texasmama Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I want to crawl in the back of a closet until December 26. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. And on the whole we keep things very low key. I'm still very happy when the holidays are over with and life returns to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Elephant Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 LOL! Well, you're doing better than me, because each year Christmas rolls around, I wish I could go to bed about a week before and not wake up until the New Year. There's just so much lead-up to the holiday season. All the running around, the planning, the fretting over this and that, and by ten or eleven in the morning on Christmas day, I always feel like it's all over, and then the thought runs through my head, "why"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I enjoy all the holiday stuff -although I have tremendously cut back on my lavish (18+ types!!!) cookie baking as I just am not up for it - and just this morning realized that, hey, I do not have to make and deliver a dozen or more cookie plates (and folks never give me the large metal plates back, either) two days before Christmas! I am not allowed on step ladders, either, so did not hang the greenery and ornaments over the pocket doors between the living/dining rooms, or over the dining room window, either. I said a couple times that if a teen wanted to do it....no one ever did, and NO ONE has said anything about the missing ornamentation!!! So I can permanently stop doing that fiddly job, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I always think I'm not going to get stressed, and then because of some stupidity on my part, I end up. Like last night, shopping for an inexpensive gift for great-niece and nephew. I normally don't buy gifts for them, but another niece has a one-year-old, and I bought him something. Since they live in the same city (not local to me), I feel I have to do something for all the kids or none. My idea isn't working out, despite going to 3 stores last night. It would have easier and maybe cheaper in the long run to just get them Barnes and Noble gift cards. (Though I think a gift card has to be $10 minimum and I wasn't planning to spend $20.) But that's my own fault. If I had done this in November when I first thought of it, I would have been able to do it easily and wouldn't be under stress now. So in my case anyway, the stress is self-inflicted. I know that is not the case for everyone though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. We alternate who we spend the holidays with. This year we will travel to stay with my in-laws who live 3 hours away. I LOVE my in-laws, but when we visit anywhere I have to constantly run interference for my son with autism. It is much harder when we stay overnight somewhere. I proposed to my dh we take 2 cars so he and my daughters can stay longer and I can return home with our son if, after two days, he is done. Having a contingency plan helps reduce my stress greatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Umm ... yes. For the last 3 years (and this year) we have planned international travel (and before that, out-of-town sleep-over guests) beginning right around Christmas day. (This year we fly out on Christmas Eve.) My job involves a lot of stuff that has to happen around the end of the year - if it is even 1 second after midnight 1-1-2015, I am in deep doo doo. So I try to get as much as possible done before we leave. And make sure the rest can be done remotely with iffy connectivity. It's just awesome I tell ya. Hard to concentrate on work when you have multiple Christmas parties to attend, gifts to figure out, special kids' activities to schedule, a multi-country trip to prepare for, .... This year I have not yet brought up the Christmas books and decorations (though our tree is always up). I think at this point it is not going to happen. Forget baking Christmas cookies too. And I am not sure how many gifts I will actually wrap. I am worried that I am forgetting important things. Stressed? Yeah, a little .... ETA: I'll just gratuitously add that I'm a creaky, old (48), single mother. And my kids have had a test in every school subject this week. 2 tests in some of them. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saw Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. Not liking Christmas much. I think I may just ignore it as much as possible. I still haven't gotten a tree and am wondering just how bad it would be if I didn't get one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yep. It's to the point where I don't enjoy it anymore. Sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I hate Christmas with a passion, but for the kids sake, I continue to paste a smile on my face and make it all happen. They love it. And they should love it. I get more stressed with each day into December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in AZ Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes, yes, yes!!! I want to enjoy it, but I'm always too busy living life to get a head start. And this year we decided to close on a new house on Dec. 13. Moving the week before Christmas definitely has not helped improve my Christmas spirit. Feeling like a huge grinch this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Oh my goodness, YES! In my defense, I served many years in retail, so Christmas has pretty much been destroyed for me. I don't take any particular joy in it for the most part. We do keep things mostly low-key. I am grateful that DD's gym schedule has mandated that we spend Christmas at home (SO happy to no longer have to tote presents up to MIL's, or make the girls wait to open presents, or trek over to BIL's right after present opening). We cut back to 3 gifts each plus stockings last year and it's been a huge help. I wish I'd done it earlier. But for some reason I always misjudge things. I either buy early and watch the price drop later, or I hold out and watch things get sold out completely. :cursing: But yes, I want to crawl in bed a few days before Thanksgiving and wake up mid-January. BTW, Thanksgiving? Huge fail this year at MIL's. Next year, we're staying home and having an ACTUAL Thanksgiving dinner, not ham, canned corn, and deviled eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 LOL. Always! Yesterday I taught four classes, DH had an out-of-state for a procedure, finished my last set of college grades, took a telephone conference call on my youngest's surgery, and prepped for today's class. I went to bed at 1am and got up at 6:30 am. Only about half the Christmas presents are wrapped, and I haven't mailed anything. I have some time today and tomorrow morning, but my list is soooo long. Off to drink some coffee and see if there are any scones left... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in SJ Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Normally I love this time of year, but this year has been so overloaded with the tough things and we haven't done any of the fun things we normally do. I wish I could enjoy the experience I am having and not feel sad for the experience I would rather be having. Amber in SJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caclcoca Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes! I would love to skip December next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 My mother loves the Christmas crazy. I field ridiculous phone calls the (think 2x or more a day) from the week before Thanksgiving." I need a list, I don't understand this item. Calls from the store, what do you think about this, etc." I am currently at my personal breaking point and have imposed a 24 hour cool down before I return a call. In my personal rebellion, I do not: bake cookies decorate the house (children may do so if they wish) attend more than one party give gifts to anyone outside family But, I too, would like to go to a private island until January 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 :grouphug: to all of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I love doing Christmas, but my days are packed full BEFORE adding in the holiday stuff--decorating, buying presents, wrapping, Christmas pageant at church, etc. etc. So yeah, it's stressful. But we're almost done with the most stressful time and after school and other activities wrap up tomorrow, I can enjoy the rest of the season. I WANT to do the Christmas stuff--I just would like to be able to drop the homeschool, house cleaning, childcare, meal prep, etc. while I'm doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 yes. Bah humbug. I don't do well when my routine is disrupted and Christmas has a huge way of doing that. Amazon is a huge help. Having a child who can drive herself to Christmas activities is an ENORMOUS help. If I can stay home. I do better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. The whole thing--gift-giving, putting up decorations, being out of the routine, etc, etc. it completely frazzles me I hate feeling like a grinch, but there it is :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I wish the kids would let me get away with putting up a tree for five days and call it good. But no, they want all the trimmings, and a party, and special food...😉 What gets me most is that by November I am typically in great stride with our school year, then along come the holidays to send it all spiraling out of control. Then regroup time is dreary mid-winter, the season in which I have the utmost difficulty reengaging. It's quite bothersome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 For me, it all starts in early October. We have 3 October birthdays as well as Halloween. Then we have an annual out-of-town gathering in early November and of course Thanksgiving and all the rest. Or I could say it starts in August with one of our biggest work deadlines, the start of school, and the conference we put on out of town right after school starts. Or I could say it starts in June with the other big work deadline, summer travels, and as many as 3 summer "camps" daily depending on the week. Or ... I could say, I can't remember the last time I felt relaxed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 PS: I should toss in that I get out of the decor/"special day" preparations part this year. We're spending Christmas in a snazzy motel in FtCollins with DH (who works in the oil field). Hurray for my teeny little desk size Christmas tree and dinner at Golden Corral. ;) Then we'll do extended-family Christmas at my folks' over New Years. The only things truly weighing me down this year are gifts and stuff like Christmas programs, caroling, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Oh yes, I forgot all about those year-end parties and events. Choir dress rehearsal and concert, gym holiday party, state meet... Urgh, coach and teammate gifts... I just hope things will work out properly and Rebecca won't even be competing until January (if this is the case, she has advanced to an optional level). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Every time I scroll past that title, I laugh. It's my impression that many if not most people who celebrate the holiday find the Christmas season stressful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I want to hibernate from Thanksgiving to mid-March. I do like some parts of the season – the music, the lights, even the cookies. I don’t mind the shopping for people close to me. I do most of it online anyway. Extra obligations provide some stress, but if the obligations are spread out, I can handle them. The main source of my stress is MIL. She is a master at guilt trips. The past few years we travelled to my family for the holidays (in large part to avoid spending Christmas with MIL). This year we are staying home. We will not visit her on Christmas Day. The Saturday or Sunday after Christmas maybe. We are ruining her Christmas by refusing to play happy families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I think what bums me out the most is that I can't fit in a visit with my chiropractor. I need my crack fix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I'm past the Christmas pageant, band recitals, and end of school stuff--at least until my granddaughter starts doing those things. Once you are done schooling and raising kiddoes, the load gets lighter. Not a lot of family to deal with, either--I have none who gather for Christmas and dh's family does their celebrating right after Thanksgiving. Instead of stressed, I get depressed. It's not pretty. For us, our greatest 'stress' is our annual Christmas party. It IS work--to clean, decorate, and prep food. But it takes the place of a family gathering for me in many ways--I'm always glad we did it once people start arriving. :) It was last Sunday--a lovely success. I've been eating party leftovers all week...and enjoying my clean and decorated home. :) Many years ago I started making a list of things that made Christmas enjoyable or meaningful for me. The list isn't big (except for the party) Make Christmas cookies for us, look at Christmas lights, go to a local Christmas market. Watch White Christmas and a few other Christmasy movies. Stuff like that. Making a list every year really helps me not stress or become depressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I love the Christmas season (I get a break from schooling) but I was getting resentful of certain things. I took steps to change those things and now I'm much happier. Last year when I brought up these things I got all kinds of flack from my immediate and extended family. This year they are all onboard. There is obviously some magic involved that some of us could benefit from! Any specific tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamanthaCarter Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I really would like real life to slow down in December so that we can do the fun Christmas-y stuff in a non-frenetic, non-fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, non-panicky way. Next year I think we are going to plan for no school in December by starting earlier in the year. And try to get Christmas shopping for extended family done before Thanksgiving. I find the shopping for those not living under our roof the most difficult and/or annoying and I would like to have it behind me when the concerts, activities, parties, projects, etc. start. There doesn't seem to be anyway to slow down the acceleration at work for DH (or my bookkeeping at church for that matter.) Why does everything pile on in December? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I have spent years feeling stressed over Christmas. NO MORE!! This year, I am being intentional about what I will and won't do. Picking out the parts that are important to me, or super important to someone I love. No guilt!! No Perfectionism!! I am focusing on enjoying my family, my friends and remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I love the tree, the lights, the holiday aromas, the baking, wrapping gifts...for my little family. What stresses me out is dealing with distant family and the social pressure to have the perfect friends-and-family filled holiday season. I deactivated my FB account in order to avoid all of the pics and posts from holiday parties, shopping trips, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Turn Off The Christmas Machine deals with this decently well. (I planned to take it down to the local used book store, but maybe I should sell it here. Hmmm.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 This is the first year I have "decorated" for Christmas. I bought a wreath at a thrift store. I didn't feel like putting up a screw to hang it from properly, so it is currently dangling from a hook used for hanging plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 of course This shoulda been a poll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I want to hibernate from Thanksgiving to mid-March. I do like some parts of the season – the music, the lights, even the cookies. I don’t mind the shopping for people close to me. I do most of it online anyway. Extra obligations provide some stress, but if the obligations are spread out, I can handle them. The main source of my stress is MIL. She is a master at guilt trips. The past few years we travelled to my family for the holidays (in large part to avoid spending Christmas with MIL). This year we are staying home. We will not visit her on Christmas Day. The Saturday or Sunday after Christmas maybe. We are ruining her Christmas by refusing to play happy families. Me too. My MIL is furious that we are going to spend Christmas with my family. She says she told us in January that we were to be with her this year. Nevermind that she doesn't get to dicate where we spend Christmas or the fact that we have been there on Christmas for the last 3 years. (It just works out that way because my family is so far away and airline tickets are even more expensive than usual in December.) Fortunately, I don't feel any guilt. I'm just annoyed. That annoyance may or may not show itself when we get together with them on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Me too. My MIL is furious that we are going to spend Christmas with my family. She says she told us in January that we were to be with her this year. Nevermind that she doesn't get to dicate where we spend Christmas or the fact that we have been there on Christmas for the last 3 years. (It just works out that way because my family is so far away and airline tickets are even more expensive than usual in December.) Fortunately, I don't feel any guilt. I'm just annoyed. That annoyance may or may not show itself when we get together with them on Saturday. My fam is scandalized that I am flying out of the country on Christmas Eve. Who does that!?!? ME, that's who. :P Would y'all like to do Christmas before we leave or after we get back? I told them before Thanksgiving so they could get all their frustrations out over the turkey and get over it and not let it ruin their Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebbyribs Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. I feel like I'm pretty busy with the day-to-day stuff of running our household and adding in "extras" is rough. I feel like I'm terrible at buying gifts and that everyone is always disappointed with what I get for them but would be even more disappointed with me if I didn't make the effort to get them something. I'm overwhelmed by the mountain of gifts from grandparents, and I selfishly miss getting to buy presents for my kids. I hate having to plan special meals to suit a vegan as well as someone who doesn't eat any beans, spices, or tofu. It's dark and wet out, and I'd just like to hibernate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) . Edited November 19, 2015 by Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OH_Homeschooler Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 My mom always shared a little dream of hers...to get a room in a hotel in a neighboring state for Christmas and just be alone. I never understood it until I became an adult. But I don't think I would share that "dream" with my kids, I want them to enjoy the holidays as long as they possibly can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 YES! I remember almost being in tears when Christmas was over. I have a feeling I won't be doing that this year. However, I am determined to enjoy this last week of the Christmas season and RELAX! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Sadly, this seems to happen this time of year. I have to to make a very concerted effort of not taking on too much and carving out time to reflect on the holiday season. It does not just happen anymore. Everything was magical about Christmas when I was a kid, now everything seems to be one more commitment or disappointment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 One thing that I did to help Christmas be a bit better started back in August. I intentionally did NOT sign my kids up for the homeschool handbell Choir because I knew Christmas would be awful. The church who sponsors it has a huge pageant where the handbell people perform. Huge pageants mean huge rehearsals. I knew with a couple of rehearsals and three nights of performance, I would be in a much more grinchy mood than I already am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. I feel like I'm pretty busy with the day-to-day stuff of running our household and adding in "extras" is rough. This is it exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violamama Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes because we're going to my inlaws and there will be thousands of them there and they were pretty jerky to me last week. Dread is a word I don't use lightly, but... My "real" Christmas will be at my mom's house over New Years. No pressure on anybody to behave any particular way, and lots of slow time together. That's the way (uh-huh uh-huh) I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Do you have a Tuesday Morning store? I have found some good deals there before. Once got ds a game for $5 that was like $14 on Amazon. Or maybe Big Lots? I noticed Steinmart has some toys. Pretty sure their Hello Kitty bingo set cost the same or less than what I had seen elsewhere and they had some Melissa and Doug products. Not sure of the ages of your relatives, though. Good luck! Those are good ideas. I loved Melissa and Doug when my kids were little! But we found what we wanted at Pier One! Our plan had been to fill some cute mugs with Christmas candies or something hot cocoa related - every year their mom sets up a hot cocoa bar of some sort for them (I've never seen it, just heard about it). We found some cute candies but no mugs. No cute mugs! At Pier One we found some plain white mugs with a rectangle of chalkboard on the side, along with a few sticks of chalk. The kids (9 and 10) will enjoy those. I will fill them with the candies and get them wrapped tonight for shipment tomorrow! Score! So happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I do fine until I have to get out in traffic. I'm planning on doing my shopping for groceries very early on Sunday morning to avoid most of the crush in the stores, and not to set foot in a store again until after it is all over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes! I love the tree, lights, music, seeing extended family, and watching my kids open presents. I hate the costs, crowds, commercialism, and driving to see family in the SNOW! We've all been a bit humbug this year. It is our second full winter back up here in the cold and none of us are taking the lack of sunshine well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeteranMom Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Yes. It's always stressful. I long for the days of my childhood when Christmas was fun and someone else had to worry about all the presents, the budget, the wrapping, the shipping, the cards, the meals, the baking, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thank you for sharing your own thoughts and feelings on this. I now feel less alone in my dismay. (((hugs))) to anyone who needs them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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