teens get more sleep on xmas
I totally thought this was going to go the other way, of small kids christmas is magical and teenagers don't want to do anything. Maybe that's cause my teenagers didn't want to do anything lol. I'm glad I was wrong though!
Little Christmas tip, especially for parents with young kids...make the Stocking fair game to open without everyone. Put little presents, a game or even a movie they can watch for a while that morning while you get more sleep. My parents did this for me because I would have them up at the crack of dawn and it worked wonders...it was at least 8am before I came pestering them again.
Having two teens, myself, this is sooo accurate it’s scary. My daughter, also emails me her Christmas list, with attachments, and prices. 😂 Only detail you forgot….showing your wallet after shopping for baby presents vs. teen presents. Mine is a negative bold red number 😂😩😳
I LOVE reaping presents! I don’t have TikTok, but I learned on TH-cam and it’s a nice, chill way to get into the Christmas spirit! Edit: Wrapping, not reaping - that would be much more Halloween-y
My 18-year-old thinks I'm crazy for 'cleaning as I go' whenever I cook or bake. I thought I was the only one who did that!! It just makes sense, right?? BTW - I want to make those cookies; they are perfect!!
Very accurate I know because me and my older brother are teens and we have lots of little siblings so we know both like last year I made sugar cookies for everyone in the family
I really love how positive your relationship and depiction of your teenagers is. I get so tired of all the negativity and shaming of teenagers. Most teenagers are amazing people if they've had the support they need.
Yes! This!
Agreed! The parents of the video embraced the fact that the teen was older and capable, instead of trying to force them to act younger and repeat the traditions they had as young children. The video really highlights how doing all the "Xmas magic" with little ones is EXHAUSTING, and the teens can enjoy Xmas in their own way
Same!! I love my teens!!!💕 Barely made it through those toddler years, but teens are awesome!🤗
@@azilbeanomg the baby and toddler years were rough! I don’t know how I made it through
Ha! I literally just took a nap while my teen vacuumed around me. What a life!
My older daughter packed a box with remotes, a hanger, Tupperware and a pot and spoon for her younger sisters 1st birthday. That’s all she played with that day too!
One year olds love remotes! And phones, with this generation. Lol - I was going to take a picture of one of the twins “talking” on a play phone being cute as can be, and I pinged my phone because I couldn’t find it and it dinged in his hand. 😂 Also, I had a couple discussions today of what littles actually enjoy playing with… it’s rarely actual toys! My 8 month old nephew was happy as can be playing with crumpled up wrapping paper today.
As a child I really wanted boxes. Even tried to tell my parents to make it a Russian nesting doll of boxes with the smallest box being a shoe box filled with crayons, scissors, glue, markers, stickers, ect. Even said they could wrap each box so they could get the "kid tears open present" photo. They never went for it. I still don't know why. Kids just want boxes, give them boxes and some crayons!
There is a dark irony to giving an infant a coat hanger.
😂 the babies played with the gag gift of potatoes 🥔 (was to make a gift card feel heavy so no one could guess) ignored the toys, played with potatoes 🥔 😂
Sounds like the perfect gift for a 1 year old!
I love this! Older parents told me constantly when I had littles, “treasure every second, you’ll miss this so much!” As if it was all downhill from there. Now I have both, and I love both, for different reasons, like the ones you illustrated!
My daughters are 14 and 6.
The thing I miss most with my oldest is the magic ability to make everything better just by existing. I wish I could still have that effect.
There's little things here and there, like the way she said certain words, but I'll trade those for memories and the really awesome teenage daughter I now have.
Part of parenting is adapting. It used to work, now doesn't. It's okay, it's part of life. After all, I was in her shoes before! Just gotta appreciate it for what it was, and find new ways to effectively deal with things like that.
Truth! People complain about how hard it is to have teens but I call BS - the teen years are the BEST!
I think so too!
So do you all drink a lot?
@@nstemple2313 😂 Right? Mine was great, but there were moments like volcanic eruptions out of the blue! 🤯 It was terrifying! 😨
The best present I ever gave was to a set of 3 year old twins plus their 1 year old brother. We walked in with three large boxes. The look on their parents' faces was the first priceless moment. They had told everyone they just didn't have room for much more and to limit the gifts. I made sure they opened the boxes at the same time. Inside each was a helium balloon. The best laughs ever! The parents were relieved and the kids had a great time with both the boxes and the balloons.
Cookies with babies, so true! One year my mom called at 10 am, "Your Aunt, Dad and I are finished opening presents. How was Christmas?" Me, "Mom, we have teenagers now. They are still in bed. We'll call in a couple hours. You might want to check in with everyone else. Their kids will have been up since dawn. " 🤣
Haha, exactly!
Haha, this is so accurate, especially being woken up near the crack of dawn when they're younger to look at presents, but getting to lie in for longer once they're teens.
thanks for watching 🙂
My parents alwas said not to wake them up but we could open our stockings and we had to wait for them to open the presents
And that is why In Denmark they get them on the 24, at afternoon/evening.
@@hcare9785 Haha you could be one of my siblings. My parents did/said the same thing. They would put our stockings in our rooms too so in the morning we'd have them there in our rooms.
My kid was never into it. I was always the one waking him up at 2-4am 😂 as soon as I got the gifts out I was ready.
I feel cheated that we didn’t get the behind the scenes shot of throwing flour at Kim in the babies cookie scene.
I can't lie, I enjoy Christmas with teens better but when the babies it just feels a bit more magical because of their awe
@A Laputa absolutely!
Thank you! I've got two babies so watching this bummed me the hell out
@@madig4193 yeah just enjoy every moment they all have the great parts.
We still do the things we did when they were younger. My oldest is 20 and engaged and we still go see the christmas lights and bake cookies, now we just have extra hands helping out!
@@tiny.terrorist.negotiator oh yes those things are my favorites!
Try Christmas with 9 day old twins. The new grandparents all came over and held the babies while I fell asleep in the chair. It was the best nap I've ever had.
They're turning 11 next week.
Haha my sister just had twins this month lol ,but it's number 10 and 11 ..so I'm not sure about the nap..
Congratulations! Awww. I remember those days. My twins are now 25. They both live away, one an hour's drive and one 1.5 hours away. I miss when they were younger. I know being sleep deprived sucks, but enjoy every minute with them. 💗
@@thymelapse4838 Congratulations! My twins are now 25. I had one daughter (3) when they were born. Wow, 11 kids! Your sister sure has her hands full! Merry Christmas to all!
I wish I had family willing and able to help with mine. It's so hard never having any kind of break.
I love that his happened so many years ago and you still remember it! That's the true testament to how good it was/how much you needed it!
My daughter was a rough baby with colic and feeding difficulties. Her first Thanksgiving we drove up to visit our families and stayed with my in-laws. They took turns getting up and feeding her all night, getting puked on and cleaning her up so my husband and I could sleep for a change. My daughter is an adult and my in-laws are gone now, but I’ll always love them. For many reasons but that one night would be enough for me. 😊
I really appreciate the positivity toward the teen years! I have four kids 6 and under and yes I love them but also I feel like I'm drowning most days. It is HARD and it is annoying when people constantly tell me this is the best time and they miss it and they would give anything to go back. Like--I'm actually looking forward to them getting a little older and able to see the people they develop into, but people make it feel like it's all downhill from here and I HATE that. So thanks for shining a positive light on what I have to look forward to!
Im a teen right now and I wish you were my parent and I barely know you 😂my dad, as much as I love him, blames my developing brain for my emotional state when it's usually his fault. Good luck when they're teens but you probably won't need it with an outlook like that! ❤️❤️
You are absolutely not in the best time. Hang in there! Teens are amazing. 🥰
The best time is subjective. Just enjoy the kids while you have them. They'll grow up and be on their own journeys someday.
People who hate watching their kids grow or regret watching their kids grow are people who don't give tools to their kids to grow older, wiser, more creative, and more independent. Or they never think to. So of course, the child ends up being limited, which is frustrating to the parent, but a huge disservice to the child more than anyone. That's how you get adults labeling themselves "25 year old toddlers". I want my 25 year old to be an adult who feels their life, future, and world is in their hands, not to still feel like a baby.
Came here to make this same comment. I feel like I'm drowning with my littles. This video gives me so much hope!
In Finland we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, not Christmas day. Santa comes in usually after dinner. I think it's because parents realized that of they give the kids the presents in the evening, they are entertained while on a sugar rush from all the candy, and they are so tired in the evening that they'll go to sleep without a fuss and sleep longer the next morning. The perfect ruse for sleeping in on a Christmas.
This is what my family does here in Canada. Since the parents' party goes on until 3 or 4 am, we prefer to give the gifts after diner and let the kids run wild. We get plenty of rest this way.
My friend and her mom used to do that too because they both hated getting up early. 😊
My family is American but we are of German descent and we open gifts on Christmas Eve. It’s nice that way, imo, since you get more time to enjoy your gifts and just hang out.
I've woken up between 4 and 5 am every Christmas since I've been married because my husband is a Christmas fiend.
It's been 16 years. I like you, Finland.
same in my family. That tradition started before I was born and I was just tough like that
I agree that it’s SO much less stressful with teens. Even buying more expensive gifts is easier because I give them less stuff. It’s fun and the Santa thing only lasts for a short time, but the pressure of Christmas with littles is something I DON’T miss.
I really do love this teen stage
I don't miss that either!
Same. It’s like one big thing. And I have to say, my kids aren’t greedy. And I find so many teens the same. Obviously there are exceptions. But they don’t expect. Also with supply chain issues and things maybe being late, older kids understand. Younger kids would be upset
It's fun when they're little, but a lot less stressful when they become teens. Now instead of buying presents we take a trip. Merry Christmas to me!
Yes! We are also taking a trip for the first time this year since my son is getting older. It’s exciting to do something different! 😀
As a mom of littles, watching Kim excitedly suggest baking Christmas cookies only to spiral as the kids touch everything and make a mess really spoke to me. Thinking of mine as teens makes me a little sad, but the sleeping in part sounds great.
Ha, I'm right there with you! I could also relate to that even more now than ever!
I never realized how much FUN teens are till mine got there. Every stage is fun, but I have to say teens is my favorite.🥰
I miss my 11 year old being a cute little girl, but the other day she wanted to clean the kitchen after dinner and she can pretty much take care of herself already so it’s great. The gifts definitely have gotten more expensive though. And smaller. 😂
Omg, not a mom but an aunt. That's what cookie kits are for! Go hog wild decorating and nothing is lava hot.
God forbid you teach your kids discipline and appropriate behaviour not making a mess in the kitchen. This neoliberal "kids can do anything" style parenting is absolute BS. You suffer and they grow up to be spoilt entitled useless people who will be massively slapped in the face in the adult world.
There's a place for play and mess, and a place for learning and creating.
It's OK to not let kids walk all over you 🙄
The first Christmas after my oldest son started working, he opened his gifts and stared at me for a minute. He gave certain ones back and informed me that I spent too much money. I was offended at first but then I realized it was him being considerate and realizing the value of things.
What a sweet story 🥰
Funny how kids don't see the value of money until they start earning it themselves.
@@melissacooper8724 it's normal, this is how we learn. You can't expect a child to behave like an adult. Of course, there are exceptions.
_sigh_ That is adorable! 🥰
My kids are all young adults now but I had 5 over those babies/teen years of Christmas. I think the most fun and hardest was my husband and I staying up til 1 am so “Santa” could get the gifts that were hidden very strategically and trying to sneak those under the tree and fill five stockings without getting caught ! 😜
I don't miss having to stay up half the night on Christmas Eve!
Oh wow that’s a mission!! Just trying to sneak 1 stocking was hard enough… go Mumma!!!!!
Man I remember one time I caught my mom wrapping presents late night Christmas Eve as a young kid. She said that she was being Santa's elf and I remember her being a little grumpy (probably from the stress of Christmas lol). The memory is really fuzzy, but amusing to look back on after reading this comment
My mom would wrap them at my aunt’s house and say “Santa dropped them off early, act up and I’ll tell him to come take them back.” She stayed up cooking, but not doing gifts 😂
Ah mate, my parents were in a similar position. There were five of us and they would also make reindeer footprints out of an old horse shoe we found in the yard, make a mess of the carrots and biscuits we left out AND get coal all over the carpet in front of the fireplace and front door. I can't imagine how they cleaned that out (the carpet was a light colour).
They went above and beyond for us although they didn't really decorate the outside of the house, it was just as cool inside.
You were spot on, until you hit the cleaned as you went part 🤣 no one but mom ever cleans as they go. No one. 🤣
Haha yeah that's what I was thinking! NO one cleans as they go in this house. Not my husband and definitely not the kids...
I 💯 percent agree with this statement 😂
Exactly…that was the only part of the video that I was like ‘wait what?!’ No teen cleans as they go 😂
I agree! That is the most inaccurate part. My kids are in their early 20's now, and I have yet to see them voluntarily clean after making anything in the kitchen.
I’m 17 and I honestly picked that up for my mom, and when I’m done, I’m like, why is this so clean, because I kind of just had it stuck in my head that I got done faster if I just put things away as I was doing it, lol
Just texted my own Dad this video. It's so true Peak Christmas is slightly older, college or early 20s years, you finally have some money but still the time to finally make it special for your parents... Than you get older have your own family and responsibilities, your special recipes and gift giving tricks get used up. Not going to lie I really miss the feeling of being the adult child that was the best.
My teen daughter made the most amazing sugar cookies last week. Perfectly round, glazed. So good!
So accurate!!! Especially the expensive gifts that look like nothing when they’re teens! They go from a bunch of gifts to like 3!
That last part is especially true and I love it. There have been times that I have slept in until close to noon because the kids do not do mornings. There was one year that my husband was away for work and wasn't able to come home until later in the day on Christmas. My kids were perfectly OK with waiting to unwrap gifts until he got home and settled. I was so proud of them. I have never once had a kid that had a temper tantrum or screaming fit over the holidays and I had four of them. They are now all over the age of 18 and I couldn't be prouder of the adults they grew into.
The macaroni bracelet!! I totally remember making my mom a macaroni necklace in school for Christmas! Ahhh the nostalgia!!🥰
It's a childhood tradition 🥰
My daughter makes a Amazon wish list every year. It's kinda of neat to go back and read her older ones to see how her tastes change which BTW just gets more expensive. It's like the virtual version of circling items in the physical toy (Sears) catalog.
That was always so much fun! We’d only get a fraction of it but it was fun to dream.
My mom still makes sure to give me the closest thing we have these days Target flier, and my daughter and I go through together circling stuff as "Ideas".
I'm in the toddler stage lol and that toy assembly with leaving the batteries out genius 😂
My husband is an electrical engineer. He takes all of the toys to "assemble" and adds resistors so the sounds are super quiet, lol. It's like the opposite of Tim the Tool Man, he makes the toys less crazy, ha.
We had a low tech solution for toys without removable batteries - a piece of duct tape over the speaker. It even comes in colors!
@@believetheunseen That is so cool!! I wonder if my brothers could figure out how to do that. Most toys are so loud. “I’m glad you’re enjoying that 15 second clip of ‘Away in a Manger’ that the little people nativity plays, dear little one, but 30 times in a row is enough for me!”
They never have to know 😆
@Holderness Family Laughs They'll make the noises anyway. Might as well let them use their imagination about it.
As the oldest, now 14, I relate to both parts of this video! My family goes to church Christmas morning so sleeping in just never really happened anyway, but my siblings still love to get me up at the crack of dawn to open stockings. As a teen it is hard to find really fun exciting things to ask for, but I still do love opening a big wrapped box with a bow. We have a lot of family traditions, so that kind of does a job of keeping parts of the season the same. One of my favorites is adding hints on the To/From tags for family gifts- it's more fun to try and riddle out a mysterious hint than just shake a package! (Especially now that people may get gifts that shouldn't be shaken.)
1:41 I call BS my sister and I definitely did not clean as we went lol
Last year my 2 slept in tell noon! And I woke them up lol loving the teens christmas. Love y'all! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas!
OMGOSH... I loved this video! Almost cried from laughter. Our young daughter gave us a computer presentation with photos, pros and cons, care information, etc on her pet choice for Christmas. I absolutely loved it! She's probably not getting the new pet, but thoroughly enjoyed her presentation, as well as this video. Priceless!
I love how y'all are showing the positive side of having teens. My kiddo is almost eleven, and y'all are making me hopeful for the future!
Omg the gift card thing is SO ACCURATE. I’ve definitely done the wrap the cards in big boxes to make it more fun thing…many times lol.
Love this! Certain things are definitely easier with babies and other are easier with teenagers. Decorating is so much faster with kids helping, but, like, GOOD helping, not just hanging the antique glass ornament on the very tip of the flimsy branch.
Losing the scissors 20 times while wrapping presents...truth 😂😅
my favourite christmas, me and my sister were old enough that we had our own cash (i think maybe 17 and 19?) so we made mum and dad stockings. in our family they're more of a thing - you have half the presents in the stockings to open with immediate family and half under the tree to open with relatives there. anyway, we coordinated it all christmas period. our code was 'they did surgery on a grape' for 'we need to discuss presents again' and my family got really annoyed that we kept bringing up the same punchline meme but they didn't suspect. anyway, we got it all sorted and dragged them up in the middle of the night and mum and dad thought we'd pulled a prank... and, yeah, we had sort of, but they got full stockings that year and it was great ...in restrospect, a little financially irresponsible for the ages we were and they told us not to do it again, but so, so worth it to see mum and dad's faces
When our teenager slept in for the first time on Christmas, it had us 🤯.
I really liked positive representation of teens my least favorite phrase of all time is. “Just wait till there teenagers.” They say it in such a negative way but a lot of teens are kind and hardworking and creative and empathetic. It just gives teens a bad name so whenever there is someone to blame you blame the teens because “there brain hasn’t properly developed” this happened to one of my friend’s until later they found out a 30 year old man was the one who started..doing something to the food at a fast food place. But there was a teen so obviously they should be the one to get all the blame at first. It’s messed up.
OMG the cooking one... The "mommy needs a minute!" And "don't touch my phone!" That is my LIFE right now 😅😅😅
I think the most relatable part was when all the cookies fell off the plate 😂
That "walk away" was the quintessential mom voice, and it was AMAZING
The boxes with remotes for babies🤣🤣🤣 yes!!!
Hahaha, Omg I so remember putting toys together, going to Target at the last second looking for batteries, and the 5AM Christmas mornings! My kids are in HS and college now and I love having them home during the holidays. Time goes by so fast!
Just had the gift pile vs. gift card debate last night. While hiding in the closet to make sure the teenagers didn't know we were looking over the gifts. They knew. They asked how the Christmas present wrapping went. Gift cards it is!
You can hide gift cards in the tree & make them hunt for it Christmas. We’ve found that fun
Tormenting the teens with extra work on Christmas morning? You have give me much to consider... thank you!
bauble stockings scattered on the tree! perfect size for gift cards
We have tweens (12 and 9) and I have to say that Christmas is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable than when they were little. They help with the baking, the cooking, and the gift shopping and wrapping, and we get to just be happy in each other's company.
The Macaroni Bracelet that will never be taken off is so hilarious, since it's so true!
I still have my macaroni necklaces hanging on my dresser. My kids are 22 and 16.
My kids (now 16 and 21) made bottle cap and can tab bracelets and necklaces when they were young, oh yeah, not as comfortable to wear (or conceal) as macaroni I tell ya! 😂
This gives me so much hope for the future. Thank you.
As a mom of two teens and a toddler this is 100% accurate.
We have teens and littles too! The stress of making the little ones wait a little to open the presents and if trying to wake up the teens at a decent hour! 🤦🏻♀️
I got so tired of losing our scissors I bought one of those classroom scissor bunches, six of four different colors. I assigned us each a different color. Turns out, I keep losing mine.
That’s hilarious about your scissors
Oh yep. As a teen who lived through my now 10 year old brother being a baby/toddler, this is ACCURATE AF
OMG - Kim spitting the cork across the room - the hardest I have laughed all year - priceless
My nephew * still* doesn't know that his First Train Set was meant to make chugging and whooo hooooo noises.
I don’t think I have laughed so hard in a long time! That is so relatable!!!
It’s my 23-year-old who is married who is always saying to me “oh I learned this on TikTok”! (Usually cooking. And she hates to cook!)
My 19 year old full time college and full time working son…not so much! There is so much to love and appreciate about your older kids though, I agree!
Why was my first thought after the polar Xpress thing, oh, she stayed up all night just like people stayed in line forever for the Taylor, Swift, tickets, and then it was the next thing, lol
We used to have a "battery goblin" that just randomly took out the power from SEVERAL toys as my son grew 😂
When presenting cookies, put a little bump of peanutbutter underneath, makes it a lot easier.
Also, love your vids! Recently became a parent & way too many things I recognise myself in ;D
thanks for the tip!
"You cleaned as you went..." I was expecting "It's a Christmas miracle!" after that.🤣🤣🤣
Having older kids at Christmas is SOOOO much better 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤣🤣 Especially the making cookies and how I don’t have to do it with them anymore. We’re still working on them cleaning it all up on their own. 😊
Fun video, as usual.
I always get my niece to create a list for Christmas by November. A couple of years ago she started using Google Docs and added at least two links for the gifts she wants. She researches them and finds options that are midrange in price. She created a group chat and we discuss who is buying what.
She doesn't unnecessarily get everything, but she gets most. The more expensive gifts are parent gifts. There was a music theme for Christmas 2022. Her big parent present was an electric guitar and amp. She provided links for several used Fenders. She understands the value of money and she saves and buys things herself. She bought her first Samsung tablet when she was seven years old. That is why she researches everything. She is the least demanding 15 year old I have ever met.
A list and links makes everything much simplier.
This is REALLY making me look forward to teen Christmas years. Thank you for that!!😅🎄👏👏
I attach the gift cards to something much larger and very cheap. Especially when they are in college. Gift card attached to a box of a dozen ramen packages? Sold!
Thank you for the smiles! You two are AWESOME!
I fostered my nephew when he was two until about six. I learned quick with the babies/toddlers to take all shortcuts you can to save the experience. Like the real joy of xmas cookies for kids is rolling out the dough and using the cookie cutters. So I bought premade dough. Then if I wanted real cookies i'd either make them and he watched (like only watched) or he would squirrel off to cartoons or toys. Just this past christmas he was over with his parents (hes 9-10 now) and asked me to make real cookies with him, and he did most of it. Children are such a joy. Those years were such a gift. I always did the easiest choice possible to get the experience I was hoping for. Loved the video, you nailed every part of it, hilarious as always. I think you guys are great! ^_^
My favorite part of christmas, is late morning, early afternoon when all the kids go outside with their toys, and you can hear a whole parade of laughing, giggling neighborhood kids mixed in with horns and bells and everything else. Such a joy 😊
Okay, I have a teenager, and he does NOT clean up after himself in the kitchen! LOL That must be a "your child" kinda thing. ;)
Because he's a boy and wasn't conditioned by society to clean up after themselves
Hilarious … esp mommy in the kitchen with the babies - that one hit real close to home 😂
This makes me look forward to when my kiddos are teens. ❤️ 😆
I'm definitely still in the "babies" phase but my kids never wake up early on Christmas! Dad and I are always up before them (about an hour). At first I was super bummed about it (I've always wanted that excited wake up) but now I love it. I get the cutest photos of them as they walk out to the living room in their Christmas jammies, still a bit sleepy with their hair all a mess 😍
I can totally relate to waking up the kids for Christmas morning!
Spot on! Another incredibly accurate and funny video! Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
I LOVED having babies and toddlers but I LOVE having teens. It’s so fun!
All so true. And I too love how you portray great teens with interests and talents! Most of all, Kim where did you get those cute jammies?
My kids are two years old and I am enjoying this stage, but I love seeing that there is more to look forward to.
Okay, but there is something to that small-gift-in-huge-boxes thing. My folks did the “nesting doll box” trick with me one year, and inside the last one was this great ring I’d wanted.
It's the time and effort you put in when they were babies that made your teens the amazing and self reliant people they are now!
I love how accurate this is, when my Son was smaller, I always wanted to buy him the big gifts too but then hated the fact that I was gonna have to deal with the annoying noises the tous make and now that he's a teen you end up buying them smaller gifts and then feel like it's not big enough lol but at least the parent(s) of teens get more sleep on xmas
I'm still in the younger kids stage, so this gives me hope for the future, lol
The sleep in on Christmas Day part… oh that’s the best gift of all now that mine is a teen!!! Love it
I totally thought this was going to go the other way, of small kids christmas is magical and teenagers don't want to do anything. Maybe that's cause my teenagers didn't want to do anything lol. I'm glad I was wrong though!
Little Christmas tip, especially for parents with young kids...make the Stocking fair game to open without everyone. Put little presents, a game or even a movie they can watch for a while that morning while you get more sleep. My parents did this for me because I would have them up at the crack of dawn and it worked wonders...it was at least 8am before I came pestering them again.
Having two teens, myself, this is sooo accurate it’s scary. My daughter, also emails me her Christmas list, with attachments, and prices. 😂
Only detail you forgot….showing your wallet after shopping for baby presents vs. teen presents. Mine is a negative bold red number 😂😩😳
We all know the Teen probably just bought the cookies at the store. Heck they probably just order it from the food delivery app. 😅🤣
Wow! Your teens are far more capable than mine 😂
Yeah that wake up before the butt-crack of dawn was always a killer! Haha!
I LOVE reaping presents! I don’t have TikTok, but I learned on TH-cam and it’s a nice, chill way to get into the Christmas spirit!
Edit: Wrapping, not reaping - that would be much more Halloween-y
Me especially the presentation list and the Taylor tickets
Losing the scissors while wrapping. That always happens!!
I just love you guys, and your content! Happy holidays ❤
My 18-year-old thinks I'm crazy for 'cleaning as I go' whenever I cook or bake. I thought I was the only one who did that!! It just makes sense, right?? BTW - I want to make those cookies; they are perfect!!
Very accurate I know because me and my older brother are teens and we have lots of little siblings so we know both like last year I made sugar cookies for everyone in the family
That was so sweet of you to make all the cookies!
Oh YEAH!!!! Having teens/young adults now is AWESOME at Christmas. The sleeping in part…..GOLDEN!!!
Losing the scissors and tape is a real problem😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I've spent over $500 in gift cards. I look under the tree and it looks like there's nothing there...lol. Bigger boxes is a good idea for gift cards.
I love when the kids want to wrap the presents. Mine even wraps her own, I put it in a box, tape up the box and she wraps it. It is GREAT.
Oh my god, yes! Please keep sharing bloopers and “And…cut!”
ps This was so spot on.😆
That's me, taking the batteries out of noisy toys!!
This is the first time I’m looking forward to the teenage years with hope rather than crippling dread 😂
I love your channel every time I watch it I smile and laugh ,witch is what I need because I work in retail
Yes!!! Our kids are the same age as yours. You nailed it.
So relatable, every part! This year we got to experience sleeping in! I actually had time to shower, hair, and makeup before pulling out the camera.
Thanks for reminding me to get gift tags. 🤪
The cookie bit at the end , lol ! It reminded me that dame thing happened to my sister with her birthday cake, 🤣 very funny
Aaahh! I still remember the 4am little feet stampede on Christmas day to open presents when the kids were little.