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Original poster

Does anyone love/hate this time of year?

59 replies

missushbbb · 04/12/2023 09:51

I like Christmas and love seeing the kids enjoy themselves, but I also feel quite down this time of year. Anyone else? I don't know if it's the weather, just needing a rest by this time of year, i just kinda hate it! The older I get the more I realise I'm quite an introvert, so i think that's part of it. I also lost a parent at Christmas a few years ago which has made it worse. I do make a big effort with the kids, I don't mope about, it's just a funny feeling. Anyone else? 😬

OP posts:

Abracadabra12345 · 04/12/2023 19:12

I adore this time of year and January and February. My soul is at peace. I dread the long, endless days of around June onwards in the SE and think we dodged a bullet last year to not get a long hot spring / summer, even autumn. So this is a time of respite and peace and stillness. I love the long, dark nights, hibernating indoors or going for a bracing walk. I love seeing people beginning to dress their windows with festive lights and the carol services and sense of hope.

As for the pp saying those who enjoy this are talking from a position of privilege because of having central heating and so on: what about during heatwaves when they are boiling in their flats and have no outdoor access or AC?

threecupsofteaminimum · 04/12/2023 19:13

I'm not remotely religious and don't have much family so I find it a bit much.

It's just me and DS this year which will nice for me but he's only 7 so I'm worried he's gonna miss out on the stereotypical big family round the table and all the fuss.

Best bit is taking the tree down after it's done!

dutysuite · 04/12/2023 19:14

No I don’t really like it, my birthday is right after Christmas and I hate the fact I’m getting older - I know it’s a privilege to get older but it still panics me.

AthenaPopodopolous · 04/12/2023 19:15

It’s the pressure to spend money that annoys me at this time of year. And to get decorations and the tree up. It all feels a bit of a nuisance year after year. And I never manage to save enough to buy things I’d really like in the Next sale. Instead I get into a lot of debt.

christologymum · 04/12/2023 19:18

I usually love this time of year, sept to Xmas. New school year, Halloween, bonfire night and build up to Xmas but this year I've struggled. It's just so cold and bleak and feel like I've had what people would describe as SAD. Maybe it's my age but just not feeling it this year at all, and looking forward to warmer weather come spring.

Titsywoo · 04/12/2023 19:23

I hate November as I am so stressed and busy at work (Christmas is a very busy time for us). December I quite like as I'm on the wind down and I have fun social stuff coming up (not too much but 3 nights out with friends and a couple of small family meet ups). I used to host everything in my 20s/30s but now I work such long hours I don't have the headspace for it anymore so we tend to do Xmas Day at home just us and DC (plus maybe a drink with friends at the pub), Boxing Day MIL hosts then we will chill until New Year when we to to my friends house for a small party which is always great fun. I just do gifts for the kids and MIL (have no gift agreement with everyone else), food shop is pretty much normal bar a few nice bits for Xmas Day (DD and I do a massive cheeseboard for lunch and DH and DS do their own thing), cooking is minimal. I removed the stress for myself a few years ago and do not regret it at all. Before I was just running around making the day great for everyone else. Now I enjoy the festive season myself!

Lovemusic82 · 04/12/2023 19:28

I hate it too. Love Christmas though not as much now dc are older. I love being outdoors, love the sun and outdoor activities so winter is just a time where I feel a bit lost. I do still go outdoors a lot but it’s not as much fun when the weathers awful (floods at the moment so I’m stuck). I also feel lonely in the winter, I don’t have a huge amount of friends and most are busy doing other things. I’m a single parent and carer to teen dd2 so I feel quite trapped in the winter. January and February are probably the worst months, just waiting for longer warmer days.

TM1979 · 05/12/2023 09:05

Tweezeme1 · 04/12/2023 17:57

I always feel lost this time of year, like I am missing something in my life. The children are now older which changes things and the magic is no more. My dear sister is here this Xmas from oz and I’ve not seen her since 2019. It’s the one Time of year I feel I can burst in to tears at sound of a song

I feel the same. Teary when I heard Fairytale of New York on the radio this morning. It’s a sad time for some for sure.

ZiggyZowie · 26/12/2023 09:33

I hate it.

Trapped in the house for two days with relatives.

Nothing is open so can't go out for a coffee to escape

Boring TV .

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