Anyone else feel like they've just had enough Christmas' now for a lifetime?

[FishyInTheSeaaa]

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Kids are older so the magics gone. They're good teens, grateful.

But I'm just bored of Christmas now. It's not fun. It's tiring, expensive, stressful and I'm already dreading next year.

It seems to fly round each year. I'll probably have to start saving in January the way things are now.

I miss it being simple. Santa's minced pies and watching films together.

They're all uninterested and TBH I don't blame them as I'm completely uninterested too.

I could happily not do Christmas again.

One things for sure, next year I'm not cooking a roast. I'm ordering a curry.

I have 7 'offspring' who are loosely related (adoption or step family) here. The three who are related bicker like mad and one is arguing with a step brother....

All of them have experienced difficulties in life so I'm trying to be tolerant but currently want them all to leave 🙃

Bless you.

I feel that. Mine have been quite bicker the last few days.

It's hard having people in the house.

You're a good egg for having them 💐

Nope. I love it more every year. Our family grows (with some losses too) and gets messier, animals need an home and join us, we live in an great community that does loads at Christmas, our friends mean more and more to us, and it’s all good.

I’m 45 and Christmas has changed with my lifestyle- family Christmases, travelling Christmases, ex-pat Christmases, couples Christmases, friend Christmases and now back to family Christmases in a different role. There’s always been time for moments of peace, and I find the story of the Nativity very moving.

I’ve enjoyed them all in different ways. DH and I both love cooking, hosting and having a houseful so that helps. But as the next phase rolls around (kids flying the nest and I guess travelling the world like we did before settling down), we will enjoy a different type of Christmas again (I quite fancy a few years in the Alps/Carribean before GC come along) and we will make the most of that too.

That's lovely but this might not be the thread for you 😂

Plenty about the joys of Christmas.

Grinches only please.

I enjoyed today. Our grown-up children - mid-20s - live with us at home. I feel it’s easier that we don’t have to pretend about Father Christmas and stockings etc. We do get a tree that we decorate and we get presents. We open presents in the morning while watching Carols from Kings, a snack lunch, and we eat a Christmas dinner at about 6pm which everyone helps make. It’s quite chilled, though not “magical”.

I'm with you. Why can't Christmas be once every four years, like the Olympics?

I was thinking this recently!

Maybe every 2 years even. Every 12 months is just too much.

I've had quite a nice Christmas, but I'm not feeling any excitement or 'magic'. I always used to get 'the feeling' but it's completely lacking - I'm just going through the motions to get it over and done with and that feels so sad.
I can see my parents struggling to do a big Christmas but they've got my brother and his family visiting from abroad and while it's lovely to see them, I think my parents are too old and ill and tired for this. I have a houseful too and it's just relentless food prep and clearing up!
I don't want to be a grinch but I'd quite like to get back to normal and peace.
I miss the joy I used to feel when my kids were small and all excited.

Make a list of your 5 favourite things about Christmas IE food, decorations, games etc. then get the rest of your family to make a list and incorporate those things and get rid of unnecessary extras.

We did that so we all get bits we like but none of the extra fuss that is draining - we like a Christmas tree but no one wants to spend ages putting it up and packing it down so we got a pop up predecorated and pre lit one it goes up in 30 sec and we just have a small box of sentimental decorations that get added.
Roast dinner is simple not with loads of sides.
I don't love roast dinner but like a 'picky' buffet dinner so we always have that on Boxing Day

We always used to do Panto but DD said that actually she'd prefer tickets to something else more grown up in January instead so that's what we are doing

Bloody hate it. It goes on for 8 or 9 weeks, longer than the Summer. The songs, the stress, the cleaning and cooking. I think there are magical elements to it but every other year would be better or better still leap year only.

Yes every four years would be good. I'm getting tired of the expense tbh.

How does it go on for 8 or 9 weeks?! What are you doing?

Hate it. Every year I think it’ll be better this year. Never is.
Kids are young. Should be magical. There is no magic. Just relentlessness.
Id be happy to never do it again

I love Christmas. I have a teen but she still enjoys doing all things Christmassy so we watch movies, bake cookies and mince pies and love searching for presents.

I think your teens may pick up on your disinterest.

Could you do something totally different next year? Go away?

Have hosted 12 today.
Wrapped gifts
Brought & cooked enough food to feed most of the village.
Cleaned house, made up beds.
Washed up, poured wine, made endless teas,coffees, cocktails.
Entertained. Cooked some more, more washing up and putting away.
I have been up since 6.00am. I am so utterly utterly over Christmas.
Once a decade is enough for me.

Christmas music does my head in! Do my very best to avoid it.

I could go for this arrangement.
My children are adults and Christmas is pretty boring but still expensive and exhausting.
I'm hoping in years to come with grandchildren it may become more fun again.

We had a curry delivery today. Had a Chinese last year. Total cost for 2 £35. Plus £5 tip for the driver. Fraction of the cost , washing up and stress levels. Recommend it heartily!

I've had a difficult few years. My partner died when our daughter was 2 (she's 4 now). Lots of family fall out over his death. Grief still very present.

Christmas is a really hard time for me right now. So this year I did a really low demand Christmas. I did have to do presents and Santa for my 4 year old, wouldn't want to take that from her, but other than that, we stayed in our pyjamas all day, watched TV, played with some of her new toys and ate simple food. Not a brilliantly memorable Christmas, not sure I'd repeat it every year, but could see myself doing it every few years to have a break from it all.

I find it a lot busier and thus more stressful in the run up as a parent than before (my DS is younger than your DCs). I don't enjoy that part. I don't enjoy the tidying up, cleaning and washing. I don't enjoy having to please other people's expectations in terms of visiting. I don't like busy roads or queues.

I thought today that if the whole thing was simplified, it would be better and this is what I'll do next year.

I personally think a form of celebration is needed as we as human beings need routine in terms of closing a chapter of time in our lives (ie a year), even if only symbolically.

I enjoy winding down with my immediate family at the end of the year. I don't enjoy the other rushed and busy parts and I'll be cutting down on those from next year. I want to be more relaxed and not constantly worn out come December (my job is always super busy in the end of the year too).

I did not enjoy the run up this year because I've had a cold (finally beginning to get a bit better) but I think the day itself is more fun now I have teenagers rather than small children. They got a switch for Christmas and have spent the evening having lots of fun together playing with it.

Ha, not literally preparing Christmas stuff but from the first signs of it or talk of it, or seeing decorations or ads in early Nov to the time kids go back to school in Jan it's about 8 weeks I think. I think if you dislike it you become more aware of it. I get such a sense of relief when it's over. On the upside I love the quiet darkness of January unlike many people.

I usually like the run up but this year was a write off due to exams, work and then being sick. I had to sort everything at the last minute and I hated it.

I haven’t liked Christmas Day in a long time. I don’t like the food, presents are disappointing, and my family always does their own thing, so it’s very dull. It also comes around way too quick now and my toddler was sick this year, so that didn’t help. It’s also too expensive.

Generally, I love it. I do have a major gripe though about being forced to live in the 80s for a month every year. I mean Shaking Stevens? Why? I do get tearfully nostalgic at times and sometimes I think oh just fuck off and let my memories lie. Put Taylor blimmin Swift back on.

@FishyInTheSeaaa is that the correct plural of Christmas in your title? Just curious.