To have completely just lost my shit and spirit of Christmas?

[Rangelife]

I'm walking across an icy, freezing northern city after rushing into Sainsbury's to buy a shifty secret santa present for work.

A bastard glass hot chocolate snowman kit for a fiver. I'm trying to simultaneously shove the thing into a shitty gift bag, whilst tying the ribbon and ripping off the stupid plastic hanger thing and screaming in my head 'I'm sick of this shit!'

I don't even know the woman I've bought for and I was ill yesterday so missed the food and secret santa swap. AIBU to think this isn't what it's meant to be like?

I want to be a child again. Please regale me with your Christmas meltdowns so I don't feels so irritated with the festive season. Please.

Financially DH and I have struggled greatly this year. Things are financially looking up but we have thoroughly enjoyed planning and shopping on a shoe string. It meant we took more care and consideration with gifts and made more of a point to have people over and cook so we could just be together with those we love. This is the best Xmas ever as we haven't arsed ourselves with all the over the top stuff ie. Secret Santas, elf on the shelf, Christmas eve boxes etc. The spirit of Xmas gets watered down so much I understand where you're coming from OP.

We put far too much pressure on ourselves at this time of year. Who are we trying to impress? Whilst we all grumble about the adverts, shops stocking Xmas goods end October that is when we should start our hunting for gifts. If you have folks overseas then you have to start then for posting so why not for at home. Christmas is really all about children and Santa for me not an excuse for adults to overindulge in food, alcohol, presents, creating debt secant afford. We need to step back and stop being led like cattle by others' idea of what is required to make "the perfect" Christmas.

I have completely lost my Christmas spirit. I knew DH was scheduled to have shoulder surgery - rough estimation, end of November, so we made an effort to be on the ball. He had the operation last Wednesday, and even though I was more or less sorted, all main presents bought and wrapped and Amazon for everything else, and even though he insisted this op would be like his last, out of his sling and driving in a couple of weeks, I knew in my head that I had to be READY ready. And thankfully I insisted because lo and be-fecking-hold... when he's coming round from the surgery, he finds the physio looming over him, it had been a much bigger op than they anticipated, and he's in a sling for 8 weeks. Even to sleep. Can't drive. And I don't drive. And it's his right shoulder that's out of action, so he can't even so much as safely make me a bloody coffee. Let alone peel the bastard sprouts. I'm having to shower a grown man in a cape made from bin bags. The last time I saw someone in a bin bag cape was in the 1980's, it was my brother, and it was Hallowe'en. It's not becoming on a 55 year old (naked) man.

So, I'm ready for Christmas, but not in the slightest bit smug. I am so tired I could cry. I'm too tired even to drink, which would be my usual go-to remedy. Roll on 2018 when all this nonsense is over.

Just dont worry about getting everything perfect. You can celebrate Christmas even without this gift.

Secret santa is a load of crap anyway. Where i work, anyone who feels inclined can buy presents for underprivileged children in care. Why does someone who is financially secure need a box of Dove bubble bath and moisturiser anyway, especially as the packaging usually costs more the stuff and just contributes to all the plastic clogging up the oceans.

Having a pre Xmas nightmare. Supposed to be moving house on the 1st of December. Have had 4 exchange/completion dates fall through the day before due to our buyers incompetent solicitor. Have lost hundreds in removal deposits.
Both the kids and I have been ill. The cat died.
Just shit times.
All Xmas presents bought and wrapped though so that's something. Put the tree up, just going to chuck a bin bag over it and throw it in the can if we ever actually move!!

But unlike a lot of others we have our health and each other. Trying to stay sane and grateful!

haven't RTFT but -

trailedanderror

that made me laugh out loud and scare the cat!

Not quite a Christmas meltdown, but when I was clearing out my (deceased) aunt's house, I found every single one of the presents I'd bought her going back at least 20 years, all still wrapped up and with the receipt inside in case she needed to return anything. Many had had a tiny fingertip hole torn into the package to see what was inside. How she could tell what a pair of trousers looked like, through a half-inch hole, I'll never know.
She was an arrogant witch (shouldn't call her that - I really like witches!) at the best of times and didn't want to be seen to be happy with the gift or even sufficiently interested to open it.

I was (more than) slightly effed-off when I found what amounted to a waste of hundreds of pounds, so my Xmas meltdown was in the aftermath of numerous Christmases and not in the lead up to it. The Charity shops did well out of it all though!

The last time I saw someone in a bin bag cape was in the 1980's, it was my brother, and it was Hallowe'en. It's not becoming on a 55 year old (naked) man.

Made me howl, mojo - and I have a picture in my mind I wish I didn't

Hope DH recovers nicely - and you get to have a piss- up soon!

Haven't RTFT yet but these are making me feel so much better- in particular @PyongyangKipperBang with: "I flipped my sun visor up it came out of its housing and bashed me in the eye. I was so fucking incandescently angry and I ripped it out of the car roof and slung it out of the window. DH demanded why I had done that and I literally screamed at him to fuck off."
Out-fucking-standing pet. Hats off to you. Marvellous. Love it.

I have had more Christmas spirit since my husband left (2nd one as a single mum) but still a bit grinchy. I did let loose a stream of profanities when assembling the tree and a few more last night when the rotary club did the rounds (not in their earshot. They do good work really)

I'm a primary school TA, in my school EYFS and KS1 both do separate plays, with 3 performances of each plus goodness only knows how many rehearsals. This is the first Christmas I've worked in a mainstream school so I had not experienced the chaos that is the Christmas play before, so when my headteacher asked if i would mind helping with both I was all 'oh yes, that will be fun, I love Christmas plays'. No, it turns out I only love watching Christmas plays.

I got home from the final performance to find DD and DH sat at the table with my best craft stuff out making a Christmas decoration that DD apparently needed to do as homework, I can only assume her teacher had set this to punish the parents for something and that DH must hate me or he would at least have made sure DD cut the tiny shapes she needed from the edge of my nice paper, not the fucking middle. I sat and cried for far longer than any grown women should cry over spilled glitter and a few sheets of paper even if it was holographic paper and my best super fine iridescent white glitter

@Silentlyscreamingagain Good on her !

I’ve done presents- and wrapped them but it doesn’t look very much. Presents for kids, nephew, and very small thing for parents and nan.

I don’t want secret santa, definetly no presents for grown up friends or their kids this year. I feel everyone gets enough.

This year my complete arsehole of a boss has tried to ruin Christmas. She’s new. And a bitch.

Other than that- the juggling is the same as everyone else!

Thanks Annelind Believe me, whatever you're picturing doesn't quite reflect the full horror. The only way I can describe it is 'Flasher Batman sans mask'. I might whip him up a mask, actually, might as well finish the outfit off. I'm taking my laughs where I can get them this month.

Also, before the op he invited the in laws down for New Year, and despite my dropping huge hints that I could do without it, it being too much work for me on top of looking after him, the house and four kids, he hasn't uninvited them either. Saying that, they could have more sense and realise that I've got enough to do as well. So I am currently plotting revenge. And yes, I am going to get absolutely mullered as soon as I stay awake longer than 8 pm

I hate Christmas
My ideal Christmas is eating and drinking and sleeping
No presents
No singing
No arguements

But alas I have a 7yo dd and a 3month old nephew so have to "do" Christmas
I'm not bah humbug I just think it's too much about what you buy for people and I don't have a lot of money and it stresses me out to the hilt

I actually got very stupidly upset to the point of tears this year and fell out with DP for being totally not understanding. Am a mature student in a group of mainly youngsters since September. Did a very cute and thoughtful Secret Santa although I didn't know the person, got an obviously second hand regifted item in a tatty gift bag. Secret Santa bog off!!

I have really tried to cut back this year not because of money but the stress of coping with all the extra things to do . But I think I failed when I nearly had a full meltdown when I realised all the Christmas delivery slots had gone . It was the lack of control I think . I try to tell my DH every year why I get stressed but it does not seem to sink in . I will enjoy the day I am sure but the lead up , no .

I'd have murdered him but I've already packed the knives.

Im done with it too. My dh has done fuck all towards it as usual. I thought we would be having a family meet up before Christmas where we would swap gifts as we normally do. Ive been out and bought presents for everyone just to find out ( by accident) that there was one but me, dh and 3 children weren't invited. Instead ive had the pile of selection boxes dropped off here by one family member. Thats great but I've got all theres sat here.

I may have driven round a roundabout 8 times last weekend whilst trying to get DH to apologise and admit I was a better driver

I am working Christmas day .

Back to the original question. No YANBU.
Chistmas is over-hyped; totally over commercialised; over-rated - and generally underwhelming when it finally arrives.....

Is it wrong that I’m loving all these meltdowns- makes me realise I’m not alone. I love doing Christmas for the DCs but for the last 21 years I have had MIL over. She doesn’t “celebrate” Xmas, has to have fish when we are having turkey, has NO table manners and talks utter bollocks. Members of my famo have taken to booking overseas holidays in case I invite them to share the joy and the view of salmon being masticated over dinner.

Your post sounds like the beginning of a novel. You’re quite a good writer!

The stereotype of a large family sitting down to a huge meal and lots of presents isn't true for everyone. I had a Christmas when the children went to their Dad's and I was on my own. You don't have to buy lots of presents or cook a huge meal. Why not do something different Go for a walk. go out and look at all the Xmas lights on the houses. Just make it special for you and yours. I have a friend that always has a bbq for Christmas Lunch - and why not? Life is so busy we just have to try and find ways to take away some of the stress and make it a nice day. Reading all these threads make me realise it is up to us to make our Christmas memories for our children and hopefully you will also enjoy the day & look forward to next year. As for secret Santas. If you have to join in then get in some bits during the year. (just like the kids party present box that most of us keep) If you don't use them then you have some extra bits for your Christmas.