Is anyone else just not losing their shit over Christmas?

[Undercoverbanana]

Just that really.

No decs - can’t be bothered. Gave up doing cards years ago. Don’t buy crap and plastic tat for people. Refuse to be manipulated by things I don’t want just because they’ve got holly on them.

I’m quite content with life. I’m just jogging along. Everyone else seems to be losing their shit over stuff.

One friend panicking over money. Another friend having family rows about who is visiting who and when. Another couple “have no time at this time of year - so many commitments that we don’t really enjoy”. Christmas work parties - why????? Just don’t go if you don’t want to.

Anyone else opting out?

We have a bare minimum Christmas and can get away with it because we have a small child. I've a Poundland tree we got on sale ten years ago and some B&M decorations! The toddler is so happy but it is upsetting for grandparents that we don't seem to be making an effort. I know there will be increasing pressure each year from family to step it up. We don't visit extended family on actual Christmas day anymore because it's always felt like it's someone else's Christmas.

I think that my point. It’s easier to sack off Christmas and not be stressed with older children/ no children.

I dunno - I never found it stressful when my dc were little either tbh. I don't get why the Father Christmas thing is stressful either - buy presents, put in stockings when dc have gone to bed on Christmas Eve. Job done. I never told my dc that FC wasn't real, they just gradually twig. They are now 10 and 13 and happily pretend they still think he's real, so as not to disillusion younger cousins etc. I don't sack anything off now they're older - I do exactly the same as we've always done. Ds gets a bit tired from all the school Christmas stuff, but that doesn't involve stress for me - just going to the Xmas fayre and the play.

I'm deliberately having five days off. I've sent the few cards I needed to send to elderly relatives and friends, and bought a few presents. I've got plenty of other things to do at the moment and refuse to let Christmas take over. I've got lots of boxes of chocolates from my work so have chosen one for us to pick at and the rest will go to the food bank tomorrow. I'm training for a sports event early in the new year and do not need to be eating junk or to put on weight.

We'll have builders in again next week so I'm not doing anything to the house until they finish on Wednesday or Thursday anyway.

It's just a couple of days, really nothing to get in a stew about.

I have just received a Christmas card in the post.

The 1980s have called and would like their Christmas “traditions” back.

Unreasonable reaction, I know, but it got my gears grinding.

It's a small piece of folded paper with a robin/sleigh/snow scene on it, not a letter bomb. It is not requiring you to do anything!

I keep getting guilt inducing cards from ageing relatives from e.g. charities for the ageing reminding me that they are all lonely, etc. I liked this article by Marion Keyes about her going for a walk instead.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/marian-keyes-christmas-is-a-conspiracy-against-women-kbv8305s2

No stress here. In fact I genuinely don't understand what there is to get in a tiz about. Unless of course you're cooking for a gazillion or have to drive for hours to visit others. But then it's one's choice, isn't it?

No stress here. In fact I genuinely don't understand what there is to get in a tiz about. Unless of course you're cooking for a gazillion or have to drive for hours to visit others. But then it's one's choice, isn't it?

Agreed. And I am one of the people who has to finish work on Friday, pack a carload of Santa presents and drive overnight with a six year old to an early morning ferry, then drive for several more hours, settle into a rental apartment and then go foodshopping, as we're hosting large numbers over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as family are scattered in houses to small to fit us, and neither of us wants, after we've trekked all this way, to spend Christmas dragging a small child around other people's houses when he just wants to play with his new toys -- plus a close family member is very ill and may not be here for next Christmas.

But as you say, it's a choice, and at some point in the not too distant future the older generation will be dead, and I want our DS to remember Christmases with his grandparents. So, no, I'm not stressed about it. It will be busy, but manageable with enough hard work, good humour and drink.

No losing my shit here either. I stopped cards years ago, my husband still sends some. We have the tiniest decorative tree in the world (I didn't buy it). Gifts for close family only. Children are scattered across the world, we'll be visiting them in a couple of months. On the day itself we will have a walk along the beach then back to veg out before cooking dinner. Next year we plan to be somewhere exotic. We've done it in the past and it was amazing.

This is such a refreshing thread, and I am seeing more and more news articles about reducing waste at Christmas, choosing to wrap in fabric instead of paper, reducing present buying - especially to adults and generally CALMING THE FUCK DOWN!

How did it get to such a fever pitch in the first place?

Will we be asking the same question about overblown weddings, overprimped teenagers, over farrowed houses, in a few years.

Just went to a supermarket for some "normal" shopping. It was mobbed, people in a bad tempered frenzy, using all their might to push overloaded trollies full of excess around. It's a bit depressing.

We're having a simple easy Christmas this year at the request of my 12yo. We will visit family near Christmas to exchange gifts but not for lunch or dinner. We have a few decorations, no tree, Christmas cards strung up to decorate instead. We will eat what we want when we feel like it, watch Netflix, go for a walk, whatever we feel like doing.

NorksAreMessy
It would be nice to think the tide is turning against rampant materialism and commercialism. Maybe we will see a simplfying of everything.

Sarcelle I saw the same yesterday. Popped into M&S foodhall to pick up some essentials like milk and bread while my husband finally went for his flu jab. It was insane at 8:30 am. We had a really nice busy day visiting friends for the rest of the day and today we have done absolutely nothing but lounge about. I wish Tuesday would hurry the hell up to get it done and dusted.

Cachailleacha that is pretty much our day too but sans 12 year old.

Have a lovely relaxing day everyone!

Hi everyone - OP here hoping you all had a calming and restful Christmas Day.

Had a lovely run with friends in the morning and then made a nut roast with roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sprouts. Exchanged a few simple, well-chosen gifts and had a few drinks. Transferred some money to DD’s account for her Christmas gift. Spoke to Dad on the phone. Texted a few genuine friends.

It’s all over.

Visiting DM today - no gifts because we agreed not to. Just sharing a simple meal again and meeting up with a few extended family.

Survived. No stress.

Good to hear, OP.

We had a lovely paced one. Took our time, kids were not overwhelmed as we cut down on gift giving & receiving this year. No big piles of stuff to try and absorb into the house.

Lovely food, cooked without hassle.

FaceTimed relatives and was very grateful to exchange wishes with them, but was very glad that we had seen them all before the day itself- no panicking about space, tidying, hyper children....

I've also not really experienced the lull that I've normally felt post-Christmas- I put it down being able to genuinely enjoy the whole build up and occasions that we have done, and been able to keep up with everything.

Wishing you all a peaceful NY.

I dont do trees, decs or cards. I only buy gifts for DD and VERY close family/friends. Cooking a big roast is not a big deal to me.

= chill grinch

I had a similarly stripped back but very FUN wedding and i dont understand the tizz and extravagance there either.