Is it just me, or is Christmas really stressful?

[Pud2]

I find it such a stressful time. My parents are elderly and anxious and that's quite stressful in itself as we are all focused on making sure they not fretting about anything. . It is lovely to see my siblings and nephews and nieces etc and we all get on really well but I find that when you have other people there too, ie brother/sister in laws etc, there is always a certain amount of stress as everyone has a slightly different opinion on how things should be done!

Christmas is only stressful if you allow it to be.
I don't get caught up in the consumerism etc and thus always enjoy Christmas.

Christmas is only stressful if you allow it to be

Those silly children getting upset watching their parents fight, they really should learn to suck it up.

Not at all. I have cast off the only element of stress by leaving the people who made it that way behind. That said we're lucky in that the whole family is easy going and no one has unrealistic expectations.

Chipped- what are you talking about?

Three families get together and everyone cooks something Soup, meat, veg. That way it's all shared and no one has the lot to do. Yes the host has toget table ready, 12 plates, cutlery etc but with everyone lending a hand it makes itso much easier all round. We all had agood day. After dinner it's presents, games, tv more food if anyone wants it. Then home for about 8.

Still busy and exhausting but at least it's shared.

I don't know why more people don't do that.

If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot! Well that's my motto.

Dowser you're assuming that everyone can tolerate being in the same room as each other and is nice enough to want to contribute / not too fussy to eat someone else's cooking etc and so on. Christmas is only as simple as the family themselves in. In my case everyone is an arsehole. Including me a lot of the time.

I find it's as stressful as you allow it to be
I have usually 10 people staying over Xmas.
The last two years I've had this Sussed.
Got myself a cleaner so all sparkly before they arrive. And the trick is to stop trying to make it perfect. So what if you forget the sprouts? So what if the kids trash the house.
Enjoy the little irritations and laugh them off. Allocate jobs. Mum peel veg. Dad lay table etc and don't stress if it's not how you would do it

It's so expensive!!!

It depends, are you anxious beforehand and are there big expectations of you?

We have a small family, boys are older teens and MiL does the Christmas lunch at her house, all together there were 8 and I did the buffet at ours in the evening.

We don't see extended family for long periods and don't buy presents for them either. We could be considered cold and distant < shrugs shoulders> but it works for us.

Sorry your's didn't go so well Fairy , < offers shoulder squeeze >