"Kids make Christmas magical"

[HammerHorror]

... no they do not!

I've had almost 40 wonderful christmases and about 20 of those were about relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere, spending time with family & friends, watching TV, and eating.

My kids are now 3 and 2 and are finally catching onto that Christmas buzz and anticipation... it's like living with chimpanzees!

They've stopped listening, stopped going to bed, stopped eating dinner nicely at the table... they're just a mass of wired excitement.

I feel like managing a circus whilst simultaneously doing the Christmas shopping and preparing for hosting Christmas Day.

Christmas is not magical with kids, it's fucking exhausting.

Disclaimer: lighthearted but not but is!!

Mine are age 21 & 20. Now that's magical! We are off to the Christmas Markets on Saturday (me, DH & them), then for a boozy lunch, followed by cocktails at a very high end bar in Edinburgh. Fucking fantastic!

So I just need to ride it out for another 18 years

Non child centred Christmases are amazing. My dog loves Christmas. Dh loves Christmas. I love Christmas. The (adult) children love Christmas.

Young children would ruin it. Hope I don't have grandchildren.

I a few years time it will be equally exhausting but you will get the sheer joy when you see their little faces light up when they realise Santa has been and at that point it will all be worth it. 🎅

3 days to go.

Today was spent jumping on beds, inventing some sort of screaming game, running in and out of the house, running up and down the stairs, splashing each other instead of washing hands, and not listening to a word I say.... unless I'm saying "dinner" or "advent calendar".

3 days.