to go on any thread the mentions Ch****** in the title and say

[2shoes]

IT IS AUGUST FFS, STOP WISHING YOUR LIFE AWAY

I tried explaining that to PIL and my parents - they are Having None Of It. His birthday must be celebrated on his actual birthday apparently.

I'm thinking about running off to a nice quiet desert island or something...

shame as when he is older he would most likely love it to be moved iynwim
stand your ground, you are his mum, you make the rules

I will drink the eggnog
but you can keep your wreath

My plan is this - tell no-one (except fiance) of birthday plans until the beginning of December. Refuse to enter into conversation or confirm details for Xmas. At the beginning of December send out birthday invites that tell them to come at 3pm, have a cold finger food buffet and piss off at 7pm. No-one will be staying over regardless of how far they have had to travel.

I will not answer the door before 3pm and I will boot everyone out at 7.

I don't put my tree up or start wrapping or writing cards until December. That's something.

Just 4 more pay days.

Four months until Christmas, not long just 16 odd weeks away, that's just 112 days.

I think the weather has a lot to do with it, it is hardly summer out there is it?

maryz I love you

I love Autumn though. Has anyone else felt those Autumn breezes yet?

I'm smelling burning pumpkin and tasting hazelnuts right now.

Agent zz she is also 8. Was shocked at how distraught she was. Really upsetting, felt like I had betrayed her, although she didn't say that!

I googled WTF I was supposed to say (to avoid bawling all over her at her lost youth ) and it said to sell it to them as they're being let in on a huge, but lovely, secret, which as they're now growing up, they can become an important part of by carrying on pretending he's real for all the children (and adults ) who still believe.

It was such a nice spin to put on it, making them feel as though all's not lost and it doesn't mean it's over for them.

Is she worried she'll not get a stocking and that do you think? I know it's something DD asked about.

I nearly mentioned the Ch word on a thread where someone said she was making little anatomically correct gingerbread men with had silver balls as the necessary accoutrements. Ruined that fine old Christmas song 'Silver bells' for me in a very funny way that I can't share with the DCs.

No 'had' necessary there.

I thought you meant children in the title..

YABU, if the threads are in the Christmas topic!

Even if they are elsewhere, but say Christmas in the title, well, you can just, um, not click on them :o

I don't really feel I'm wishing my life away by doing the present shopping early - ebay is cheap ATM as there aren't so many bidders desperate for gifts. There's also lots of other sales in shops that might not be there later. Thankfully my DCs aren't into the wanting-whatever-the-latest-toy-is phase yet (there's much to be said for not having tv channels!)

So I'm saving money, but more importantly I'm saving time - I won't need to be rushing around last minute. I know some people love that rush, but I really don't - I have been agoraphobic in the past and I'm still not too good with massive crowds in the mall. By shopping early I can use the time to just pop into town for the odd tree decoration or whatever, and I enjoy it so much more.

LadyFlumpalot :o That's what family is all about!

YANBU

Although I thought you meant "chickens" for some reason.

Norfolk
My DD is 9yo and still has not twigged. Or is not letting on. Dreading the day. I like AgentZigZag's conspiracy idea.

Yanbu. Nothing more to add so a bit of a dull post.

...you do realise you've just started a thread in which everyone is now talking about Christmas, don't you? (Though perhaps that was your evil plan all along!)

Yabu, we are on a very low income, and have a large family (I'm the eldest of 8) so I start christmas shopping early, usually once I've got ds and nieces birthday out of the way (beginning of may) don't like them, click hide. Oh, and the festivities last a month for us. Sil's birthday is december, mils is the day after new year, mine is middle of january. So if I don't plan early, it doesn't get done.

'...you do realise you've just started a thread in which everyone is now talking about Christmas, don't you? (Though perhaps that was your evil plan all along!)'

I thought the same Glitter