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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anyone else had a lovely Christmas?

44 replies

Christmasjoyis · 27/12/2025 10:04

I see so many negative posts but this year we’ve loved Christmas so far. We keep it simple- lovely food, walks, board games, don’t go overboard on presents or get into Instagram trends. We don’t sign up for driving around the country trying to people please and make sure we have time to rest and relax . Lots of carol services and time in church. Feeling very content 😌 anyone joining me and what was your best bit?

We’re currently sat on the sofa with the beautiful Christmas lights up watching Amanda land Christmas special having salmon and eggs for breakfast before a big walk and a countryside pub.

In previous years we’ve squeezed holidays in for the kids before Christmas - Disney Lapland etc and found it too much so we’re feeling happier now we’ve realised we don’t need this and it put too much stress on. Merry Christmas I hope yours has been lovely .

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38thparallel · 27/12/2025 13:58

We had a lovely Christmas. We went to my kind son and daughter in law and d in law is from S America so we had a mix of cultures for Christmas lunch - all delicious.
We watched a film, played games, opened presents - and as we have hosted the festivities for the past 30 years, I thoroughly enjoyed being a guest.

RecordBreakers · 27/12/2025 13:57

Yes, lovely Christmas here too, as it generally tends to be.
We don't really do drama. Obviously, occasionally over the years someone has been unlucky enough to feel poorly, but nothing more disruptive than that.
We share out the hosting, but no strict regime, and all fine with everyone if somebody can't make it one year, or can only drop in briefly.
Not in any way stressful, but lovely mix of peaceful but also having seen everyone, relaxed and fun.

Whosthetabbynow · 27/12/2025 13:45

We bloody loved it thank you. Christmas Day laid back and chilled. All the family together yesterday for a great laugh and a drink-up x

Hollowvoice · 27/12/2025 13:43

Yes ours was lovely.
A bit weird as it was the first one without either PIL but we had a really nice relaxed couple of days with BIL and a couple of friends round. Nice food, lots of wine, too many presents, games, laughter. Both DC were on great form.
Today we have friends coming round soon then while DH is out later I will attempt to eat my body weight in cheese...

KingscoteStaff · 27/12/2025 13:42

A really lovely one here. All of us very busy with work, school, studies so didn’t do anything really Christmassy until getting the tree and decorating on the 20th!

Beautiful music in church, massive aunties/uncles/cousins/dogs walk and dinner yesterday and very lazy morning today before theatre tonight.

This time last year we were sitting round my poor mum’s bed as she moved nearer to the end, so of course we have felt her absence in everything, but feel very blessed to have had her.

Cheersmedears123 · 27/12/2025 13:23

We kept ours simple and it’s been lovely! Very relaxing, lots of nice food, loads of good wine and bubbly, and it’s all still going! I’m currently snuggled up with a cat in front of the fire, admiring the Christmas tree and demolishing another box of chocs. Later we’re going to play lots of games and do a puzzle. I’m feeling very happy and grateful.

tuvamoodyson · 27/12/2025 13:15

🙋‍♀️ …spent with family and no drama of any kind! ❤️

Laserwho · 27/12/2025 13:03

It was great. Just me and my teens. We did what we wanted, went where we wanted. Ate pasta so no one spent half the day in the kitchen. We relaxed and had fun together, just our little family.

PersephonePomegranate · 27/12/2025 13:02

Yes, I've had a lovely time! Spent Christmas Day with my family who I actually like (shock horror) and saw extended family yesterday who I have very fond memories of but don't see very often.

I've received lovely presents (no tat in sight), had easy house guests whose company I've enjoyed, eaten and drunk festive food (yes, I confess to the MN crime of gluttony for all of a week).

The run up is lovely but busy and I'm now looking forward to some quiet days with my DC with no plans, other than spending quality time together and enjoying our gifts. Oh, and probably a bit more gluttony (I know, they should probably bring back hanging for my sort) before getting back to reality (and my pre-Chriatmas weight) in January.

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 27/12/2025 12:57

I had a lovely Christmas day, but I'm ready for a new year. I'm looking forward to getting my new hall table next week,new kitchen stools arrived today. My flat is starting to look really nice (only taken 7 years 😂).

And my tree came down yesterday, I don't care about being judged but it's nice to have the space back (and not keep having to tell the cat not to eat it).

Oioiqueen · 27/12/2025 12:57

Our plans ended up changing and we had it just the four of us. Nothing planned and just enjoying walking locally and each others company. It's been lovely watching the kids relax.

3luckystars · 27/12/2025 12:51

yes it was the nicest one I ever had. I was working, so kept it very simple and am
enjoying this a lot more. I was absolutely exhausted before Christmas but am feeling great now.

BeatriceBatchelor · 27/12/2025 12:49

My tip is to stop thinkig of it as "mental load" - it's just life. And it too will pass.

cantbearsed247 · 27/12/2025 11:43

Yes lovely, DS is home and it's just the 3 of us. No interest in seeing anyone else, just us, lots of lovely food and lots of puzzles and board and card games. it's been wonderful.

ccquad · 27/12/2025 11:35

similar here: dog walks, church, board games, tv and enjoying gifts. My favourite is a new peg loom - currently half way through making a scarf.

Fridgemanageress · 27/12/2025 11:21

I wanted to ask this question too. I have had the best Christmas ever I think. It has been so different to normal, no all night cooking a turkey, chicken breasts thinly sliced, with an array of veg from Lidl, a few mince pies and cream, no homemade pudding, nice shortbread biscuits from a friend, a very dear friend cooks for the church on Christmas Day and she came round with a beautiful chicken and noodle dish afterwards, homemade wine from the allotment, beautiful gifts from my husband, he is thrilled with his gift from me, and dare I say it, probably the best shag I’ve had in months too!

it has been a wonderful year for me, and I love hubby just as much, if not more than when I was a teenager. I hope everyone out there is as happy as I am. Thank you for asking xxx

PandoraSocks · 27/12/2025 11:13

Lovely Christmas here, calm and peaceful with lots of delicious food and drink.

PaulineScrambledPhones · 27/12/2025 11:10

Yes, thank you.
It was just totally relaxed, unhurried and with zero expectations. I didn’t feel Christmassy in the run up (and my car broke down on the way home from work on the 23rd, which didn’t help!), and I felt bad about not being in the spirit, but I think the lack of expectation actually made for a better Christmas. We went nowhere, spent the day eating and drinking and watching tv and playing games. Lovely.

Topbird29 · 27/12/2025 11:07

Ours was nice and chilled. The DS seemed to like it. They are now 11 and 13, so know about santa, but still wanted to put put mince pie and carrot. Haven't felt christmaddy in the run up as secondary school dont do loads of xmas stuff, and not on pta anymore do not helping with xmas cards, tea towels or xmas fair in the 2 months before! Also had friends get together and book club xmas meal first week of dec, so had a small xmas feeling, then a big gap! Also got presents and wrapped quite early in dec, so no mad rushes. Watched polar express on xmas eve - that helped. Had pil and DM here on the day (and boxing day). So no driving for us, and they all get on. A couple of minor irritations, but all blew over quickly. Will be nice to have our house back fully on Sunday eve though when DM goes home.

inmyera · 27/12/2025 11:07

I've loved ours. a minor argument with my sister yesterday but we did well to make it 48 hours before that happened! the weather's been lovely, we've been on lovely walks and bike rides, played lots of games and had lovely food and drink.

TheatricalLife · 27/12/2025 11:06

Yes, really nice.
Everything went ok food wise, lovely presents, no disasters. Everyone here has a bad cold, so that's a bit crappy, but aside from that, great.

UnimaginableWindBird · 27/12/2025 11:04

Yes, I had a lovely Christmas.

I managed to get the wrapping finished in advance, spent Christmas Eve with a friend, went to midnight mass, pottered around the kitchen with plenty of help and no pressure for a specific meal time, ate nice food, didn't drink too much., got some thoughtful gifts (and, like a previous poster, bought some presents for myself), had fun conversations with DH and our teenagers, played a nice board game and spent yesterday watching tv and eating leftovers and chocolate.

I've still got lots of holiday left, so am planning what I most want to do.

AlertDuck · 27/12/2025 10:59

I had a lovely Christmas with lovely people. Got spoilt with presents which were stunningly wrapped by my brother and sister in law. The only thing is it was A LOT of work.

I was originally only supposed to be on breakfast and desserts. So I woke up very early (4am) thinking I’d get ahead of brekkie (homemade cinnamon rolls). And then go back to sleep until 10am. However, after presents the person who was in charge of mains was clearly not feeling up to cooking. We are all recovering from a mild cold. So I ended up doing the whole thing. I was absolutely knackered. Did get a lot of help from my husband cooking. But my god was it a lot of work. I can’t help but feel the person on mains was putting it on a bit too. When I was that level of sick I still made chicken pot pie and dessert for everyone who is over. I don’t know I just felt like I did a bit more than my fair share. And definitely felt a tiny bit resentful. Had to set and decorate the table also.

But the meal was absolutely lovely and we had great conversation, fun games and movies.

IwishIcouldconfess · 27/12/2025 10:56

Despite working Christmas Day early and Boxing Day LD ( nurse )

I had the best Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, was really relaxing, DH cooked, my daughter and her boyfriend came round in the afternoon.

I am now off for 2 days and have 2 lovely lunches with friends planned

BunchOfShapes · 27/12/2025 10:51

Yes, we have had a lovely Christmas and are also going away today too. Cannot wait!