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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Excited about Christmas?

65 replies

Filofanny · 13/09/2017 11:15

I just had a message from a friend asking if i was excited about Christmas. I said no, because its only September, and she replied 'Oh, :( i thought you were a good mum'

Wtf? Is that a sign I'm a bad parent? My children are 16 and nearly 19, so its not as magical as it once was, but we do enjoy Christmas. We just dont spend a third of a year looking forward to it. I feel stupidly pissed off and judged now

AIBU to think its a bit early, not to start preparing, or budgeting or whatever, but to be excited?

OP posts:
coconuttella · 13/09/2017 13:05

It is only 5 days into winter. I love winter too.

Depends how you classify the seasons. Having 21 December to 21 March always struck me as odd as 20 December is likely to be far more "wintry" than 20 March. Meteorological winter is December, January, February.

Also, by your reckoning we have more than a week of summer left!

coconuttella · 13/09/2017 13:07

It seems such an odd thing to write, are you sure she wasn't saying "you're a bad mum" in jest rather than seriously suggesting you were?

Coffeetasteslikeshit · 13/09/2017 13:07

Excited by Christmas? Nope. Dreading it as always. Fucking present fucking buying. Grr.

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis · 13/09/2017 13:08

I've only just started thinking about Christmas, as the last birthday's out the way.

IcelandicWarriors · 13/09/2017 13:10

That's why I didn't call my early December born child Autumn, as I thought it would confuse people.

I don't think the weather follows our defined timelines for seasons regards of how you classify and today it is a lovely blustery day with the leaves on the turn.

Not sure how we got here. I may have led the thread off on a tangent. Sorry OP.

Zaphodsotherhead · 13/09/2017 13:11

I work in a shop. Our back warehouse is FULL of Christmas stock.

When I got in to work on Monday, they didn't want to tell me, in case I was cross. No idea why, I LOVE Christmas! Bring it on! (But I only really start to look forward to it after my birthday at tne end of November.)

Original poster
Filofanny · 13/09/2017 13:13

Further information - i asked what her version of Christmas involves. I get we're all different, and i thought maybe i was missing out on some really exciting, good parenting thing.

Well it starts on boxing day when they start shopping in the sales for the following year. Then there are advent calendars in December. The day itself is spent with her parents (as they do every Sunday), dinner, presents etc, then an early night, as they like to be up early for the sales.

I'll be honest, it doesnt sound very interesting, let alone something to get excited about months in advance.

OP posts:
Bumbumtaloo · 13/09/2017 13:13

I love Christmas, always have but for the life of me cannot understand what that has to do with anyone's parenting Confused

Winter is my favourite season but not just because of Christmas, but for lots of reasons.

My DD's birthday is 28/12 so we soon move from Christmas to birthday mode Grin

DJBaggySmalls · 13/09/2017 13:14

It interesting that she thinks this makes her a good Mum.
We had very lean Christmas and birthdays but I helped them through university instead. They understood I couldn't do both.

Brittbugs80 · 13/09/2017 13:18

I'm excited but also very aware I'm in the minority! Christmas cakes have been started (fruit needs an alcohol soak for 6 weeks then cake is fed for another 6/7 weeks)

And I've a list of presents to get for nieces and nephews that I will be getting Friday in the Smyth's toy sale.

Other than DS main present, and the nieces and nephews, my shopping is all done.

House is ready for Autumn with the final bits being done this weekend.

But you are not a bad Mom, not sure why it would even make you a bad Mom?! Your friend sounds a bit odd..

namechangefordummies · 13/09/2017 13:20

You don't need to ask this question. You know your friend is talking absolute crap.

Crunchymum · 13/09/2017 13:23

I adore Christmas but it's not until December FFS!

I wont even entertain so much as making a list before Mid November (I have DP and DC birthday to get out the way first!)

ScarletForYa · 13/09/2017 13:24

Fucking hell.

The work and hassle Christmas creates fat outweighs any pleasure it brings.

Last year I made it to Christmas dinner and flopped on the couch afterwards and was really sick for three weeks after.

It's too much. I despise it.

Birdsgottafly · 13/09/2017 13:32

"AIBU to think its a bit early, not to start preparing, or budgeting or whatever, but to be excited?"

As said, it depends on what your Christmas entails. My youngest was very into Manga/Japanese/Chinese culture, so I'd be ordering things from China around now, or I would have been in danger of not getting stuff. Likewise personalised stuff used to have to be ordered with at least eight weeks to spare.

The most popular Breakfast with Santa etc gets booked up, so you've got to book things when they are advertised, which was last week.

I am really looking forward to going to stuff with my Grandchildren. I would rather do events than buy things. I pay towards something large, rather than shop. We all meet up/go to German Markets, as a family rather than exchange gifts.

All that has to be planned and booked for, to make them happen.

I can remember saying to a neighbour about me not starting Christmas shopping and she replied that I have the money just sitting there (which I once did), so I didn't have to have time to pay for it, which I do now.

Didiusfalco · 13/09/2017 13:32

icelandic you have summed it up perfectly. That is how I feel (except couldn't have explained it so well) Smile

BenLui · 13/09/2017 13:37

It's not a sign that you are a bad Mum, it's a sign that your friend is a pain in the arse (and passive aggressive to boot)

I bet she has one of those creepy wee elves.

PoppyPopcorn · 13/09/2017 13:51

Friend of the OP is an Aggressive Christmasser (yes I've just made that up).

The Aggressive Christmasser starts making lists in February and shopping in March, not because of financial constraint, but because "it's all about the magic, innit". They are the people oohing and aahhing over mince pies in August and starting lengthy debates about tinsel in September. They wholeheartedly embrace the marketing shite which is elf on his fucking shelf and his friend, the Christmas Eve box. They spend a fortune booking their kids into santa lunches, pantomimes, christmas concerts, grotto visits, irrespective of whether or not the kids want to go. They put their sprouts on just after Bonfire Night. Every year means a totally new decoration colour scheme, cue long discussion about what's better - silver and purple, or gold and red? Christmas tree goes up around the last weekend in November.

And the MAIN problem with the Aggressive Christmasser is that you can't argue with them or criticise their Agressive Christmassing as you are branded a killjoy, Scrooge or humbug.

IT'S MADNESS.

Hillarious · 13/09/2017 13:52

I can get really excited about Christmas every other year - it just comes round too quickly these days. This year I'm up for it, but now's too soon!

Bumbumtaloo · 13/09/2017 13:56

I do buy throughout the year, for us it's because we don't have much money since I am now unable to work and DH is my carer. I also order a meat hamper and put money aside each month for our 'big' Christmas food shop. So yes, although I love Christmas it's down to being skint I shop the way I do.

I still don't get where your friend was coming from Confused

Numberonecook · 13/09/2017 14:05

I'm not excited yet and the kids have barely mentioned it and mine are 7, 10 and 15. To be honest I've got more important stuff at the moment to be thinking about. Yanbu

guestofclanmackenzie · 13/09/2017 15:10

My DH is a HGV driver for Waitrose/John Lewis.

I asked him whether he had been delivering Xmas goods to all the stores.

He said that was all done months ago. This week, he has been delivering Easter goods from the distribution centre to all the Waitrose supermarkets.

5foot5 · 13/09/2017 15:29

I'll be honest, it doesnt sound very interesting, let alone something to get excited about months in advance.

I agree! I can't think of anything worse than the sales on Boxing Day. My ideal Boxing Day is to wrap up warm and go out for a long walk with a flask of soup and a turkey sandwich. Oh DH and DD can come too if they like Grin

coconuttella · 13/09/2017 15:56

House is ready for Autumn with the final bits being done this weekend.

Wtf does "getting the house ready for Autumn" mean?! And why does it take weeks?

TriJo · 13/09/2017 16:07

Not massively excited tbh - the thought of having to fly back to Ireland for a week at nearly 8 months pregnant and with a toddler is not exactly filling me with the joys of the season. All shopping will be done via Amazon and mostly in October.

Sallystyle · 13/09/2017 16:21

I'm doubly not excited because I'm doing the night shift on Xmas eve which means ill spend some of Xmas day at work and then sleeping and unless we can work something out I'm going to be in on BD as well. They will all try their hardest to rearrange things so I don't have to go in but it's not guaranteed it can be worked out yet as many of my colleagues will be in the same position as me.

I don't get excited this early anyway and I only get a little bit excited in December. I love parts of it but it is overrated. It's costs a fortune with my lot and the older they get the more expensive things are.