The Great Stocking Debate: When Your Daughter’s Wish List Comes with a Hefty Price Tag

The Great Stocking Debate: When Your Daughter’s Wish List Comes with a Hefty Price Tag Ah, stockings—the final piece of holiday magic, hanging there with promises of little surprises and cozy delights. Once upon a time, filling a stocking was easy. A few candies, maybe an orange, and a cute pair of fuzzy socks, and voilà!Christmas stocking, done. But then, I had a daughter. And not just any daughter—a high-maintenance one with big holiday dreams. Suddenly, stockings have turned into a mini shopping spree that rivals Santa’s entire budget. Gone are the days of dollar-store goodies and peppermint sticks. No, no. When you have a daughter who’s already requested everything from Sephora, suddenly stocking stuffers become strategic investments. We’re talking lip glosses that cost more than my entire beauty routine, tiny perfumes in dainty bottles, and body care “essentials” that she swears will change her life. All for the stocking. Yes, the stocking. It’s like the stocking has become its own little VIP section. Sure, there are still candies and maybe a bath bomb or two, but it’s all elevated. I find myself shopping for stocking stuffers as if I’m assembling a personal care package for a small, high-end spa, onto of the skincare requirements from our Apothecary. Every year, I set a budget for stocking stuffers, and every year, I exceed it. It’s like some holiday magic (or financial mischief) has taken over. She’ll start dropping hints about what “would be amazing” to find in her stocking—little hints that translate into dollar signs. I can almost see her eyes light up as she pictures pulling out that fancy lipgloss or the hand cream she’ll probably lose by New Year’s. By the time I’m done, I’ve spent enough to cover the actual gifts, and that’s just to keep the “fun surprise” factor intact. Because heaven forbid she finds just gum and socks in there. No, stockings have become a high-stakes event. Every time I buy a stocking stuffer that requires me to think, “Is this really necessary?” I can’t help but think of Santa and wonder if he deals with this, too. Is Mrs. Claus over there questioning if the elves need to make the stocking-sized designer lip balm in three different shades? As I go through the holiday aisles, I see other moms with that familiar, slightly panicked look, clutching miniature skincare sets and gift cards. I know they’re having the same inner monologue: “Will this fit in the stocking? Is this a bit much? Should I have gotten a second job just for this?” Look, I love spoiling her—I do! And seeing her face light up when she digs into that stocking? Priceless. But at some point, I have to ask myself: where is the line between a stocking stuffer and an actual gift? I mean, if it comes with its own protective packaging, it probably wasn’t meant to sit alongside candy canes and clementines. But there’s also something special about making that stocking just right. Stockings have become this magical mix of practical, pampering, and total surprises, all tailored to her whims. So even if it means slipping in one more mini lotion or a tiny bit of sparkle, I remind myself that sometimes, it’s worth it. At the end of the day, it’s about the memories we’re creating—and the minor heart attack Tanner gets each year looking at the receipt. Her stocking is filled with a little bit of everything: love, indulgence, and maybe a financial decision or two I’d rather not dwell on. But hey, it’s all part of the holiday fun, right?