Rocking around the Christmas tree with Tusten teens

The annual conundrum. What does the family want for the holidays? It was hard enough to get gifts when they were kids. Now they’re tweens and teens, with opinions. It’s a battlefield, and not the “Call of Duty” or “Battleship” kind. What’s a loving adult to do for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, Boxing Day or Chanukah?
Breathe easy dear readers. Let the River Reporter help!

Making a list. Checking it twice.
We recently went to Tusten Social, on 90 Main St. in Narrowsburg, to talk to the teens at their Thursday afternoon hang session. Breakout the alcohol-free eggnog! The gang gave us insights into what they’d like, and not like, for the holidays.
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
The discussion started with Greta Knutsen, the board president of Tusten Social, facetiously saying she’s like a pony for Christmas. Let’s call her bluff and make sure there’s one under her tree this year.

Lump of coal
One teen admitted to getting an actual box of coal for Christmas. Not a hit, so let’s avoid that this year. Even for the kids on the naughty list. After all, it’s 2025. They might prefer a renewable energy source.

Nearly everyone voted for real gifts instead of a gift card. Like most of us, they simply want to feel seen and known when opening their gifts. Kayleann, tween-aged 12, loves to bake and take on projects. Anything home economics-themed is going to be a hit with her.
Grace, a 16-year-old, science passionate high school junior, doesn’t mind seeing a little extra green under the tree. Cash gifts are a hit. The best gift she’s ever received was a periodic table that contained samples of each element, “Except for the radioactive ones!” she was quick to point out.
Grace adds a plea to retailers, “Please let Halloween pass before Christmas gifts and decorations are put out.” She also says, “Avoid buying poorly made things, or giving clothes without personality as gifts.”

The Christmas sweater
Recent graduate Keegan, 18 years old, loves a practical gift. Clothes are fine with him. The music aficionado, who recently enlisted in the Air Force, says the best gift he’s ever received was a Star Wars hoodie, which he happened to be wearing the day of the interview.
When it comes to shopping Keegan likes the convenience of Amazon and enjoys giving or getting fun gifts like Lego. Perhaps the Millennium Falcon would be a hit for this future Airman.
Seventeen-year-old senior, Kaiden enjoys everything art, especially comic book illustrations, especially of his favorite character, Daredevil. He’s not an Amazon guy and much prefers seeing the gifts he buys up close and personal. His wish list will always include art supplies such as alcohol markers and color pencils. He also enjoys clothing as a gift, but the best present he ever got was an art book featuring his favorite manga artists.
High school sophomore Amy, age 15, loves anything art or crafting related, having learned a lesson in holiday communication by telling everyone in her family she wanted the same thing. That’s how three wrapped “Operation” board games landed under her tree. As a gift giver, she enjoys making things for the people she loves or finding treasures on sites like Etsy. Recently her grandma scored a gift homerun when she gave Amy a 1999 iMac Blueberry.

Silver Bells
The Tusten Teens are big fans of riding their sleighs to Middletown, Scranton or Dickson City. Their favorite stores include American Eagle, Hot Topic, Macy’s, Aeropostale and Spencer’s for fun things like belts and chains.
One teen was brave enough to acknowledge the occasional Walmart excursion.
Locally the kids love the Union Holiday Fair and Catskill’s Curated, saying that it’s fun to check out the offerings and support local artists and craftspeople. “They carry my favorite chocolates!” said one enthusiast.
There were some strong opinions about what not to do for the holidays. Avoid a “sad, beige, pathetic Christmas.” It does seem our younger residents enjoy a maximalist holiday, with lots of flavors, colors, decorations and fun.

Give us some figgy pudding
And food. Don’t forget food.
Holiday table must-haves include pumpkin pie, with ice cream, please. Other dessert or sweet-treat favorites include gingerbread or sugar cookies, not frosted and preferably crunchy. For the main course we were told, “There is nothing better than a good ham.” Stuffing is mandatory. And one Narrowsburg family is a fan of the amalgamation, which seems to be a casserole made up of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and gravy.
Of course, as we go over the (Delaware) River and through the (Bethel) woods, it goes without saying what the first item on everyone’s gift list is this year: subscriptions to the River Reporter, a year-long gift that keeps giving, and leaves everyone in the know.