I get a dready feeling as Christmas approaches and I'm not sure why

[MintyGreenDream]

Brilliant Christmases as a child but since I've been an adult I've always felt a bit meh about it.Anyone else?

'I went to the shops today. And felt a bit sick at all the excess'

It really is sickening. I'm all in favour of presents but so much of Christmas is just exchanging tat for the sake of it

Christmas is the most overhyped thing ever. I agree with others about trying to manage expectations. Nothing has to be 'perfect', whatever that even means. No one should have to go into debt or push themselves to the edge of a nervous breakdown. Easier said than done in some ways, but honestly, it's not worth it.

I actively look forward to January a new year, a new start, and bloody Christmas is over for another year!

I absolutely love Christmas, still do even as an adult - track Santa and get giddy when he gets near, the decorations, the snow, still got big kid energy inside so nope can't get on board with a lot of these comments!
Although husband always cooks Christmas dinner, so if I had all that to think about maybe I'd be more stressed lol instead of drinking Bucks Fizz and scoffing body weight in chocolate and nuts and playing new board games in the living room with the kids lol

it seems kind of fucked up to lie to your kids about the existence of a fantasy figure in order to justify overeating and overspending. Why do we do that?

Oh, give over. I still remember crying my eyes out when I found out the truth (a so called friend said he wasn't real when I was about 8) so I went home from school and asked my mum outright who ummed and arred and eventually said no sorry he's not
I was gutted lol.
Even being told he's not real though, are people incapable of keeping the magic going?
I might know he's not real but I still remember the giddiness and childhood happiness of Santa.

Anxiety and depression from the moment I hear the first Christmas song. No idea why. Christmases were brilliant when I was a child.

We were walking home from school yesterday and found this random object on the footpath. DD is convinced it fell from Santa's sleigh .

@Jacaranda75

We were walking home from school yesterday and found this random object on the footpath. DD is convinced it fell from Santa's sleigh .

..and she would be absolutely right.

I've come to accept it for what it is. I enjoy the good bits - choosing thoughtful gifts and watching them being opened is always good. Drinks down the pub Christmas Eve. Making mince pies and Kringle.

The rest of it is Stuff To Get Through. As is life, really. It's never going to be the magical time it was when I didn't have to do all the work!

The other thing I do is plan in nice stuff for my days off in the lead up to Christmas that don't involve DH or the DCs. As otherwise it becomes all about them.

So this year I've got two lovely lunches out with friends and a wreath making thingy and a visit to a Christmas market.

it is absolutely the weight of expectation, for a meal, for a happy day, happy family
yet too much alcohol is often involved, too much emotion

and for many people it is a sad time.

I dont do it at all. There is way too much hype and the day itself always a let down.
Its magic for children but not for us.

Accept that yes a lot of it is just extra woman work but try and do the bits that YOU enjoy, a wintery walk, a mince pie in a cafe. I enjoy it from Christmas eve onwards.

I get so stressed trying to work out how to keep all the family happy that I struggle to remember what would make me happy.
My mum puts on so much pressure and guilt trip but she's alienated herself from everyone else in the family that if we go to hers it's just my parents and us and it's so forced. They hate DH, I have no idea why but make it obvious and I'm pretty sure she resents and blames me for all the bad stuff that happens in her life. It's not fun or enjoyable and I feel like just going away for the whole of Christmas to get away from all the pressure.

I used to love Christmas and there's lots of aspects of it I still do. I make it as special as I can for DD it's just the anxiety I feel as I'm always made guilty that I'm ruining my mums Christmas by not doing everything she wants. We have DHs family to see as well who are all lovely, I don't get to see anyone else on my side as they don't want to invite mum so they don't try and see us either.

Sorry rant over!

I ducked out of it years ago
I'll probably sling a festive type of dinner together for those that want it but no extras, although I have been known to do ham egg and chips and a chicken curry....
I dont buy gifts and make it quite clear to others that I dont want anything as I have everything I need
I dont have a tree and I dont send cards
I dont get caught up in all the greed and commercial crap, and I really feel for those that are forced into hosting/get into debt/don't really enjoy it but feel like they have to

Its just another day
And I'm quite glad when its all over to be perfectly honest

So this year I've got two lovely lunches out with friends and a wreath making thingy and a visit to a Christmas market.

This is a good idea! Especially for those hosting

I don't have the dread but last year was an awful Christmas and I can't adequately describe why. My mum, dad, sister, uncles, cousins, aunt and grandfather have died in the last 4 years but despite coping really well and dealing with all of that it just felt empty/hollow last year. Nothing else was wrong, it was a perfectly nice Christmas I did wonder if it was because we spent the day at my in laws house (at their request) and they don't talk much. I'll be happier to be home this year.

for everyone here who struggles at Christmas. The emotional and financial strain can be horrific.

I'd like it more if it was just me ,dh and the kids but no my parents and inlaws and my brothers etc come to mine at various times all through the day so I spend the day running around like a blue arsed fly after everyone I'm sure they love it but I'm usually wishing everyone would piss off

'The rest of it is Stuff To Get Through. As is life, really.'

That's a very helpful way to think about it. Christmas is just a part of life, and life is indeed tedious / dull / frustrating stuff interspersed with nice times. Having a day that is 'perfect', or a Christmas break that is 'perfect' is just not realistic

I don't like it either. Boring, stressful and expensive. DD14 hates it (related to her ASD I think). Youngest loves it though so have to do it, but put off shopping til the last moment.