Don’t all come at me, but has anyone else found the day a bit boring?

I have found Christmas day boring since I was a teen. I love the run up to xmas but find the expectations of the day ridiculous. I now refuse invites and spend the day at home with DH. Today I watched a couple of movies and slowly prepared a feast. I do like the idea of going on holiday sometime, maybe skiing.

We had a lovely day. I like to think of Christmas as the period rather than the day which really helps to enjoy it and the effort more worthwhile. It takes the pressure off for me. We had a couple of people round that were happy to muck in with washing up / fetching their own drinks and putting batteries in toys etc

Everyone got some time doing what they wanted like reading / gaming. Lunch turned out nicely and a cheeseboard later in the day and puddings worked well. We got some easy games to play and I had some conversation starter cards which sound forced but work well across the generations

I try really hard to remember that I missed family Christmas in covid and it's a blessing to have people here. Doesn't always work but helps a little.

It has been what I thought it would be, a chill day. DC both young adults surfaced at 9am, DM staying so we all opened our gifts. Dinner at 1pm and we all went off for a snooze at 3pm. Back eating chocolates and watching crap TV by 4.30pm and now DM and I have left the DC up drinking rum and coke until the early hours.

Just glad to have my DC with me after DD lost her friend this year. It was quiet but nice.

I’m so surprised to be chipping in to say it was a surprisingly lovely day. My DD (nonverbal and physically disabled as well as probably autistic or otherwise disabled such that she can’t talk (or eat or walk)) actually sat to have her presents opened and was excited by (some) and tried to say “presents” (she tries to talk).
I drove 2 hours to PILs and she was so vocal (she tries to sing) all the way there as she was so excited. She was really happy there and my naughty but adorable dog behaved and the food was delicious and it was sedate and sweet (PILs approaching 80 but very fit and active).
The 2 hour drive back was a bit challenging but then I got to speak to all my siblings on a group call which hasn’t happened much since my mum died about 18 months ago. It’s been refreshing in its simplicity with no-one getting drunk (there’s often BILs and SILs and tears).
It reminded me not to give up on anything- if my DD can be interested in presents then anything is possible!

Thursdays are my only day off as I work 2 jobs, so I’ve made the most of not really doing anything as I don’t have an ‘extra’ day this year. Cooked a lovely lunch that everyone ate as was food they liked, lazed around watching the kids open presents, and we’ve watched Christmas films all afternoon, whilst I read my book. Seeing in-laws this weekend around work, so it was a lovely day off where I didn’t have to change out of my new pjs. What else do people want to do?

Nope, we had a lovely day 🥰

But we don’t do a traditional Christmas and never have. No DC so we had a lie in, walked the dog, cooked dinner, ate and lay on the sofa watching films and drinking Baileys. We then cleaned up and now in bed all cosy.

I read a lot about MN Christmases with tons of expectations and rules and it makes me shudder.

I know what you mean. We kept it a quiet Christmas deliberately and don't gete wrong, it's been a nice day. However with teens in the house, once they've had presents and been fed they disappear again. Miss the chaos of a big family Christmas with loads of kids and toys !

It's been a lovely day, especially starting it with some lovely Mimosas, then lovely food and chilled Viognier, which is one of my favourites, but think I peaked too soon with the Albarino and missed dessert because I'd fallen asleep! But then in the afternoon I got a second wind with the Tequila and had so much fun dancing. Probably a mistake to have had the Port and cheese, as Stilton before bedtime is a bit irresponsible...

Once the presents were open my sons were building Lego or on their longest. They did help with the preparation for dinner but I'm tired of cooking every bloody year. But they did wash up so some positive

nope. Loved the chaos even if we were all a bit over stimulated at times 4 kids 2-8 so right in the best bit. My lovely PIL my own sis and BIL and my own parents and my nan. Brilliant. And I pulled dinner off

Tbh I read the Emma Thomsoning thread and it was so very sad what some people are going through, so I've counted my blessings today and had a lovely day. We have several seriously ill family members and friends at the moment so it's felt a bit calm before the storm ish.

Tbh I've spent the day in the kitchen cooking so not had time to get bored, ds13 has been a bit bored today though. We did play some games and watched a bit of festive tv. Absolutely shattered though from too much cooking and eating!

Interesting. I thought ours was going to be boring but also stressful, due to a couple of fun family members not being able to make it this year, but in the end it turned out fab!

We met another family for a run and playground in the morning (kids on bikes), then extended family came round and we did the whole massive turkey thing, amazingly it was more moist than I’ve ever tasted before,

my son LOVED all his presents and DM & MiL felt they had sufficient attention and good behaviour from him (that was the bit that was stressing me out, I hate when they moan to me if he’s not 100% happy all the time or a bit naughty, fgs he’s 4!) then we went to the skatepark, then back for some pud and a nice chat before they all left.

Then bedtime for DS and us not long after. Surprised that it was such a nice day. For me it massively helped to go outside a couple of times so thank goodness for a lovely day.

id advise going outside and board games to mix things up a bit. I do remember Xmas getting boring in my 20’s and thinking yeh this kind of needs some kids to bring back the magic.

I have been abroad for Christmas a few times and it was a welcome change from the usual family traditions.

Yeah, but it's cos this year we're at my.parents. I love the bones of them but all they do (even outside of Xmas) is rot on the sofa and watch TV. Luckily it's not been as bad as I thought as my 4 year old has been keeping us entertained (alongside trying not to wake sleeping grumps) but I much prefer Christmas at DHs family's. It's lots of people, and chaotic, and music, and games and just loads of fun.

I have basically come to approach our usual Christmas Day of doing dutiful family stuff as I would a long journey. Kids on tablets eating crap, and I'm as drunk as I can get away with while still functioning.

Yes it was very quiet here. Trying to be grateful as it was fine but yes boring.

husband is ill
daughter at work
son & me did parkrun then cooked dinner but there was too much time to kill.

anyway - a lovely problem to have.

I have teens and 20s DC. We went on holiday for Christmas 2 years ago and it was nice having a year off tbh.

16yr old DD has felt a bit flat and unchristmassy this year. I'm considering booking a holiday for next year and doing Christmas at home just every other year.

I've spent most of the day alone, apart from the cat. DH has been in bed unwell for the past 3 days and doesnt look like he's going to improve any day soon. Christmas dinner was a bacon sandwich. So, meh.

Even as a Grandma I do find Christmas expensive and tedious!
So much fun when my children were younger without all the SM rubbish.
My daughter definitely finds Christmas more tiring/ competitive than I did when my children were younger

Yes, it was bloody lovely. We got up late 9 o'clock, went for a walk, came home and had a sleep (decadent at 1pm) then opened presents. Watched some TV, sausage chips and curry sauce for tea then my partner was in bed at 9.

We usually have so much to do on a Thursday that it was lovely to do bugger all in a dull way

I absolutely hate it
In fact, I hate it less in recent years

But it's usually either very stressful - that was mostly when my late father was around but also a couple of times with my elderly mother being ill, and it feels as if she has been elderly for a very long time. I realise it feels much worse for her - or very boring

And then I'm so grateful when it's boring because it means it's not stressful!

Thank goodness it's over. If I had anyone else who could look after my mum at Christmas.... I would go away.

I think this is the first year in awhile that I haven't moaned constantly on MN. I figured it was better to try not to think about it.

But yeah, I am so relieved when it's done. There will definitely be more fun ways to spend it. I'm just stuck at the moment.

I managed to get my Parents to go out a couple of times, that was nice - so expensive though.

I'm not fussy at all about how the food turns out but they were/are.

Bit the same here - DCs are teens now so are over the magic of it all, but were chuffed with their presents this year. I spent the whole morning (and all of yesterday) cooking, we ate at 3pm, and after everything was cleared away I was too tired to do anything but sit on the couch. Got presents opened which was nice, but tbh have been feeling a bit bored and sad since. We don't really get any visitors so just us. Might have to suggest we do something different next year.