Are you actually looking forward to Christmas day?

[SushiSheep]

Or fed up to the back teeth with it all already?

Just chatting to my cousins last night and one of them said they just wished it was over!

That's one of the reasons I'm single, vile in-laws and chronic meanness

Christmas in our house is relaxed, fun, happy. No nastiness, no digs, no complaining. I love it.

No
DH has had a mental health episode and is with PIL while I stay at home with DC who will spend all Xmas in their rooms being mardy teenagers.
I'm not a fan of Christmas any year, to be fair.

Not really. DC are working all over Christmas so will be weird not to have them for Christmas lunch. Just having it with elderly relatives, who are slowly declining in health. So no magical day, just memories of what Christmas Day used to be like

We've asked! But she's a bit of a bloody martyr and they've committed to spending it with her in-laws.
So the plan is next year, she gets to spend it with her side of the family.

Not really, I like the festive period but the day, not so much.

I teach Primary, so December is fun, busy and full of parties (both for the kids and the adults). Then I adore my two weeks of holidays. I find Christmas Day a bit underwhelming though, we’re off to in-laws. We don’t have our own kids (because I don’t want to look after children in my free time), the kids at our in-laws will be wound up and overly hyper. As the resident primary teacher, their parents assume I want to be the children’s entertainer for the entire day. I don’t, I just want to drink Bucks Fizz and wear a paper hat. But of course, I slap on a smile and spend all day playing Barbies and Lego…and look forward to bedtime.

@AceofPentacles Look up your local Parkrun and come and join us. If you don't run, join the walkers. A fifty minute walk in the fresh air with lots of cheerful company might be a new Christmas tradition and it beats sitting around on your own while your teenagers sleep like the dead.

You don't need anything, just show up. You'll be home by 10.30. 😊

Totally over it. I have done Chiristmas 52 times now and that's about 42 times too many.

She said they're not into anything.
Even when asked specifically if there's anything they'd like to do, they just say nothing.
Her DH is just the same unfortunately.
When asked anything, he just says "I don't mind" or "it's up to you".
Very draining.
They're not bad people, she just wishes they'd show an ounce of enthusiasm.
Roll on next year! They won't know what's hit them 🙈

Normally I love the day itself but this year I have managed to pick up some sort of bug which I'm trying to ignore and hope it will have cleared up by tomorrow.

I prefer Christmas eve to Christmas day, we only have my husbands nan and grandad around who stay home & my dad but he's gone to Cornwall for Christmas so we don't have any big gatherings etc. The kids are older now so no toy playing/building, it'll just be a fancy Sunday roast with lots of fizz

Currently hiding in bed in denial about it- it’ll be miserable this year (but I’ll have to pretend it’s not for DC).

I'm not now. Mil in hospital and husband has basically sat at her bedside for the last few days, he says he will be here tomorrow for the kids, but the atmosphere will be awful because he won't get involved or put a smile on his face for them.
And it'll be another year he hasn't got me a gift under the reasoning, he thinks we are too old to buy each other gifts for Christmas.
Which translates into, he can't be bothered, so don't buy anything for him so he doesn't look like a c*nt.
I need to get through the next few days as best I can.

I find the run up very stressful. But now that it's tomorrow and the prep is done, I am looking forward to it. Just baking cupcakes just now for our brunch with the in laws tomorrow then home for a Christmas dinner. Will be just the 4 of us for the very first time. No hosting this year and no travelling. Then babies in bed and watching Gavin and Stacey. I actually think it will be quite nice.

Yes and no.

Can't wait to spend time with DD & DH and watch her open presents

No because we always have to go over to PILS for lunch and I've got boiled beef and lamb that was cooked to death three days ago.

I sound ungrateful, I know.

Ive said to H from next year I want to stay home and do my own Christmas lunch/traditions.

Three full on days of of high level masking starting in a couple of hours. I'm looking forward to the 27th when I will have a few days to avoid all people before Hogmanay.

On the other hand, wrapping gifts with hot chocolate and candy canes on Christmas Eve is therapy.

I cooked a full Christmas dinner yesterday as SIL and her friend came, she lives overseas and is flying back today. Her mate didn’t speak any English at all, she translated and DH knows a little and I know the odd word. It was actually a very fun experience. Except MIL came out with some horrendous misogynistic comment along the lines of Judge Pickles, I did call her out and say you just cannot say things like that and it’s never acceptable. She overall seems to hate feminism and would have us all back in the 1950’s, bit hard of thinking.

DS and his GF split up about 10 days ago, so after the initial tears for a few days he has steadied but I’m worried how the day will feel she usually comes to us later afternoon after dinner with her family and we will all miss her.

They'll be OK, her teens love their younger relatives (can't think what relationship they are to my kids 🤔) and she'll be much happier amongst us lot (the wider family, not just us!)
I think you're right, they're just stuck in a bit of a rut, and her sister and family who are usually around to inject some festive cheer has gone to spend it with her in-laws.

Hope you're OK @PatchworkElmer
Please talk to us if you need to offload or vent x

Totally over it. It would be nice to be invited elsewhere instead of being the default for every single, non married relative.Now with added complication of other peoples dogs, a disabled family member with no off switch (racist, sexist) and older kids who still think the fairies do it all. Thankfully husband is good and helpful. We have had a terrible year and thought I would get him a lovely present. Ends up I got him basically the same last year, just hasn't used it. Such an effort, buying thoughtful presents for everyone which they appreciate but I then don't really have time to look for myself which inevitably ends up as a gift voucher for a shop I don't go to from them all. It sounds miserable, but I loved it when the kids were small doing all the Christmas activities but now, not at all. One year I'll go on holiday. 🎄

Yes, got lots of drink and food and possibly just DH and the DC this year. It'll be relaxed and chilled.

Yes I am
but it’s just us guys so nice and cosy and chill

Not really. Adult ds died suddenly 3 months ago.
HOWEVER....dh and I have a lovely quiet time planned, with lots of walking, self care and great food/ drink. My Xmases are always low key so it's not a big leap.
Determined not to be despondent...it has happened and I have to move on or it will consume me.
I'm going to plan lots of trips and short breaks for 2025 so that will be Xmas day afternoon