to wonder if I am the only one who isn't crazily busy at this time of year

[AthenaisdeRochechouart]

Or ever for that matter

Everyone on MN seems to be busy, busy, busy all the time - I'm starting to feel inadequate! Anyone else just pootling along?

“It's the time where there are non-stop Christmas activities for the kids, at school and weekends, so on that aspect there's always something going on.”

That would be the case for parents with primary school age children. When DD was little there was the nativity/Christmas play, the school fair, Christingle etc. All of that is behind us now. We have a small family who live hundreds of miles away and can’t see at Christmas, and I have a very unsociable husband so we don’t socialise very mych, so our Christmas is always boring low key and quiet.

I haven’t even thought about what I am doing for Christmas dinner yet. It won’t be turkey as DD is vegetarian, and we all love veggie food. Probably some kind of veggie wellington with all the usual Christmas trimmings. I will be doing pigs in blankets for OH and me though

I also agree with Lady and Ragwort. Many people genuinely are rushed off their feet, but I think some just like to make a meal of it.

Pootling here too.
I don’t get the busy busy busy stuff, what does it mean ? I have ‘busy’ friends who just keep saying “oh I’m sooo busy”.
I see it as a time management issue and self indulgent sense of self importance.
We are all busy in our own ways.

I have this feeling constantly.

I have a family and a full time senior job. Everyone at work claims to be overwhelmed and working beyond capacity. I find I can manage perfectly well and have no idea what they're doing to be so busy. This has happened in pretty much every job I've ever had. I've always had excellent appraisals etc and been know as so done who gets things done too, so it's not that I don't do my share.

Same at home. Biggish 4 bed house. Keep on top of it and it really doesn't take more than a couple of hours a week. Who can't find that? Dc t.rained from an early age to change their own beds etc but they don't do loads.

Christmas isn't that big a deal either imo. Although I do "everything" it's some online shopping and a roast dinner.

The only thing that does get challenging is all the extra school events but mine are past that stage now.

Nope. Not at all busy here even though we are hosting Christmas lunch for my family (dinner is at SIL’s). Small families on both sides, no kids of our own, and no friends who we’d catch up with after work or on weekends with living near. Was able to do the small amount of present shopping I had to do weeks ago during my work lunch breaks. So just some cleaning and cooking to do next weekend and that’s it.

I'm not really busy. There's more going on with school stuff - Xmas fare, nativity play, carol concert etc. My dcs do various clubs which are having Xmas parties but these are within their normal activity times anyway so it's no busier than the rest of the year.

Most of my Xmas shopping was either done ages ago (picking up bits for the dcs as and when I saw them) or the recent stuff has been done on line.

I've also decided on a low key party food buffet on Xmas day rather than a full roast dinner so hoping that will be much more relaxed and easier than cooking a big dinner!

It's because everyone's on Mumsnet

I do have a quiet chuckle when people spend ages on her decrying their lot, they don't have time to.......... etc etc.. Just get on with it and stop moaning on here, you'll find you have far more time for what really matters. When I had 2 children, worked full time, OH didn't do much I never seemed as pushed for time but that was before t'internet, fewer distractions.

I am sitting here on MN while DD and her best friend are doing the tree

That would be the case for parents with primary school age children.

but it doesn't stop until they start Uni, secondary school and we are still going!

School Christmas concerts
School Winter party
Sports Christmas parties
Friends Christmas parties
School or hobby Christmas charity activity they need to be driven to

and the eldest ones are made to go to Pantos and grottos with their youngest siblings, which they don't even mind doing anyway

I never call going out being busy, but it's true that we haven't got time at all in December.

Me too. I feel like I can't join in the 'oh my god I'm so busy' conversations at work.

My family all live far away so we amazon stuff to each other (mostly don't do presents though for each other). Step kids want money.

We've got 14 for Christmas dinner - but will shop day before. Cooking being done for us Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

Work do was a curry - there's not many of us.

Got a couple of meet ups with friends but nothing major.

I'm doing a lot of sitting on the sofa so I've joined the gym on a pre New Year offer to get me out of the house....

Oh god, thentherewascake that sounds grim.

DD is at high school but only the musical/drama kids do the concert so we're off the hook there! School has an Xmas lunch so in school hours. She's not popular so isn't inundated with party invites (which suits us all!) and we limit our charitable activities to a donation to the local animal rescue.

We'll see family over Xmas and go to a panto but we're not busy, busy, busy.

No I'm not crazy busy either. I never have been at Christmas. I used to be reasonably busy on December weekends visiting aged relatives but sadly they have now died so I'm now less busy.

In fact I always wonder about the description of a "busy mum" as I am not one, the fact that I have time to waste on MN is kind of proof of that!

I don't have kids but I remember when I was at school there was only a carol concert/nativity and then I think a Christmas fair that we didn't even always go to. So when people say they're all busy with school stuff, is that because schools go more all out now? I really have no idea. So I have to agree with the OP, I'm not overly busy (only self inflicted because we're trying to buy a house!) but that's probably due to lack of DC.

Also my works thing is only a Christmas lunch and drinks type of thing so nothing to plan for there.

Nope, not busy at all. Single mum to 7yo. Presents bought at the end of November, food shopping at the weekend. We have things planned and people to visit but it doesn't seem like a chore. I pace our plans so that we have time to chill.

We are not doing any visiting on Christmas Day and not hosting anyone. Maybe that's the reason I'm not run off my feet.

I'm not busy. I struggle my way through the year and at Christmas I do as little as possible because although it has always been part of my life the joy has been sucked out of it so I really don't bother now.

l'm retired now, and not busy at all. Wrapped some presents last night to go in the post, just about to sew a name label on a blanket l've made for a present (friend's cat!) and wrap all their stuff. Then it's feet up, a good dvd and wool and crochet hook!
l did all the 'busy' stuff years ago when l was with my ex husband. Working shifts, organising Christmas, food, presents, etc, so l love it now.
Seeing my bestie on Thursday to exchange cards and presents, then a small food shop at the weekend to keep me and the rabbits going til after Boxing Day. Lovely!

The less I do, the more I enjoy Christmas. I work p/t with teenage DCs, so I do all of the wrapping/sorting/food prep/errands/house stuff/admin/helping relatives sort their stuff on my days off, leaving the evenings and weekends to enjoy time with the family or running them places.
I've had once nice dinner out with friends, one afternoon tea and am meeting friends two evenings this week but no big work do to go to.

I'm have a tendency to be a bit of a hyper-vigilant organiser, so letting go of stuff and not trying to do too much has done me so much good for the past few years.
Some people love to be busy, some love to be seen to be busy.

I agree it depends what you call busy! Busy doesn't need to mean frantic. I have stuff to do from now until xmas every day so I'd say I'm busy as I'm working in the day, have stuff to do in the evening (even if that is wrapping gifts/shopping for food) and have nights out on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. So busier than normal but not running around like a headless chicken or anything.

Work is really quiet - first year in this job and wasn’t expecting it, as it was always manic at this time of year in my old jobs.

I’m working from home most of the week, so have got a couple of good books to read in between work calls. No nights out planned - DH has his Christmas party this week, so I’ll get a takeaway and wrap some presents.

Just counting down until we drive to my parents at the weekend, but then hope that the break goes slowly!

I’m busier than usual but love being busy and would like to be busier

It is about organisation - the people that flap imo are those that haven’t organised themselves

There’s also an element of “I’m cool as I leave everything til the last minute” which I find tedious

I work 25 hrs pw, have two DC at different secondaries and am catering for a few big groups over the Christmas period

I’ve also had a work do, am out three nights this week and buy all the presents and write all the cards but it’s mostly done, various online food shops done

Doesn’t feel manic at all

Going to the wire with the turkey this year - Ocado delivery on 24 Dec. Half hoping it doesn’t turn up to add some excitement - there are always loads of turkeys on the shelves on Christmas Eve, often reduced....

I'm just normal busy. Five children and work PT. No uni until Jan so I feel less busy than I have for a while actually.

I had a work's Xmas party and one for my choir, but apart from them I had no other social events to go to. When I am not at work I have plenty of time to relax and sit around now I have no studying to do.

Xmas doesn't make me much busier than normal. Waiting for some presents to be delivered then we need to wrap them and order our online food shop. I am only buying for my children this year and three of them are teens who mostly want money so present buying for the younger ones was a quick process.

I am working Xmas day so DH is just doing a buffet. Boxing Day I have family round but it will all be very relaxed and easy. So no, not busy here. Very much enjoying the break from uni.

I just don’t do Christmas. It’s so empowering and liberating.

I am busy but it's a manageable level. I have two young children, one primary school age with a million activities going on and one 14 month old who doesn't go to nursery. I care for my very poorly FIL and I work f/T shifts and am currently doing 3 people's roles as people have left who they haven't replaced. I ordered all presents in October, wrapped in November, we've handmade all cards and gift tags etc. I spend my days off doing nice things with the kids and it makes me laugh when my friends who work part time or are sahm tell me how busy they are, or my personal favourite "you've got too much time on your hands...". Just be more organised and you won't feel as frantic.

@goingonabearhunt in the last few weeks my 5 year olds primary school has held: decorate a Xmas bauble competition, decorate a lantern, attend Carol concert with said lantern, movie night, panto, breakfast with santa, Christmas disco, Christmas party day, Christmas crafts day, wear a Xmas jumper day, Christingle, Xmas assembly, Xmas fayre and 2 performances of nativity on different days.

I wish schools would take a less manic approach to Christmas - they just whip the kids up too early.