the excesses, the highs and lows.
all the family together?
how to stay cheerful.

Can I assume you are?

You don't have to be cheerful just because it is Christmas.

I am worried, but only because we will have a newborn baby to look after and therefore no sleep. Otherwise, I don't get why there needs to be that many excesses of highs and lows, forced cheerfulness etc? Over raised expectations of how Christmas will be does lead to problems I agree, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue unless you already have stresses in your relationship.

oh but i want to be cheerful. that is the point isnt it?

I looked at how many presents ds is going to get na dhave held some back for his birthday <mean Mummy alert>

I have sent dh away to his friends for 2 nights in New Year to get some peace and quiet

Xmas day is always fraught because kids are manic, the stress of everything being 'ust right' for visitors, or having to travel. My sister and her family are coming for 2 nights starting on xmas day so I know all xmas morning whilst all the present opening is going on dh will be worrying about xmas dinner being just right and I will be madly cleaning bathrooms, shoving wrapping paper in bin bags and trying to keep a list of who gave what to who

TheProvincialLady-Worry not re the newborn baby part.DD1 was born on Boxing day.It was the best Christmas I have ever had.I felt like the Virgin Mother or something It felt very special having an impending birth and then a wee baby at that time of year We bought her home from hospital and put her under the Chrismas tree in her basket with all the twinkly lights shining over her.It was gorgeous.>>wells up thinking about it<<

OP-Think the trick is to take each day as it comes.Plan shopping/trips out etc carefully so that they are easy to execute and thus less potential for stress.If inlaws are a pain do what we do.Discuss before hand and have a code word you can say to each other for when you need rescuing/are getting annoyed..and use it!(My inlaws are dire hence need for drastic measures )

Ah Compo, bet you and DC's look back in years to come and think what brilliant Christmases you used to have, all the family together, the chaos, the cousins, the burnt roasties, the noise.... you'll forget all about the murderous feelings you had as you shoved a bog brush down the U-bend...

I love the feeling of anarchy in having buck's fizz and chocolate coins for breakfast whilst still in jim-jams and dressing gown, Christmas hits blaring in the background and paper everywhere etc!

i feel cheered up now

I bet when we're all old and grey, and life is a lot quieter, with all the time in the world to sit and reflect, we'll realise how good we had it now

lol loulou, but very good point. I want my kids to look back with fondness at xmas at home, like I do at mine, even though I know now my mum was stressed out I didn't at the time

it is bound to be a lot worse on eastenders

Eastenders gonna be a funny one this year, something to do with the beales!

oh no, we need the doom and gloom on eastenders, don't we?

There's something about Christmas that brings out the rows, i think.

Certainly January is my busiest month (divorce lawyer )

TheGreatChristmasEvie....did you have a toddler to look after as well? That is why I am so worried!

Not then I didnt.But 17 months later I had DD2.Its a peice of piss, dont worry..>>looks longingly at the bottle of gin.Wonders if its too early?<<

A piece of piss

I am going to seek you out and REMIND you of that when my DC2 is 2 weeks old and I haven't slept since December 13th.