Do you have Christmas spirit?

[UKhomemaker]

Christmas was always my favourite time of year. I loved the magic, finding the perfect gift, fairy lights, decorating the tree, the music, and the holiday baking.

This year I just feel flat. I can't seem to get into the festive spirit.

Is it a natural part of getting older? Or should I be worried ..... I have sort of lost interest in a few things lately.

We're moving this thread to our Chat topic, OP - hopefully some Mumsnetters will be along soon.

Yes vodka

I think it's pandemic uncertainty. I normally love Christmas but this year I have been looking resentfully at the decorations as dust magnets. I haven't made Christmas puddings yet and feel profoundly flat about the whole thing.

I hope that next year I'll be able to enjoy all the things I can't be arsed to do this year (Christmas Lego scene is going back in the loft unbuilt this year. I'm disappointed in myself)

Yes I'm looking forward to Christmas. Last year felt flat for me so I'm hoping this year will be better.

I do - because I have a 7 year old . If he was grown up or an older teen I definitely would be struggling after such a rubbish 18 months x

Same here OP. Since the children grew up, and following the death of both sets of our parents, I feel like we're just going through the - expensive - motions. We had Christmas abroad a couple of years ago, and it was much lower key. That's what I'd like this year really, but there's an expectation isn't there. I used to love Christmas

Not feeling it this year at all. Had covid in the house for the past 2 weeks so been dealing with groggy children especially the two toddlers who haven’t slept very well. Now I have an issue with an impacted wisdom tooth and need antibiotics so I’m in pain. Great. Haven’t really had chance to think about Christmas much.

I feel like this every year. I'm glad the dcs are young adult and the Pil's are gone so I can drop the act.

I'm not interested in Xmas unless it snows heavily. Which it never does.

Going against the grain here slightly but yes I have Christmas spirit, although it's probably in shorter supply this year than in the last few years.

I used to get a bit overwhelmed by the expectations from family etc but now I've changed what I focus on. I think it's ok to be a bit selfish and to do whatever makes Christmas enjoyable to you (to a certain extent anyway).

For me, this means I rarely have Christmas dinner with ILs or my parents. DH enjoys cooking so we do that. I like crafting so make things for Christmas where I can and I specifically make time for that.
I like having a tree and lights so we put them up and I take time to enjoy them.
I turn down some invitations so I'm only seeing the people I want to and after some losses, I'm so glad they're still here.

The biggest change for us was going away for Christmas a few years ago. DH asked me (for the millionth time) while I was stressed and overwhelmed by the planning etc and I said yes. We went away and spent a low key Christmas doing what we wanted and it was amazing - I started doing all the things I mentioned previously after that Christmas and it helped bring my Christmas spirit back.

It's just a chore this year despite having DCs. Last year it was one tedious day of lockdown after another and this year we do have some plans to see family, but there's no Christmas build-up again.

I'm finding it very hard to remember what needs doing as it feels so abstract.

Nope, I've got COVID here. DP set the tree up a week ago and I am so far from having the energy to decorate it. Feeling really flat...