This is a thread for people who do not like Christmas. I saw the f*ing elf on the shelf in a shop yesterday and quite physically reacted, my tummy flipped and I know its begun.... that creeping stressy feeling that begins when I know its approaching and disappears around January 6th.
There are aspects that I potentially could enjoy, like annual get togethers with particular groups, or a good staff party, if I were to wake up on December 10th and the season began. Of course this never gets to happen, and I lose the month of November every year and by December 1st I'm over it and really stressed. No one seems to understand, and some family members ridicule me for it. I'm not negative, in fact I'm quite happy in January and February when I have to listen to everyone else moan about the darkness.
For family reasons that I cannot get out of, I have to host every year. I know its only one meal one day but I get so anxious about it. People bring sides and starters and very generous bottles of wine, but I still have loads to do. Santa will be visiting us for whats likely to be the last time this year and I hate that every year while setting up presents I'm stressing about the state of the house, I'm trying to watch my little ones faces light up while worrying about the mess they are making or what my timings are like for the food. It depresses me to think that its never going to change, except we will lose Santa (the only good part) and everyone is very caught up in 'this is our christmas tradition' so that nothing can ever change. The music, the traffic, the planning, all of it - its just too much. I wish I could just go somewhere on 1 November and return on 10 January and I swear I would be a happier person.
Anyone else feel like this?? Please come here and have a moan about it.