From a parent's perspective, what is your favourite part of Christmas?

I am not a parent, just to be clear. But the excitement on peoples faces who are just makes me feel quite re-assured the world is not as evil as it is made out!!!!!





So, what is you enjoy - or, do you find the stresses of Christmas limit your enjoyment of the occasion?From a parent's perspective, what is your favourite part of Christmas?
as an adult I have always loved Christmas, just because I am a parent. Nothing can beat the excitement of buying and hiding presents for ones children, and going to the school Christmas concerts and carol services. What a wonderful time it was for all of us.





Their excitement adds to it for parents, and by Christmas Eve we would all be almost in a frenzy of anticipation.





I speak in the past tense because my kids are all grown and gone, but all that anticipation is repeated with my grandchildren. Albeit by telephone as they live far away from my house. : -- ((


But I expect we will get a visit after Christmas Day.





As I type I can see a large baby doll we have bought for our 7 yo grand daughter, and I just can't wait to see the look on her face when we give it to her.





Christmas, past and present for me, is just about children and what a magical time it is for them........... And because of that, for me too.





PS. As always, I am hoping to get 1 or 2 pressies myself. : -- ))From a parent's perspective, what is your favourite part of Christmas?
**But the excitement on peoples faces who are just makes me feel quite re-assured the world is not as evil as it is made out!!!!!**





I am a Parent %26amp; I agree with that statement 100%





For me, I just love how Christmas brings my Family together. This year I have My Foster Mum %26amp; Younger Brother coming into the State, and some of my Brother's who I haven't seen in years.


I love sitting around the table, eating a good meal, and having the ones I love so close to me.
I have two favorite parts, the first is when the kids wake up and see the tree lit up with presents underneath, and the stockings fool, and only crumbs left on Santa's cookie plate. My other favorite part is when your kid hands you the gift he bought or made for you, and the pride and joy is just beaming out of him. As for the other part my way to cut down on stress is to make a list of who we are purchasing gifts for, and get them early. Most of my shopping was done in October. Now I can browse the sales and look at the decorations without that sense of urgency, or hope that the one thing somebody really wanted is gone. It may cost me a little more but being able to enjoy the holidays and my family is worth every penny.
My very favourite part of Christmas is going to the Christmas concert at my children's school. I love seeing the kinder-gardeners perform - someone is always making faces or pulling their dress up over their face; hearing the grade 7 band mangle all of my holiday favourites; and seeing each of my children and their friends dressed up and so pleased and proud of their performances.
We travel to my parent's house and they have returned to the tradition when my brother sister and I were growing up. Reading the Nativity story to all of us before bedtime, so we remember the reason for the season. Being in the house we all grew up in, watching my son experience Christmas, that's the best part of all.
I'm not a big fan of waking up early, but on Christmas morning when my kids come running into our room and yell that Santa came, that is the best!





We also keep the #1 wish list item for our kids hidden until every gift is opened. Then, when they think they are done ::::drum roll::: the big gift arrives!





And finally, when dinner is over and the dishes are washed - we finally sit and relax while the kids play with their new stuff. That is awesome!
Well last Christmas my daughter was only a few months old, so it wasn't an overly different experience.





But now she is 16 months old.





We decorated the tree after she went to bed one night, and when we brought her down in the morning her eyes grew so wide I thought they were going to pop out. Then she smiled with the most amazing look on her face. All of the christmas lights were turned on and our little cheap-o dancing snowman was wiggling and rockin;.





She loves the dancing snowman, he sings 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'. She gets all giddy and runs around when we turn it on.





So far these are my favourite parts.... I hope she enjoys her gifts. We didn't go overboard, but I think she'll be happy to have some new toys to play with.
The excitement my kids have all through the Season definitely gets me in a Christmasy mood. We hop from grandparents to our home from next tuesday to next friday and loads of other family members pour in. We barely get to see most of the family that we really like lol.. unless it's Christmas Season (thanks to school breaks and no work!).
I love the fact that my two seem to really love each other on Christmas Eve. They sit holding hands on the sofa.





Normally they are swinging each other by the hair. On Christmas Eve thought they have a shared purpose and I love it for two reasons, one, I'm an only so I'm always jealous and in awe of any sibling closeness, two, It reassures me they will always be there for one another.
I have three children and sadly Christmas has been put on hold this year until now because my much loved Grandfather died and was buried on Monday.





However, having my 3 children (aged 5, 3 and 1) to share Christmas with is just what my whole family needs right now - we have been to nativity shows and nearly burst with pride, put up the tree and enjoyed the chaos of getting the baubles off the baby and the kitten... bought 2 bikes and hidden them in our bedroom... lol...





And I can't wait for my baby boy to eat his first christmas dinner, for my kids to come downstairs and see that Father Christmas has been and I just love the way my daughter sings every christmas day 'Happy Birthday' to baby Jesus (completely her own tradition, never encouraged by anyone else).





It's the best time of year.
The only thing I enjoy about Christmas is celebrating the TRUE meaning of the season with my family and friends.
My kids opening their presents and Christmas dinner with the extended family (even though I have to cook it all...I love it).
Yep, th excitement on th kids faces when they see Santa has come.