Stocking Suffers

My kids always get a book, toothbrush, some candies, pair of socks, and maybe a few other little things like pencils, fun erasers, for girls-hairclips. As they get older, their stuffers have upgraded to gift cards, key chains etc.

Stockings are my favorite! For girls you could do lip gloss, soft plush toys, pencils/pens, candy, play jewelry or real, activity books, nail polish/ makeup, hair accessories, books, oranges( my tradition), deodorant/ shampoo.. Basically anything small that can fit in a stocking.

Thinking back to when I was a little kid, my mom would stuff our stockings with quite an assortment. Fun things, nothing too expensive.

There was always an orange in the toe of the stocking, and a toothbrush sticking out the top. But that didn't mean there wasn't chocolate too! And a candy cane...

Fun socks, or mittens. Packet of stickers. A small stuffed animal (think beanie-baby size)

A Hot Wheels car (yep, my sister & I loved these!!) or a new outfit for Barbie. A small travel game, or a coloring book wrapped around a pack of brand new Crayons.

You can get a lot of these items @ the dollar store, or sale section @ Target.

I hope you & your girls have a wonderful Christmas this year. Since it is your first Christmas without him, you might even want to find a way to honor your husband & their dad, maybe put a something that will remind them of him in their stocking, & share some good stories about him together that morning. T.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Stockings are a big tradition in our house, and my own when I was growing up. Mostly, they are filled with things like loose candy (individually wrapped--the stores are full of Christmas packaged snack sized things), nuts (in the shell, and assuming no allergies in your family), boxes of tic tacs, gum, as a child we ALWAYS got a lifesavers book(filled with rolls of lifesaver candy), and an apple as well.

I also like to throw in something "cute", like a cheap windup toy or sizzler magnets or something like that. When they were small, they'd get new fun toothbrushes, too. Now that they are older (I have teens), everyone gets an iTunes card (I buy a 4 pack-- $15 each).

It can be whatever you want. Some people put jewelry and nice but SMALL gifts in them. But ours were always the "fun" little things that we were allowed to open before mom and dad got out of bed. We had to wait on everything else but the stocking. And that's what we have continued. They can get up at 5:00 a.m. and have at the stockings, but they can't wake us up until whatever time we have designated in advance (usually like 7 a.m. or something).
I never wanted to miss them opening a nice gift, so nothing "nice" goes in the stocking.

Be sure and put the same things in YOUR stocking, too. Even if the "goodies" that are personal to you are things like chapstick or nail files. Doesn't have to be expensive. Just something a little different. Everyone's stocking is personalized to them with a "base" of candy/nuts/fruit that everyone has.
But since one kid likes Juicy Fruit gum and one likes Dentyne Fire, they get the gum in the flavor they like--but they each get gum. One is a boy and one is a girl, so they don't both get nail files, but one might get a hair band and the other might get a yo-yo.
Personal to the kid, but sort of the same.

Have fun with it.

SO sorry for your loss. It must be so difficult especially at holidays and other milestones like birthdays.

I'm Jewish but have a lot of Christian friends/family. A lot of people go to the travel section for little toothpastes (and a new toothbrush), hand lotion and chapstick, small packs of candies or cookies (no chocolate if you have a dog and the kids will leave stuff on the ground), a brush or hair clips, etc.

How about a new ornament for the tree, mittens, scarf or neck warmer, soft slippers or slipper socks for running around the house? Look into the "old fashioned", low-tech games - those little toys with the balls that roll around inside while you try to get them into the little depressions, a set of jacks, a deck of cards (regular or Uno) in small kid sizes, those wood puzzles with golf tees as pieces (tic-tac-toe or other matching games) which are great for play in the doctor's office or the restaurant while waiting for your food, etc. Kids really get a charge out of these things that are "old" to us but new to them.

For adults, a lot of people do a few small $1 or $2 lottery tickets, hand lotion, toothbrushes, travel size deodorants for the purse or glove compartment, little 99 cent "nips" of a holiday liquor or liqueur, an ice scraper for the car (small size that fits in the pocket of the door), travel tissues for the glove compartment, etc.

Small gift cards for $5 or $10 for the coffee place, the pizza place, etc. Most AAA offices sell discount movie tickets in sets that can be broken up - it works out to about $5 a ticket which is a good deal.

Good luck and a Merry Christmas to you in this new situation in your life.

I don't want to sound harsh, but don't you remember what he did for prior years? If you guys do stockings as cheaper items, then you continue to do that. There are a million options. You make changes as the kids grow and their interests change. If you do nicer things, then you do that. In my family, Santa always gives the "big" gift and then we get a few smaller things like our favorite candy, perfume, cologne, music, books, etc. So this year, our kids are getting new bikes in their stockings and hubby, I mean Santa, always gets me a really nice piece of jewelry. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you can continue or start some traditions that your husband already liked to do. Good luck.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Think back to what your daughters loved from past years and buy the same type of stuff. That way you'll be carrying on some of the 'traditional' things their dad bought for them.

We usually do silly stuff like new toothbrushes, pencils, erasers, a few chocolates, maybe new undies. :-)
Given your loss, and that your husband always did the stockings, it might be really neat to start a tradition to remember him, or to have a special tradition. Maybe an ornament (and angel, or a bell, or a snowflake) with the year & their names that they can get year after year. Something to remember Dad. Or a small neat framed picture ornament that they can collect over the years.

S., I just get a few candies that I know my boys will enjoy. Maybe a deck of cards or some small toy. My oldest son does not really like candy so I always go to a specialty popcorn shop and get him some cheese corn. Stickers, fingernail polish, new markers or crayons. The Party City near us always has fun little trinkets next to the check out like a mini slinky or key chains that light up and make noise.

Happy Holidays

M.

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry - what a tough Christmas. My heart is with you.

Young girls are probably the easiest people to stuff stockings for - hair clips and hair bands, tinted chapsticks, glittery pens, crazy socks, small mirrors, small hairbrushes, nail polish...

Please allow me to make a suggestion - take time to mourn and be sad this Christmas. It's not a bad thing for you and the girls to cuddle and shed some tears together. To miss your husband and their dad. It's a tender way to acknowledge and honor an important person in your life. Then pick yourselves up and go do seomthing he would have liked to do. I suspect you'll giggle, then cry, then find yourself enjoying some small thing, then feel bad about a little bit of joy. It's all OK - our emotions just run all over the place and there's no "normal".

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit" Ps 34:18

Praying comfort and tenderness as you go through this valley.

I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I hope you & your girls will be
able to enjoy the holiday.
Some stocking stuffer ideas we enjoy (not sure of their ages):
-socks
-hair clips & bands
-candy canes & little chocolate santas
-costume jewelry (plastic bead necklaces etc.)
-mini puzzles
-a small new ornament
-hot pink hair brush
-colored chalk
-a plastic ring
-cute mini cup
-blocks
-fuzzy frames

Jewelry, hair accessories and an orange was always popular when I was a kid. Claire's has some good deals.

If they are on the older side, gift cards are fun.

If they are younger, a little stuffed animal and markers would be cute too.

Are the stocking items supposed to be from Santa? Make sure to used the Santa wrapping paper.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This must be a difficult time for you. Thanks for pushing through for your girls.
And Mom, don't forget yourself, lip gloss, pretty scarf, warm socks, hand sanitizer for your purse, lotion for your purse (Nivea), pretty ink pen, Yankee Candle, etc.
I'll be thinking of you and sending you positive thoughts, you are not alone.
Now here's what I'm thinking mini-flashlights, stickers, gift card to ice-cream shop (Cold Stone Creamery, Baskin Robbins), fun socks, fun keychain to hang on their backpacks, gloves, fun hat, music cd (there are great ones for kids) comic book of their favorite super hero or themed pencils of favorite character, you might find these not in stationary in big box stores but the party supply aisle as they are commonly used as party favors.
Be careful with the stocking stuffers, they can quickly add up. I like Big Lots for stocking stuffers, Dollar Spot at Target and I bet other places have neat things you can't normally find during the year.
Happy shopping!!!

Just continue to do whatever he did, why would you change it?

So sorry for your loss. Not knowing how young the two girls are it is hard to say on some things. I will say that for my 4yr old, the past few years I have hit the Dollar Store (at a young age there interests are always changing and they are sometimes rough on thigs). I would get little books for him, play figures of Pooh, Tiger, etc, I have also gotten him an ornament, play packs with crayons, stickers, and coloring pages, etc.
Also agree with precious poster that mom needs something nice ... Sleeper socks, new brush, perfume, anything that mom's heart desires (new earrings?).
Good luck

My daughter is 7 and son is 7 months. Her stocking will include an Olaf pez dispenser (she gets a pez dispenser every year), super girls hand sanitizer and chapstick, anna and elsa jelly beans, a unikitty keychain, etc. His stocking will include a buzz lightyear pez dispenser, and teething toys. Surely you know your children well enough to figure out small things to put in their stockings.

Sorry to hear about your husband. It must be especially hard at the holidays.

The options are endless! I put an orange at the toe, as well. Each of the kids will get ear buds since theirs are broken or near broken. My 6 yr. old will get bubbles, the girls will get nail polishes, earrings, and stickers for all. Basically, the little things that would/could get lost in the midst of unwrapping the larger sized gifts. Also, the dollar store, Walgreens, etc.. are great places to find stuffers. Socks, gloves, bubble bath, special candies.. really... endless possibilities!

Also, I'm sorry for your loss.

L.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Sending you warm hugs and wishes for the holiday season.

My kids stockings this year (7 year old boy, 4 year old girl) will include:
Yogurtland gift cards
Movie tickets
Lego Mixels or other small Lego sets
Cute socks
Chocolate/candy

Can't remember what else, but I like lots of the ideas below, too.

Go to my page and look at my questions, I asked not too long ago and there are TONS of good ideas there :).

Standards in ours are a new tooth brush, candy, an orange, normally an ornament (unless we wrap it and put it under the tree), and a gift card or two. This year we are adding in a few other things like Bath and Body Works lotions/bath washes, Disney Inifinity 2.0 characters, and lottery tickets.

I am so sorry about your family's loss.

Here's my suggestion list

1.) DVDs. Their great for creating memories and traditions. Target has tons of them. My girls 10 & 8 love American Tail when they were the same age as your kids. I actually picked up a new copy for one of their stockings. Other cute ones are Ponyo, My neighbor Neighbor Totoro (getting this one too),Milo &Otis, etc.

2.)Their favorite candy

3.)Tiny Toy (littlest pet shop, my little pony, lalaloopsy)

4.) Book

5.) girly things

As a child I was interested in the reason we had stockings. You could start a new tradition of telling historical Christmas stories. If your girls are young you could tell the same stories every year. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote books about pioneer life. I enjoyed reading about Christmas during that time as experienced by Laura. You can find books about how Christmas legends began at the library and on line.

First let me say I'm so sorry for your loss!

We usually put in some candy. This year I found a snowman kit that is a kind of clay that you make into a snowman and it has eyes and things to decorate it. As it sits it melts and then you can rebuild it. I found it for $5 at Toys R Us. I also found little book lights at our B&N that is going out of business. Last year I put in $5 gift cards to their favorite ice cream place and to B&N. I've put in flavored Chapstick, fun socks, small boxes of crayons, fun pencils, stickers/tattoos, little note pads/sticky notes, fun toothbrushes, coupons for a date night, little things I find in the dollar section at Target or craft stores, jewelry. I also try to find a Christmas ornament that commemorates something for the year. This year my daughter is getting one that has a gymnast on it. Last year my son's was the character that he dressed up like for Halloween. Maybe a small frame with a picture of their dad in it or something that was special to him.

I hope you and your girls have a fun Christmas even though your husband isn't there with you. God bless you!