To not understand how people manage to make such a meal out of Christmas?

[BlueBananas]

All you hear this time of year is 'oh I haven't got the potatoes peeled yet' 'I haven't cleaned the windows' 'I haven't hoovered the roof' type moans
Am I the only one that just doesn't get it?

I love Christmas, it's a huge thing in our family it really is, but it takes a couple of hours to cook a meal and why exactly are you all cleaning like mad people? I get that if you have guests then you clean yes, but only normal amounts of cleaning, why do people have to bleach all of their silverware and clean out cupboards? Why? Will Santa not come otherwise? And surely it's only clean for about 15 seconds until all the presents have been opened/chocolate eaten/guests descend? Then it looks like you never bothered, so why bother?

I'm starting to see that our Christmases are so lovely and relaxed and happy and I'm so glad

AIBU to think that everybody just needs to calm down a little bit?

I used to be a bit of a perfectionist over Christmas until a few years ago when our Christmas was "ruined" by DBIL & DSIL turning up with their lovely hunking Labrador who decided to eat the turkey and half the sausage meat stuffing when DH's back was turned.

It was quite a calamity for about half an hour but luckily the local KFC was open and we hadn't started drinking yet so we ended up with an alternative Christmas dinner, a very smelly dog and a rather funny story to tell.

However we are very fortunate that our guests were happy to laugh along with us rather than complaining about a Christmas let down, and it doesn't take too much imagination to see that it could have been a very sour experience indeed!

Love that story One. :)

I think I got a bit paranoid about Xmas after reading a thread on here last year I think it was, where someone said they would actually cry if they weren't served a proper turkey dinner at Christmas and that it would spoil the day to miss out on the traditional meal. I actually checked with my MIL if she would be ok with 'only' having a turkey crown and no sprouts, just in case she actually cared like some people apparently do. She said it was fine, phew.

'would actually cry if they weren't served a proper turkey dinner at Christmas'.

giraffe, really???

Actually, come to think of it, I've been on another thread recently on similar lines and the outrage from some quarters at the idea of being served a non-traditional/meat-free meal at Christmas is quite something to behold, so maybe I can believe it after all!

Perhaps people have other things going on in their lives OP, and adding Xmas prep (along with the supposed accompanying joy) is an additional stress they could do w/o.

If you told me to calm down I'd be pretty upset.

My DH was running around tidying things away last night, he's a bit of a neat freak though. I'm not overly fussed, do need to buy some food as having 11 for Christmas Dinner and don't particularly want to fight through hordes to buy it.

But I do understand that people find it stressful, it's a time of year that can bring out a lot of other feelings and stresses - there's often a lot of demands on people's time and weird pressures from family and expectations.

But, I'm not going to waste any of my precious time off cleaning the chandelier or dusting the bookshelves....

I've just seen the meat I've got for Xmas day is best before 23rd
I will just pick up anything in M and S tomorrow. No big deal

Should be fine still on 25th (but then I'm a vegetarian......)!

I'm not risking it. Dd has severe OCD around food and the fallout isn't worth it.

That is a good point about existing stress and commitments. I don't work and therefore have had plenty of time to prepare. I am also not starting Christmas tired from work. I also have a houseful of helpers. So whilst there is some work in catering for a large number I have it easier than a working parent with a lazy partner.

often, inviting guests is the only motivation I have for cleaning...

Well I've been forced into stopping with the madness and having christnas in a non perfect house cos i broke my bloody wrist during some festive ice skating last night.
You never know I might get used to it.

ledkr perhaps skipping the broken wrist part might be advised?

ledkr

I think Christmas is great fun as said above. But it is also stressful. I love buying and wrapping presents, I really enjoy all the homemade touches I give to things, I love watching people open the gifts I've given them.
I love having my best friend and her DDs over on Xmas eve - her dd1 birthday Boxing Day so I do cake and her pressie and then buffet and then Christmas presents.

But I work FT, am a LP, have a DS with ASD. My life is busy busy. However much I love Christmas and chose to do all that I do it is stressful - mostly on my already limited time. it doesn't help that the social expectations are a lot for my DS so I often have to be extra Vigilant.

I will say though that my friend helps me restore the house to normality before her and her girls leave! Everything is done so it can be refrigerated, binned, hoovered up easily - with very limited washing up involved in it all!
We just stick the kids in front of a Christmas film - they know the score. Sit and watch it or help

Oh no Ledkr! Have some and and I hope your family rally round to help you out.

Thanks kind vipers