Middle class families seem so much busier in the run up to Christmas

[Santasfakebeard]

The mc families in DC school seem to have something on the whole month of Dec judging by the dc's class whatsapp groups. Is it just a middle class thing? Pantos, choirs, concerts, wreath making & mulled wine family evenings, markets abroad, carol singing.
I would love my dc to experience it all but we simply don't have the funds.
Is it just the mc & umc that can afford to offer their dc those festive experiences?

I have to disagree I’m really busy most weekends from next weekend till Xmas apart from a few dates which I have pre planned during week. I don’t think it is just the “middle class “ it’s just normal .

I'm not sure their is a class thing. Me and DH brought up working class but technically would be seen as MC now; university, professional SLT roles and high salaries, live in MC area etc. Growing up our family did a lot of activities on our weekends and I loved this and always loved our Christmases so I try to replicate that with our own family.

We do all the activities you've mentioned. I book early though and spread the cost, same with presents. I absolutely love the build up to Xmas and we always put more emphasis on experiences rather than presents and we definitely buy less presents than a lot I know. We never do anything to 'keep up' or compete, we just genuinely enjoy it.

I've already been to numerous Xmas activities but not put anything on social media about it. I hate when others do this to make others feel crap and to give themselves validation!

I am pretty sure I’d be considered MC and we do like to do various Christmassy things but I have to admit that I’m a bit snobby about lots of the expensive activities because they’re a rip off and poor quality and often seem quite chavvy. Breakfast with Santa; lights trails, winter wonderland etc are often very expensive and quite crap.

A lot of the stuff we do is free but it is MC because it involves things like music and church which a lot of non-MC families just don’t seem bothered by. Family events for us are also quite cheap although in fairness we don’t do loads due to several kids on both sides having SN and finding big family gatherings a bit overwhelming.

Personally I like to aim for the traditional Christmas experiences the priciest of which would be a Christmas trip to the theatre. We also spend a fair bit on food. But we and lots of other MC people we know with young kids actively try not to overspend on commercial/overpriced activities and it’s actually much more MC to say “oh no we aren’t going to winter wonderland, we’ll enjoy a day out at a national trust place instead” which everyone is members of anyway. Skiing is the only exception but again I know a number of wealthy MC people who now don’t go because of “environmental concerns”. We do have a slightly odd MC slightly crunchy circle though where there’s more likely to be competitive underspending than overspending.

I am curious as to how middle class is defined. I am educated above degree level, well read and well spoken. I am the child of a mother who was a teacher and head of department and a father who was a P R agent. However I am not well off due to how my life has worked out. I am a home owner, mortgage free but my home is in a high crime inner city area. Am I middle class or is the whole concept just an outdated one? I just feel that I am me. As for the Christmas stuff, it sounds like overkill, exhausting and expensive. Won't the kids just be wrung out and too tired come the big day?

This thread is a bit odd. Sure some people have more money to spend but they’re not having more or less fun. Comments like I wouldn't worry about it OP. The kids just probably want to watch telly are just strange. Kids like TV. Kids also like going out and doing fun stuff. Middle class, upper or working. Having money makes life easier for sure but, if you really wanted to, getting the family round for wine and sing song is accessible to most.

@Alighttouchonthetiller
"I've never managed to recreate that feeling while fighting my way through crowds to look at stuff being sold in fake chalets whilst drinking disgusting £10 a pop mulled wine."

Made me laugh - couldn't have said it better myself!

Do people ACTUALLY refer to themselves as ‘mc’ 😂

I was always skint when my kids were little but you can do all of these things on the cheap.. Make wreaths out of glitter/picked wild flowers. I once wrote a jack and the beanstalk pantomime with mine and my friends kids and they performed it in my front room.. Also decorated my entire kitchen ceiling with homemade paper snowflakes. Appreciate these things get harder to do on the cheap the older they get.

Some people have more money than sense!! Wreath making is basically free for anyone with a garden or access to some greenery 😁.
I could afford to pay but my frugality wouldn't let me.
We did amazing things when mine were little.
A living nativity play outside our local church, complete with horses, cows and wise men on horses, angel swooped in off the church steeple 😀.
Making gingerbread houses and gingerbread men.
Making Christmas crafts at home.
Making and filming a panto at home! You only need a phone and an imagination.
Roasting chestnuts outside around a bonfire.
Stargazing on a clear night.
Birdwatching to look out for winter migrants.
Ours played in a brass band for 50p per week, the instrument and tuition was included in that!
Invite their little friends over to watch a Christmas film together.
Hot soup picnics in the park.
Sitting outside at night with a hot chocolate.
Karaoke.
Children's party at the local cricket club for a couple of quid.
Like others have said Christmas markets are free to look around.

& someone will reply that they took theirs down Christmas evening as soon as the kids were in bed.

You can be miserly and middle class.

Yes you are middle class.

Although I agree it’s outdated but you are certainly not working class.

Here to endorse the winter picnic. Soup, or hotdogs in a thermos, rolls and toppings, maybe some gingerbread. Take it on a foraging walk to collect foliage for your wreaths. Cheap and wholesome.

It’s the extra curricular activities that increase - football, cricket and beavers all having Christmas events. That’s before factoring school, work and seeing family

Not middle class, working class and when mine were small we did something every weekend.
Village light switch on, town switch on, local city .
Christmas market, light trail, Christmas train! Film and panto.
Church carols at night. Loved carols at night free tea and sweet mince 🥧.
Wreath making for me, I was pleased when they were too old.

We used to do a lot of this but with a 9 year old she’s just not fussed and would prefer a play date or to do some craft. The only thing she’s asked to go to is the panto!

Im bored of all the commercialism too. While I can afford it, everything in the UK feels like it’s about Joe Public, increasing the company’s margins, where as in Europe it doesn’t feel quite like that.

On principle, I refuse to spend £90 on making a wreath with a glass of fizz. I’m amazed the workshops sell out. I get one that looks much better from the florist (as they actually have some artistic talent). I also think what would those family members born during WW2 think of spending such money on some greenery!! (They are MC too)

I do enjoy Christmas but what I like is it gives me the chance to slow down and spend some time with my family.

I’m middle class , just thought I’d share that. That’s what this thread is about isn’t it ?

Right! Can't believe some people still think having money is the result of "energy" as opposed to inherited generational wealth and adequate social policies, which have all but disappeared.

I think its mainly that there's just too much on offer. Intrinsically linked to social media.

I grew up in the 80s, WC. We did our local school events -carol singing, school panto...a panto at a local drama club my parents were associated with and sometimes one local santa's grotto. Walked around the village to look at everyone's lights. We'd have barely heard about what was going on just 10 miles away, we certainly wouldn't have seen any photos to tempt us out of locality.

With social media, businesses can reach far and wide, and all set up some sort of photo station knowing Instagram worthy pics will increase footfall. You can barely move for santa's grottos at this time of year*.

My family is definitely MC and admittedly can cope with the expense, but not the overwhelm and exhaustion. The struggle starts mid Nov to make sure we don't end up in too many Santa's grottos. We pick one, the same one every year and avoid a lot of the places we'd usually go so the kids don't start dragging us into more. Pick one Xmas market/light switch on thing. An illuminations walk at a NT place. That's it for us.

*One thing I do like about this is seeing a lot of places that have been very anti children in the past, change their tune to get a foot in this market!

.

So I’m working class background but I guess some people might say I’m mc now based on my job etc.

I have planned (or will plan)

• yesterday we did Christmas pottery workshop, making tree decorations £15 per child
• Will go and see the lights in west end £15 train and coffee
• Local panto (in laws paying but would have been £50)
• Light trail of some kind £30ish
• local farm Xmas open day- brewery and pizza £30
• beavers panto
• wishmas £100
• Friends house Xmas eve BYOB so free

looking at it like that it seems mad! But it’s spread out and we get to see lots of family and friends at same time.

Working class here. My boy’s seen Santa at the local library, going to the panto at the amateur theatre, made decorations at the museum for free, is going wreath making at the art gallery for £2.50, is going to the free church Christmas carol concert. We’re in a northern working class town. You don’t need to spend a fortune on festive things for kids.

Don't worry about what MC families are doing. Do thongs that you and your children will enjoy.

Santa: I can't remember if it's free or pretty cheap. But there is a santa app/video where you can get a video message to your child/ren it says their name. Something good about them ect. That's an alternative to seeing Santa.

Children of all ages can make xmas decorations, cards. Maybe basic cakes, cookies that they can make look xmasy.

If you have a large family you could do Xmas pass the parcel. Just little boys from the pound store.

Kids don't really care. It's the adult that make it into a 'thing'

We have lots of plans in the lead up to Christmas but other then 1 Santa visit they are all free doing fun stuff doesn't have to cost.

Same with adults, no? Loot at the Christmas party dress thread. I'm there saying I have nothing posh to go to and there are people showing evening gowns and saying they have many functions.

I've never heard of wreath making. Is it a new thing?