I love Christmas and I make a fuss of my kids so Aibu to tell people who are clearly envious to sod the hell off?

[KathGeorge1]

Hi I have four children age 10,8,6 and 4 and Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year as it is for a lot of people. They are the most loveliest, happy, appreciative children you could imagine and whilst they aren't overly spoilt in terms of gifts they do get to enjoy other things associated with the festive period.

I'm currently I sahm (du works full time) I worked when my oldest three were little but when I had our youngest I decided to take a couple of years out until she was ready for school (next year) so I have the time to plan things over Christmas that maybe I wouldn't have had time to plan or do if I were working full time. To say I've come across a lot of negativity from some friends/family/aquaintenaces is kind of an understatement. I'm not one of those pushy, over enthused, obsessive parents who like to rub things what I'm doing in other peoples faces but if people ask what I'm doing and what I'm doing over Christmas then I'll happily tell them, but I wish I hadn't bothered now.

Over the next few weeks we have quite a lot on ie trip to see Santa (of course lol) a day out at a reindeer farm, breakfast with Santa at our local garden centre, day out at an indoor Christmas theme park. And as a lot of parents I've done the usual portable North Pole messages, ordered personalised Christmas letters and Christmas plates and I've spent time doing arts and crafts and making a lot of handmade Christmas gifts for family.

Now this sort of thing I love as do my kids and we really enjoy getting stuck in over Christmas but clearly some people have a problem with the effort I make. I told two grandma what I had planned and what I'd been up to and they sort of sighed saying that I'm Mary poppins, one friend then went onto Facebook the same evening and put at stays along the lines of she doesn't understand why Christmas is such a competition for some parents and why the hell they feel the need to take their kids on loads of trips she doesn't know!

I don't usually put anything on Facebook really and only tag in probably once a year when we are on our annual holiday but I decided the other day to put a status on saying how excited I was for Christmas and that we had lots of activities planned and I couldn't wait for the kids to break up from school. Well all I got was oh you must be crazy wishing the kids to break up, and you don't have to keep the kids entertained 24/7 Kath I'm sure they're capable of doing stuff on their own!

I was kind of shocked at first but when I thought about it, these sort of comments didn't surprise me as they were mainly off the same group of people (who are not necessarily friends just people I know) who do absolutely bugger all with their own kids and who would rather go out of a weekend spending all their money and then are too hungover and skint the next day to bother doing anything. And whilst what they chose to do with their own lives is their decision it's also up to me what I do myself, and i don't expect to have digs at me just because I enjoy spending time time with my kids and family. So would I be unreasonable to just ignore the ones on Facebook and to tell my so called real friends to keep their bloody opinions to themselves?

[ShebaShimmyShake]

You definitely sound like a festive delight.

[WipsGlitter]

Did you post some thing similar at half term?

[KathGeorge1]

I am usually, I make a great effort over Christmas to make it a happy time for my family, but some people clearly have a problem with this and I don't know why.

[Sighing]

You're right. It's wrong to fling about opinions on other people's choices / lifestyle based on how they dometimes spend their time and money.

[KathGeorge1]

Half term? No this is my first post.

[mmmuffins]

Your title says you want to tell them to sod off, not ignore them. Your Christmas does sound like overkill, but it's yours, so yes ignore, though I would see a Facebook status like the one you posted as boasting. Why else post it? No one cares that you are excited for the holidays.

[Orda1]

If you like it, that's all the matters.

You don't have to do loads of activities to have a lovely Christmas either though.

[Yankeetarts19]

If you and your family are happy with the way you do things,does it really matter what other people think

[MissFitt68]

Why are you asking us??

Sounds like stealth boast

[Orda1]

Also, I doubt they're envious... Weird view.

[Bambambini]

Yes, do just as you say. Ignore FB and tell the others to shut up.

[ilovesooty]

Perhaps you need to change your friends for some with whom you have more in common.

[KathGeorge1]

The ironic thing is I've hardly spend any money go entertain my kids this Christmas. The reindeer farm is run by a charity and is £1.50 each, the breakfast with Santa is only for my youngest two kids and is £3.50 each, the Christmas fun fair should should have cost me £78 (for four of us) and instead cost nothing as you could pay through PayPal and I had recently sold tons of stuff.

[Floggingmolly]

Nobody's envious; they're bored rigid hearing you shiteing on about how your kid's Christmas is better because you clearly love them more.
That's all.

[OddSocksHighHeels]

Yes ignore them. You do what you like with your time, it's your business. To turn around and start criticising them for spending their money on nights out though is kinda hypocritical don't you think? Live and let live.

[WorraLiberty]

Aaaaaand there it is.

The last paragraph I mean

Do what you want.

I genuinely believe no-one other than your kids will care.

[Enjolrass]

What you do is your business.

But the fact that some many people seem to be rolling their eyes at you suggests you are one of those one of those pushy, over enthused, obsessive parents who like to rub things what I'm doing in other peoples faces types of people.

Maybe without realising it.

[MissFitt68]

Why do you have to 'make a great effort over Christmas to make it a happy time'?

Arent they generally happy then? You shouldn't need to make any massive effort to make happy children....

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

Oh god - this is just another not-so-subtle dig at parents who dare have time to themselves/dare go for a drink isn't it? No one really cares that much what you do with your kids, so don't judge others. If you don't want to hear from other people, keep off Facebook (and other internet platforms)

[KathGeorge1]

Well why else act so bitter and nasty if they're not a little envious? And to be fair I've seen tons of posts on Facebook recently, people saying that they are excited for christmas and some even stating what they're going to be getting up to. I always like them as I like seeing what people are getting up to.

[MetallicBeige]

Have you posted before? But about summer activities? Your post is almost identical.

[VenusInFauxFurs]

I very much doubt they're envious. There was a very similar Halloween thread. Was that you? Maybe should just stop posting what an amazing better-than-everybody parent you are on FB?

[Orda1]

I don't think it's bitter really, your idea of fun isn't the same as mine, I'm not envious though.

[MetallicBeige]

Sorry Wips cross post, I'm slow