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AIBU?

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Original poster

Stressful Christmas!

26 replies

grinchymcgrinchface · 25/12/2017 19:00

Just a rant really!

Ran round like a headless chicken all day, literally have not sat down apart from to eat. Sorted all the Christmas stuff, cooked the dinner for 8 people. Step kids are now round screaming, just been round after them picking up all of the wrapping paper after them. Dealing with demands that we didn't get them enough gifts Hmm (they got loads). Nice clean house now looks like a disaster zone. MIL just called me highly strung, Dh is just sat on his arse. And now just as I've sat down to have a 5 minute rest MIL has just asked me to lay on the spread for tonight's food. When does my Christmas start please? Urgh... and rant over!!!
Any similar stories?

OP posts:
happypoobum · 25/12/2017 19:03

Er, no.

Tell MIL it's her and DH turn to sort out the food, and the DC, and you are now having a well earned rest.

Put your feet up and get sloshed.

Is your DH always so useless?

Sirzy · 25/12/2017 19:04

You need to be assertive and stop doing everything: the more you do the more they will expect.

Everyone can chip in

Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed · 25/12/2017 19:05

"I did lunch and i haven't sat down all day. I don't mind who does food this evening but it won't be me."

Topseyt · 25/12/2017 19:05

Tell MIL and DH to go and sort out the food for this evening, if they have just sat on their arses all day.

Time for some time to yourself.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 25/12/2017 19:05

Tell her to arrange it with your DH as you’ve not sat down all day

Tinselistacky · 25/12/2017 19:06

"Sorry but I clocked off at 7. ..."

Labradoodliedoodoo · 25/12/2017 19:06

Or fake a headache or pulled muscle and go for a lay down

Labradoodliedoodoo · 25/12/2017 19:08

OR tell her you’re not hungry but thankyou for thinking of your needs

YouTheCat · 25/12/2017 19:10

Hand dh your pinny and tell the mil to get to fuck.

RaeSkywalker · 25/12/2017 19:10

“Oh, I’m not sure I fancy a big spread after the dinner we had. If you’d like to make yourself something, DH will show you where the food is”.

LoniceraJaponica · 25/12/2017 19:14

"“Oh, I’m not sure I fancy a big spread after the dinner we had. If you’d like to make yourself something, DH will show you where the food is”."

That's what is happening in my house right now. Although I have had a stress free day. OH prepared most of the veg and has washed up the stuff that can't go in the dishwasher. We didn't eat until 2.30 and I'm just not hungry yet. DD is so I just told her to help herself.

LoniceraJaponica · 25/12/2017 19:16

DD is bringing me a Buck's Fizz Grin

BackforGood · 25/12/2017 19:29

just been round after them picking up all of the wrapping paper after them

er... why ?
Why wouldn't you / any adult say "right, all the paper in this bag now before we...." ? Confused

I would expect a house to look a bit like a disaster zone at the end of Christmas day if you have a family Christmas though, tbf - it is just 'lived in'.

Your step kids are clearly incredibly rude, and I would have dealt with that at the time (maybe you did ?)

DH sat on his arse - how would you let that happen ? Not sure why this moan is about MiL. If the 2 of you are hosting, then why have you been working all day while he has been sat on his arse all day ?

Seniorcitizen1 · 25/12/2017 19:44

Don’t understand why people always have to play the “stress” at every opportunity. Cooked for 8 as usual, everuthing straight forward as usual for past 30 years. Are younger people more incomptent that previous generations or just perpetual moaners? Just don’t understand younger people

Original poster
grinchymcgrinchface · 25/12/2017 19:57

@Seniorcitizen1 that's great that you did that no problem. I don't really care if you think I'm incompetent, maybe I am! But I've managed to do it all today so maybe not! do you have small step children with SN that you need to help look after and that are staying over? Did your family stay this late and expect extra food?
It was just a lighthearted rant!

OP posts:
WhooooAmI24601 · 25/12/2017 20:04

Don’t understand why people always have to play the “stress” at every opportunity. Cooked for 8 as usual, everuthing straight forward as usual for past 30 years.

Well I cooked for 9 at breakfast, 7 at lunch, changed a tyre on MIL's car and built a basketball net and stand today, perhaps you're incompetent since you've not achieved those things, too? Or perhaps instead of being unkind you could offer the OP a little support and say that, actually, she's not unreasonable to expect the other people in the house to contribute towards Christmas because being a martyr doesn't get you any higher up those steps to heaven.

Raaaaaah · 25/12/2017 20:13

I find it all stressful and fraught so don’t let senior make you feel shit. Flowers

Original poster
grinchymcgrinchface · 25/12/2017 20:16

I am happy being incompetent. Clearly my family doesn't think I'm incompetent since they've not offered to do anything all day. So they are more incompetent than me!! Not even washing up! I also have a disability that makes me very sore and tired so maybe that's part of it. Having a glass of wine now!

OP posts:
AnonymousToday2 · 25/12/2017 20:25

Clearly my family doesn't think I'm incompetent since they've not offered to do anything all day. So they are more incompetent than me!!

Only because you're letting them be. Why are you rushing around doing everything whilst your dh sits on his arse?

Why are you picking up wrapping paper from the kids? How old are they? My two oldest are responsible for picking up all their own paper plus carrying all their things up to their room before lunch and have been since 3 or 4.

LoniceraJaponica · 25/12/2017 20:26

The reason I don't get stressed is because I only have OH and 17 year old DD, both of whom don't get stressed either, help from OH, alcohol and not worrying about getting everything on the table on the dot of 1pm.

Sounds like quite a day grinchy Flowers

I think the most stressed people have difficult/unhelpful guests/family to feed.

Original poster
grinchymcgrinchface · 25/12/2017 20:28

Because he is a bit useless! I am also trying to be helpful to him so that he gets some quality time with his kids without needing to do other stuff.

OP posts:
TerracottaAmy · 25/12/2017 20:34

Don’t understand why people always have to play the “stress” at every opportunity. Cooked for 8 as usual, everuthing straight forward as usual for past 30 years. Are younger people more incomptent that previous generations or just perpetual moaners? Just don’t understand younger people

Oh I do, they are lot kinder

OP, put your feet up and tell the rest of them to sort the food - YANBU

Original poster
grinchymcgrinchface · 25/12/2017 23:46

Kids wouldn't sleep, only really just asleep now Confused exhausted!!
Next year I'm going away for Christmas alone! Dh, step kids, MIL, relatives can all sort themselves out. I quit. WineSmileWine

OP posts:
Jayfee · 25/12/2017 23:53

I can't believe senior citizen is real..think she is just being ironic surely. However, why do so many woman become the house slave at Christmas?? Stop doing so much!!

Original poster
grinchymcgrinchface · 26/12/2017 00:11

@Jayfee don't worry I've learnt my lesson! Next year I'm going on holiday alone for Christmas!! Smile

OP posts:
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