8 more sleeps and it’ll all be over … can’t come soon enough

[Newname1022]

A week to go and I’ve not started … feeling overwhelmed.

I’ll pull myself together this weekend, put a face on, be the perfect hostess and make sure everyone has an amazing time … when in reality all I want is to crawl into bed and hide !

Anyone else feeling the same ?

My children have grown up and I don't really do Xmas any more.
I recommend it. None of it is obligatory.

Christmas shouldn't be about you making everyone else happy whilst feeling miserable yourself. Why is it you want to crawl into bed and hide? What's your family set up and what would make YOU happy at Christmas? What could change this year to make it a better time for you?

Why do it then? Or why leave it till the last minute?

Yes, I work in retail, I can’t wait for January.

Must admit, I’m ready for it to be over now.
‘Still haven’t bought enough for the kids, still haven’t written a food list, haven’t cleaned the kitchen for 2 weeks, no presents wrapped yet.

What exactly needs to be done...Presents? Food? Decorations?
I assume you aren't literally hosting by yourself. If you have a partner tell them (very loud and clear) "I need help with this".
Do what YOU want to do with christmas. If others want something different then they need to organise it.
In my family I do presents and decorations because that's the part I enjoy. Husband and mother in law do the food part because I am not interested in that.

i dont do xmass any more not done it for years

Cherry pick the one bit that each person most wants. Then delegate them out.

eg - MIL really values the full Christmas lunch.
FIL happy so long as there’s proper Christmas cake
SIL really loves decorations
DF just wants the drink
DC like the Santa stockings
You want some time off (obviously you’ll need to do some effort, but not ever bloody thing!)

So everyone chooses the thing they most value, and everyone makes sure everyone else gets their “thing”. Nobody gets to opt out if doing anything at all - even the DC have responsibility (eg peel potatoes on morning of Christmas Eve, help wash up, whatever). And everyone gets a proper specific “THANKYOU” for the bit they’ve done.

maybe one year I’ll be able to take this great plan and actually do this myself!

My son is 19 on Xmas Eve. Xmas stopped being exciting when he was too old. To be honest if he wasn’t here on Xmas day I would stay snug in bed and eat pizza.

I used to work with kids so Xmas was full of parties and pantos and was lovely. I just feel Xmas anymore. And to be quite frank I could do without the expense this year. I’m an introvert so not really happy I have to spend my Xmas doing what everyone else wants me to do and not what I would love to do.

will be glad when it is all over.

Single parent with teenage son, no in-laws or parents or partner so yes everything falls to me … So inviting elderly relatives from both sides and they offered to contribute financially but all down to me !

to be honest I probably set my expectations of what others want too high !