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I am dreading Christmas

107 replies

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 17:05

I usually adore Christmas. I think it brightens up the winter and I think it's important to try and make a good Christmas because nobody knows what the future holds and noone knows what's around the corner and what may lay ahead - sickness, other difficulties, death. Noone knows and I love living it as if it's going to be the last. Usually.

Also I work hard all year and Christmas is a few days off where I can enjoy a meal, a dessert, maybe some wine and a movie or two.

This year I am dreading Christmas. It's really filling me with sickness to my stomach.

You see, I never carved out a family of my own. I have a partner but it's not going well between us. I live at home with my mother. I live in an area with poor housing opportunities. Anything that is available it's so expensive. I would have to move to mainland Europe to be able to afford rent.

I never took a dvantage of living at home. I help at home. I would provide security and company for my mother. I reckons she doesn't see anyone in her days and more. She has no social life or friends.

As she has become older, there's a bad tone and vibe from her. Every day is different. She can be rude and snarly so easily.

I can remember one Christmas maybe about 4 or 5 years ago, I can't remember if it was boxing day or new years day but she came into the sitting room and started throwing storage boxes at me and she was in a bad mood ripping down the Christmas decorations. It was the most oddest behaviour. Christmas wasn't over but she was ripping it all down. There was such a bad atmosphere in the house. I think at the time, she was acting out because I had a brother at home at the time and he was drinking a lot and hungover in his bed and she was just acting out against that. But she had me. I was sober and I was trying to do my best. She wrecked Christmas and I felt like I wasn't never really fully rested going back to work

Two christmas's ago was awful. I tried my best to put on a good Christmas for the two of us. It was only the two of us. I bought groceries. Because it was only the two of us, We went with a chicken and the usual vegetables.

I cooked a Christmas meal. I was aiming for about 3 pm dinner sit down.

At 1pm in the day my mother decided to go for a walk in the pouring rain. She came back at 2.30, changed her clothes and ate a tomatoe sandwich. She refused any of the dinner I cooked. She refused the desserts that I organised. She refused to sit in the sitting room where I had a fire going in the fireplace to watch any of the Christmas TV showings.

So I wasn't alone at Christmas but I might as well have been the way she was behaving.

Last year we had a visitor for the Christmas so she put on a show for that visitor. I remember last year before the visitor came I was ill, I was working late and I had to go to a funeral and all she could do was sternly looking around the sitting room. I didn't have any sleep. She was like a school head mistress ready to blow to find fault with any little thing.

I am dreading Christmas this year. I do t want to put any decorations up. What's the point. She will find fault with it all and literally piss on it.
I don't even want to prepare a Christmas meal. Just treat the day as of it's any other day. I was never like this before with Christmas.

OP posts:
Redflagsabounded · 14/11/2024 19:46

I know what's it's like to want a nice cosy special day Christmas, nothing over the top, and have someone bah humbug the shit out of it and ruin it. It's not much to ask. You mention maybe going to a friend's for lunch? Do that. Enjoy yourself.

mrpotatocat · 14/11/2024 19:47

Assume she has dementia and know that things will not become better, just much much worse.

How much are you prepared to take?

CC222 · 14/11/2024 19:52

How old are you? You've ignored this question a few times.... And why haven't you made the steps to move out already?
I agree with the first poster. Make the most of it and next year make it your mission to move out and build a life away from that horrible tension and behaviour at home.. Life is too short to continue to allow someone else to make you miserable. Family or not, no one has the right to make you miserable but you also have to take the steps to remove yourself from that situation...
Some people will never change. But what can change, is the boundaries we set in place for ourselves...

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Mum2jenny · 14/11/2024 19:55

OP please book a few days in an hotel so you can get a break. Let your dm sort her miserable self out.

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 19:58

She said something despicable last year over the Christmas turkey. She said 'we did nothing last year because X wasn't at home'. X referring to one of my brothers and his first year gone abroad. But the thing is I did put on a Christmas. I had firewood in, I had some movies just in case the TV wasn't going to be good, I had Christmas food and desserts. There was a Christmas. She decided to write it all off in favour of a walk in the rain and tomato sandwich.

I am triggered this year because I am hearing her talk of Christmas but I was here before with her.

OP posts:
Mum2jenny · 14/11/2024 20:04

I’d try to ignore her and do the Christmas that you want. Ultimately it’s her choice if she wants to participate. And tell her that!!!

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:05

Redflagsabounded · 14/11/2024 19:46

I know what's it's like to want a nice cosy special day Christmas, nothing over the top, and have someone bah humbug the shit out of it and ruin it. It's not much to ask. You mention maybe going to a friend's for lunch? Do that. Enjoy yourself.

That's it. It wasn't even a Christmas with all the bells and whistles. It was low key. I made an effort to make something of it and she just wrote it off because there wasn't a man at home.

OP posts:
BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:07

Mum2jenny · 14/11/2024 19:55

OP please book a few days in an hotel so you can get a break. Let your dm sort her miserable self out.

I would imagine it would be expensive to stay in a hotel for a few days over Christmas. I will be working Christmas eve anyways. So I won't go away.

I did clean my room in recent weeks and it's a place I can retreat into now. I am spending more time there instead of getting an onslaught of crap from her.

OP posts:
BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:08

CC222 · 14/11/2024 19:52

How old are you? You've ignored this question a few times.... And why haven't you made the steps to move out already?
I agree with the first poster. Make the most of it and next year make it your mission to move out and build a life away from that horrible tension and behaviour at home.. Life is too short to continue to allow someone else to make you miserable. Family or not, no one has the right to make you miserable but you also have to take the steps to remove yourself from that situation...
Some people will never change. But what can change, is the boundaries we set in place for ourselves...

I do t need to answer about my age. I am an adult. That is all. Full stop. My age has nothing to do with it.

I am living in an area with poor housing opportunities and I am unable to drive. I work hard but it's it's difficult all the same.

I would have to move to mainland Europe to find something to afford.

OP posts:
DeliciousApples · 14/11/2024 20:12

Maybe it would be good to have a talk with her. Now ish. Along the lines of:

"it feels like you don't enjoy Christmas when my brothers aren't here or are too hung over and aren't good company. Is that how you feel?" (Discussion perhaps follows. Then if it goes how you expect ie you're right you can say:)

"I understand that.

But the thing is that I get in firewood, nice meals, presents, put up decorations etc and after all that bother and effort you still don't seem happy and sometimes accuse me of not trying. It's soul destroying. It's like I mean nothing.

So this year I was thinking of not bothering celebrating Christmas and it could just be another day. You can do whatever you want I'll go out first a walk or visit friends or whatever I want.
How does that sound?"

(See what she says).

If at any point you can squeeze in a suggestion of GP appointment next week for something to help her cope better with no having tour brothers around (ie antiDs) that would be good as they take a month to kick in.

What age is she? I know house prices suck. I had to move to the next town to be able to afford to leave my family home. Maybe you should too?

We all only have one life. Don't waste it on someone who isn't even grateful.

mrpotatocat · 14/11/2024 20:16

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:08

I do t need to answer about my age. I am an adult. That is all. Full stop. My age has nothing to do with it.

I am living in an area with poor housing opportunities and I am unable to drive. I work hard but it's it's difficult all the same.

I would have to move to mainland Europe to find something to afford.

Sadly I can’t see anything changing then. You seem willing to put up with it.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 14/11/2024 20:16

Have a low key Christmas this year.
New Year and New start.
New place to live and possibly a new partner. All the best.

haje · 14/11/2024 20:21

What would YOU like to do OP?

What would YOU like to eat?

You mention liking Christmas TV.

Let's focus on you.

Lower the expectations of mum response.

For me, I cook the Christmas dinner but secretly don't eat it. I am chasing four kids and nobody notices.

I have. A turkey stuffing mayo baguette with butter on warm bread and cheese for pudding. Later. When I can get my space.

Shinyandnew1 · 14/11/2024 20:29

Christmas isn’t your problem here. The problem is you’re an adult living in a house belonging to someone you don’t get on with. Nobody here can help you with Christmas whilst you continue to live there.

Are you saying there are no house shares you could afford to pay for in the whole country? The only way you can ever move out is to move to mainland Europe!?

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:30

haje · 14/11/2024 20:21

What would YOU like to do OP?

What would YOU like to eat?

You mention liking Christmas TV.

Let's focus on you.

Lower the expectations of mum response.

For me, I cook the Christmas dinner but secretly don't eat it. I am chasing four kids and nobody notices.

I have. A turkey stuffing mayo baguette with butter on warm bread and cheese for pudding. Later. When I can get my space.

I would like to make something of the Christmas and have a small Christmas.

But I probably won't. I do t fancy putting up Christmas decorations just for her find fault with something or another so I think I would like to avoid that.

I think I will get some nice foods and just retreat into my room.

OP posts:
MontyPythonSnake · 14/11/2024 20:32

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 18:35

She is talking about Christmas and Christmas dinner but I think it's just out of habit and routine or old tradition. She talked two years ago about it too but then turned around and wrote Christmas off. It appears as if she wants to do Christmas but I know her. She could write it off for the day when it comes. I don't know.

Yes I hear that's she's already talking fondly about this Christmas. You've not answered my question though.... have you said to her something along the lines of "I'm worried that I'll put effort into us both having a nice Christmas and then you'll go off it on the day, like you have done in the passed. What is the reason for you not feeling it on Xmas day? You seem to enjoy looking forward to it."

GettingStuffed · 14/11/2024 20:33

I was wondering about dementia, there's a number of types and they don't always present the same .

My friends mum had frontotemporal dementia and that starts in a similar way to your mother's behaviour.

Of course it could be that she's just a nasty cow.

Aim for making your Christmas as good as you can for you . Don't bother with hers. Get yourself some treats and something nice to drink and do what you want to

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:35

MontyPythonSnake · 14/11/2024 20:32

Yes I hear that's she's already talking fondly about this Christmas. You've not answered my question though.... have you said to her something along the lines of "I'm worried that I'll put effort into us both having a nice Christmas and then you'll go off it on the day, like you have done in the passed. What is the reason for you not feeling it on Xmas day? You seem to enjoy looking forward to it."

Any time I try chatting to her about anything she just writes it off. When she said something last year about not doing anything the year before because x was not at home, I think I did tell her that I did put on a Christmas. She wrote me off. She really isn't going to listen to me or comprehend it.

Instead of trying to have any meaningful conversation trying to long for a Christmas, I think I would just prefer to retreat into my room for Christmas.

OP posts:
Thejackrussellsrule · 14/11/2024 20:35

Have you considered volunteering at a Christmas lunch or event in your community?

TheMoonismadeofcheese · 14/11/2024 20:36

can you spend it with your partner? I would do anything to spend it somewhere else if I were you. Can you go and visit one of your brothers and spend it with them? If you have to be at home, I wouldn’t bother trying to make it special. Buy something you like to eat and have it on your own. Forget about your mother.

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:36

GettingStuffed · 14/11/2024 20:33

I was wondering about dementia, there's a number of types and they don't always present the same .

My friends mum had frontotemporal dementia and that starts in a similar way to your mother's behaviour.

Of course it could be that she's just a nasty cow.

Aim for making your Christmas as good as you can for you . Don't bother with hers. Get yourself some treats and something nice to drink and do what you want to

Yes. I think that's what I will do. I won't bother with decorations. I will do that.

OP posts:
mrpotatocat · 14/11/2024 20:37

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:35

Any time I try chatting to her about anything she just writes it off. When she said something last year about not doing anything the year before because x was not at home, I think I did tell her that I did put on a Christmas. She wrote me off. She really isn't going to listen to me or comprehend it.

Instead of trying to have any meaningful conversation trying to long for a Christmas, I think I would just prefer to retreat into my room for Christmas.

What is it you long for though? The Christmas’s you used to have as a child, just like your mum?

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:38

TheMoonismadeofcheese · 14/11/2024 20:36

can you spend it with your partner? I would do anything to spend it somewhere else if I were you. Can you go and visit one of your brothers and spend it with them? If you have to be at home, I wouldn’t bother trying to make it special. Buy something you like to eat and have it on your own. Forget about your mother.

All my brothers live very far away. It's too expensive to travel at this time of year for the Christmas. I could spend the day with my partner. Things are not very good with him to be honest. I will go with the later option. I won't do anything special for home or for my mother.

OP posts:
mrpotatocat · 14/11/2024 20:38

BrainstormGreenNeedle · 14/11/2024 20:36

Yes. I think that's what I will do. I won't bother with decorations. I will do that.

If I only had one room I would bother to decorate it. At least with fairy lights.

haje · 14/11/2024 20:49

Decorate your room. Get. Little tree. Lights. Buy a special little bauble that represents you this year. Make that your new tradition. To start your Christmas how you want it. Buy your favourite food.