For most of my adult life I was exhausted. Getting Christmas together for a big family is always challenging, especially when you're married to a minister and you have umpteen parties to attend and four services on Christmas Eve.
Stocking stuffers were a particular challenge. Our kids got lots of presents but they were mostly small and practical. (Yes, socks and underwear were included.) Stuffing the stockings was redundant.
One version of the origin of this practice is that a bishop put gold coins in the stockings of poor young women so that they'd have a dowry and, hence, be able to marry. Later the coins were replaced with oranges.
This is what I got in my stocking as a child - an orange - but I warn you, don't try this now. It doesn't fly.
An article in the recent "New Yorker" gave some stocking stuffer ideas. Here are a few to help you out. All of the items can be ordered on line.
Squirrel Underpants
Nobody wants socks and underwear anymore but you can order tiny squirrel underpants from a company that will donate a portion of the profits to the Small Animal Decency Fund (to eliminate nudity among animals.)
Chocolate Flavored Toothpaste
Bacon Flavored Floss
Silly Straw
Five pieces of tubing allowing you to have coursing streams of Dr. Pepper swirling around your head.
Small Forensic Science Kit
Gather evidence to construct an air tight case against your little sister.
Baby Flash Light
A baby size anything is cute.
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