I'm struggling. It's been the 5th year in a row now of having to put on a smiley face for a time of the year I find really difficult. Before I met my partner, I would go on holiday and escape Christmas and it was a tonic. But, my partner and their family love it. We now have two young children so it feels impossible to escape it in the years to come as they've been fully indoctrinated. I like my in laws, but we spend a lot of time in each others company as it is. Over Christmas, typically we have everyone round for anything up to a week. My job is intense and it would be handy to get some work done whilst there's the small opportunity of family around to help with the kids. But, as this is deemed 'such a special time' I don't feel I can do that. I resent how forceful Christmas feels for those of us who don't enjoy it (shit childhood memories and family bereavement, plus I've always thought it was a load of crap about needless presents and greediness). There's so much pressure to go along with all the nonesense. My partner's family are all atheists, so I find it baffling that they feel so strongly that we should all enjoy/endure Christmas together every single frigging year. I count down the days until this is over. Surely I'm not the only one? Has anyone found a way to opt out without offending anyone and upsetting the kids?