To think some people are taking Christmas far too seriously...

[Lagoonablue]

I don't normally post on here and yes 'each to their own' etc but seriously when I see some of the stuff about. Christmas on MN I am astounded.

Who has the time to devote to 'Xmas Eve hampers'. When were they invented? Agonies over how much to spend, whether to give baby a present or not, when to put the tree up........

Sheesh. I like xmas, it is fun! don't want to piss on your chips but some of the dilemmas aired with regard to ONE day are staggering. If you want roast parsnips as well as roast potatoes just bloody have them! If you can't decide between Polar Express and Arfer christmas as 'the Xmas film' then watch both!

I am prepared to be told to stay off the Christmas boards but the posts keep cropping up in active convos and honestly,I find myself clicking on them to see what very important dilemma needs to be sorted out before dec 25th.

Yes I know.....mind my own business. Bah humbug!

Absolutely agree with you Lagoonablue.

My dream Christmas involves a flight out the moment school breaks up to a place where Christmas has never been heard of, and return a couple of days before term starts to make sure the uniforms are washed.

It's christmas!!!

YANBU... Mostly
Although having out the tree up last night I'm not sure how seriously you can take me!! Last year we had moved into a new bigger house and I half killed myself trying to do the 'perfect advert mum' thing as we were hosting for the first time. Never again, it actually inspired me to do less this year. Spend less, cook less food (not put the tree up later though, we love some nice decs in this house!) and just be more relaxed.
There's a thread floating around somewhere, I think it ended up in classics about a simple Christmas.

with or without the dc though?

Oh I'll share those humbugs with you I can't get my head round the drama of it all

I agree with you really, but I am very laid back about christmas and of the "if we have it great, if not then tough" mentality. I don't get the ten tons of food, fighting over the last loaf of bread mentality of some.

But if that is what people think is needed to make a happy christmas then thats their choice.

YANBU! We have a reason to keep all things Christmas to a minimum until half way through December: DD's birthday! Works well to stop us getting too OTT about it!

I put a fair bit of effort in, but don't find it stressful in the least. I LOVE it. Christmas music, practising carols on the piano (I just found Little Donkey sheet music on amazon!), finding lovely presents that I'm super excited to give, crafty stuff both on my own and with the DCs, baking, wrapping presents while watching telly... what's not to like? :o

The day I start feeling pressured, or like it's all too much, or like I'm martyring myself, is the day I'll stop. But I don't see that happening TBH :o

The key is not to have high expectations or some idea of 'perfection' IMO. Just enjoy the process :)

BTW our tree won't be going up til the last day of school. Our Christmas is actually pretty simple, I just spread out the preparation.

YANBU
Each to their own, obviously, but some people must absolutely exhaust themselves with it all.
I couldn't cope with that level of planning.

I feel as if the stakes are raised every year. Of course, it's the women who are expected to do all the work, isn't it?

Read a post last night by somebody who has spent hours arranging a different advent gift or activity for her children for every day from 1 December to Christmas Eve and didn't want her husband to "get the credit" by participating in some of the fun with his kids! Isn't actual Christmas enough without having to keep the kids constantly delighted throughout December?

WTF is a Christmas Eve hamper? My guests will be eating fish and chips on Christmas Eve, and are very happy about it!

yabu ... you may not find it important but to some families it is a time to make a big deal and make sure its perfect ! each to their own I say

I love Christmas but I really don't get all the fuss and stress. We have loads of fun and have developed lots of our own traditions over the years but we don't care if things are not perfect. The thing I like best is spending time with my family: laughing, eating, drinking playing silly games, taking the dog for a big walk. My children are 16 and 21 and still adore Christmas.

All the endless new ways to make folks part with their money..

Yes, I agree with you - risible. But it makes some peope happy. Perhaps they like being stressed - you know, better to have negative emotion/feedback than none at all.

I never understand all the fuss about making a day 'perfect'.

You just stress yourself unnecessarily.

I haven't even started Xmas shopping yet I cannot get my head around people that start months before.

My decorations went up today, and Xmas shopping shall start tomorrow night via the internet, with my feet up and an alcoholic drink handy. I have ideas for everything, I will buy 90% of it online tomorrow evening, for delivery and will go to town one day next week for any odds that aren't available online and to visit the likes of the pound shop for some plastic tat stocking fillers.

Ta da! Done! Then a couple of evenings wrapping and hiding stuff in the attic next week and i'm finished.

Why the mad stress and panic? I don't see it.

I start my shopping months before so I can enjoy the build up to Christmas without having to battle in shops and not be able to find things. My Christmas shopping is pretty much done which means no panic here and a nice relaxed Christmas

YANBU

My due date to give birth is Christmas day and I'm still not in uproar.. yet

see xmas here is the perfect day lol but I suppose you may find other things that you find important not important ..

YABU.
One of the great things about Mumsnet is that you can post trivial crap alongside the really important things.

Just because someone wants to talk about Christmas films, doesn't mean they think it's a real dilemma. They just want to talk about it.

I agree too but I think a lot of it is mumsnet fable.
I mentioned Xmas hampers pjs etc to a few people who all looked at me like I'm mad.
I hate all the cooking crap.
My sister makes me want to vomit with her home made puddings and stuffing, what's wrong with a bit of paxo?

And the adverts. Who actually goes to golden glowy parties in mansions in snow covered grounds and wears perfect clothes on their perfect figures and doesn't get pissed or drop crumbs on the carpet!

The build up is all part of the fun!

As for comment about it all being down to women - not so in this house. DH has decorated the tree and lounge today with DD1 and does so every year. He also does the cooking if it is our turn to host on Christmas Day.

Too much pressure is put on now to be bloody perfect. The perfect tree decorations presents food etc.A number of years ago I did the nigella / Kirstie allsopp bit. God I nearly had a breakdown ! Made the mincemeat the cakes the pudding. Hand made cards and wrapping paper. Beautiful tree up hand made garlands and wreathes. Cooked the perfect dinner for numerous people etc !! But in the end no one cares except you and no bugger even noticed probably !!! All different now and sooo much easier !!

"If you want roast potatoes as well as parsnips just bloody have them"

Your post made me chuckle OP.

BUT its Christmas it's the season of highpitched overthinking of EVERYTHING.

This year I don't give 2 shiney hoots about it all. The day will come and go and we will eat drink and be merry [hic]