Roll up, roll up for your Christmas rants! This is a non-judgmental safe space where you can say what you want about what went down over Christmas

@DontFallInTheHaHa I'm in ❤️

Thanks love - it's honestly just one in the latest line of things with my sister. I just feel so cross because he's honestly not a spring chicken and walks with a stick. He must be shattered when he gets to her - she can't not see it - he certainly is when he travels back. Anyway, he'll be asleep now, so I've sent him a message for the morning saying that I will: a) pick him up from my station and he can stay the night if he likes, b) will pick him up from my station and drive him home if he likes or c) will meet him at the station and take him for food/a cup of tea at the hotel across from the station if he wants, just to break up the journey. Will see what he says when's on his way back. She never, ever comes up to visit him or my mum. It's all on her terms. Has been for the longest time.

@Arlanymor your dad needs to start saying no and mean it. Easier said than done though x sending hugs to both x

😢 That is awful.

To my darling son. Why say you would cook the Christmas dinner then hide away and not help with any cooking?? I know you felt overwhelmed but I was in agony by the end of the day......not fair on me and it left me in a really bad mood. I know you feel overwhelmed sometimes but please if you say you are going to cook.... actually cook!!!!

Thanks lovely, I really appreciate you saying that - he just feels he can't say no. It's just such a long trip for him, plus she never meets him at the station, so he has to take three tubes to get there and back to Paddington - he's never lived in London, it's all unfamiliar. But again, his choice to do it, not my place to interfere, I just have to pick up the pieces... I know what'll happen, he'll call me tomorrow when he's getting on the train and say: "Thanks for your message lovely, I'm honestly fine. I've got a Mars Bar to eat on the way back..." And then a few hours later I will get a call when he's at Cardiff saying: "Actually do you mind meeting me/if I stay?" And of course I don't and of course he can, I'm only an hour down the line. But she just never thinks of him, only herself and it's hard.

@Arlanymor i feel for you and your dad x it sounds like a really horrible situation

Had a lovely day with extended family, generally was a very peaceful and happy Christmas. With the exception of realising my adult son couldn't even be bothered to get me a token present from my grandchildren, let alone him, despite the fact he and his son live with me, I do a massive amount of childcaring as he's a single parent working nights, and he spent several days prior to Christmas telling me about the presents he'd bought for his girlfriends parents and grandparent. Unappreciated is a massive understatement.

If

The fact we're Jewish. None of us are interested in Christmas but because mum who's got early onset Alzheimer's and is in a specialist unit loved the time of year. So I had bland giyishe food thrust upon me and then forced to eat the left overs days after. In a very weird assimilation performance.

My sister is also depressed and got.dumped and believes she now gets to check out from everything and have everyone serve her.

O and I crashed and lost my drone

DM hosted a games day- proceeded to get pissed with my Aunty playing god awful music full whack on you tube that the kids most definitely were not interested in.

Moaned the next day that ‘we didn’t play enough games!’

Fuck off.

I get more and more furious and resentful towards my selfish, lazy father every time I spend any time over Christmas with my parents. My annoying, neurodiverse brother has brought his newish gf to stay every Christmas and while we are happy that he's finally found someone, it is like waking over hot coals having a conversation with them both as they will never ask a question about what you're doing or what's going on in your life, they will only give information, whether wanted or not. We don't really like each other and never have done, yet here we are for the sake of our mum.

DH, having said he'd put a brave face on it, couldn't have made it clearer he didn't really want to be there, tossed and turned all night then was in a foul mood all day (having kept me up so I had virtually no sleep) I only do it for my darling mum who helps us so much with childcare and has such a miserable time with the three of them that I go to relieve her.

My parents are now mid/late 70s and although mum is incredible, my dad isn't doing great, health wise. Although it doesn't stop him drinking like a fish and refusing to eat any carbs, hence making meal planning a bitch. The house looks so run down and grubby and there are loads of things that dad could fix but won't. I dread the guilt trips I get about not being with them at Christmas but I also get guilt tripped by DH because he hates going to a cold, uncomfortable house. I wish I could just fuck off on my own and leave the lot of them to get on with it.

Thank you for this OP, very cathartic!

Watching SIL greet distant relative with same faux warmth I've long suspected wasn't real as she uses to greet me with some interest. I've been 'matching her energy' last few years and feel a lot better for it.

Dragged my family away from their christmassy relaxed home on boxing day for a meal at parents house, half a days' drive away, as I was told it was the only day my sibling was off work and could join a family meal. Only to find said sibling had 27th off work as well. Recognised that yet again I am the one who puts myself, and now my immediate family, out to suit my parent and siblings.

To DSIS 45: Why have you dragged my 80 year father 250 miles down to see you today when you did FUCK ALL for anyone over Christmas (or indeed at any time of the year), telling him you were unwell and felt rough... when apparently you were well enough to go out to the pub last night (off the wagon again then) and tomorrow you've booked a taxi and will be making him come with you to the vet to sort out your cat. It's not your cat's fault, but you could not have dragged my octogenarian dad with a bloody bad back and heart condition all the way to London when he would have given the money for the cat if you needed it. I know why you didn't, because if he is there in person you will milk more from him. It's his money, his choice, but he's not a well man and you're a selfish bitch.

Sorry, I know that wasn't lighthearted but I am fucking furious. His train goes through my city on the way home so I am going to volunteer to pick him up and drive him home if it helps as he gets tired really easily. Or he can stay at mine.

My elderly parent spoilt our Christmas by being miserable and not joining in, and moaning about us and I am not inviting them next year I am adamant about that!