so.. was it worth it?

[peachesandclean]

The money, the stress, the time spent organising and shopping, delivering, the effort of wrapping and cooking, the shopping, the early mornings, the elbow shoving in M&S, the countless arguments everyone has seemingly had,
was it worth it to you, or are you waking up today feeling deflated and poor

Yep well worth it, started on the 20th finished on the 23rd, massive lunch yesterday.

Looks like I have poisoned DP, but the rest of us are fine. Its going to be a lovely quiet day today and tomorrow, where I am going to clean up and take down the decs

Lol, classic example of how MN threads go. Honestly there was a thread where op said it looks like mainly women bear the brunt of Christmas planning and stress.

The entire thread was full of 'oh no it isn't! My dh does all the shopping and cooking while I drink prosecco' which of course is lovely for those posters but probably not, you know, the norm.

We've left the country for 2 weeks - definitely worth it!

Some of us like Christmas & don't find it the assault course that you seem to. Appreciate that others find it hard for different reasons, but seriously just don't do it if you hate it this much.

Money - we spent a bit but we can afford it so no regrets there.

Organising, shopping, delivering - most gifts bought online and delivered direct to the recipients or at least their parents who are good enough to wrap them for us (8 dns in another country).

Food and drink etc bought with the regular shopping over the last few weeks and we have plenty of supermarkets to choose from for fresh so no crack of dawn shopping trips here!

Wrapping - It’s covering an item with paper, no drama there. When you just accept that your wrapping skills make everything look like a football you get quite zen about it .

Cooking - we cook daily. Sure, there was a bit more effort involved for Christmas Day but we don’t put ourselves under pressure to have a whole load of courses and a selection of mains sides and desserts.

No arguments here, it’s was just a fun, laid back day with lots of food, wine, presents, games and tv.

I suppose you can get the impression that all that stress and drama is the norm because those experiencing it are understandably more vocal but the vast majority of people I know don’t seem to get all that worked up about it.

@gingersausage enjoy today! That's exactly what we did yesterday 😁

It is just so much easier to get it bit by bit, isn't it. I absolutely couldn't do what some people do on 23rd with trollies stacked as high as physically possible at 7am. The stress would ruin it for me.

DH is working today, but I am enjoying extra day of doing nothing before going back to all that craziness. Maybe play some game and that's it.

Very much so. No stress. Shopping mostly done online, clear lists & plan of action, no arguments, out for dinner so no cooking.

I'm in a hot tub on my own. With an enormous hangover. Might puke in the hot tub.

Yes, but it wasn't stressful preparing for it all. I got pretty much all presents in one evening online in front of TV, food shop online and delivered to house, veg all pre-prepared so just needed bunged in the oven, and we never argue at Christmas! So it was lovely apart from the fact I'm ill. Our meal was fantastic.

As with PPs, no elbowing no nothing. And that's including a trip to Aldi on Xmas Eve (totally forgot I was hosting my mum and her partner today so needed nibbles).

Spent what we could afford (which was more this year than any other)
Pre-booked and went out for dinner, which was plentiful and lovely. Staff were fantastic and we tipped well. Had a lovely conversation with the old couple on the table next to us, which was nice for them (their grandchildren live abroad) and nice for our kids.
Lazy afternoon playing with the children's toys.

Got up today to my eldest playing with one of her gifts, the youngest still snoozing. And DH joined us shortly after with the first real smile I've seen on months, because we're finally getting to relax.

So yes, every last second of prep was worth it.

Yes, worth it all.

Family of 10, prepped ahead hugely. I only had 1-2 hours in the kitchen on Christmas Day.

Superb wing man (DH) who kept people out of my space to cook. He also did four complete dishwasher loads and put it all away.

Tiring but worth every moment.

Yes of course. DS was on emergency duty but still able to spend the day with us which was good.

I put money aside for christmas, did go over budget, so we will have to tighten our belts.
but the boxing day walk is going to be a let down since it is raining

but probably not, you know, the norm.

I disagree. Mumsnet makes it seem like many women are left with the burden of organising whilst men do absolutely sod all, but that's because this is a place where women can come to vent about these things. There is definitely an issue of men being raised in a situation where they only see mums/women doing all the organisation, but that doesn't mean that many of them have taken that on with them in their own relationships - or changed since being with their partners.

We had a low key day that included a lovely afternoon walk in the sunshine. We didn't go overboard, I did most of the shopping online or on a couple of shopping strolls through local towns, we never go into debt for 'things', and did a food shop Monday afternoon for the rest of the week. I don't know why people make it more stressful than it needs to be.

I did none of the above except the organisation and wrapping (which I did as I went along this year so actually enjoyed it a bit!) and I went about £150 over budget, so less meat in January should compensate

Off-topic, but - @AllergicToAMop - are you up North, by any chance? I only ask because many moons ago some clients in Warrington explained to me that Asda is actually to be called “The ASDA” and I loved it

the early mornings, the elbow shoving in M&S, the countless arguments everyone has seemingly had

None of this is necessary at all. Had a lovely, relaxing Christmas Day.

I had a great time, my work is hectic in December so Christmas was assembled very last minute, turkey purchased only last Sunday. Next year I will shop for gifts in November and be more organised

Most families I know have the kitchen occupied by the DH who always take charge of the Christmas cooking, it's MN who is full of "martyrs" who complain about giving themselves extra unnecessary work.

was the thread from the poster claiming to be getting ready until 3am real I mean MN real or a troll?

We had a nice day, but I have to say I did feel undervalued.

I wrapped all the presents the night before, and did stockings etc.
This is the norm - DH goes to bed at 8:30 because "he's tired" and he "has to cook Christmas dinner so needs his rest" - yeah, ok then. He gets to cook Christmas dinner because that is literally his only input into Christmas.

So anyway - I wrapped everything and then I got to my own presents and thought "fuckit, can't be arsed". So they went into one of the nicer shopping bags (gold lamé, no less!!) and that was my gift.

Dh got my the ugliest wine rack known to man and didn't even wrap it.

But today I asked him, did he even know what gifts I had got? and he didn't, because not one of them cared enough to ask me what was in my gold bag. DS1 is upset with himself because he didn't think to ask me if he could wrap a present for me (he's 12), DS2 hasn't even thought about it (he's 7) but DH - well, just shows how much any of them consider me on the day.

Never mind - I'll brush it off and carry on - but next year the boys will be handed presents to wrap for me, at least.

Didn’t do some of that but yes it was worth it to have a lovely couple of days with family eating good food chatting playing games and seeing them smile over thoughtful gifts.

I also disagree. It’s the norm in many cases, yes, but it’s also not the norm in many cases. You hear a lot about it here (just as you hear a lot about shitty relationships) because women are more likely to come here to vent and ask for support - if things are going well you don’t need to talk about it.

My OH and I share all aspects of Christmas. I buy the presents these days but that’s because it’s just my daughters to buy for. In previous years when we did presents between us I got presents from him that were just as thoughtful as the ones I got for him - he knows me very well, he listens when I say things and pays attention to my likes and dislikes. He does cards for his family, I do cards for mine. We collaborate on planning food, drink and nibbles, buying it and cooking.

This year I made the Christmas dinner on my own, because I wanted to do it for him. Every other year we have done it together.

Loved it....had a great day.
But I did overspend...again!
DD11 loved all her gifts. Dinner was lush....even though bf had to run home for the turkey he had forgotten so I did most of the cooking!
Tired & skint & fatter...but well worth it.

Good day, but I didn’t do half the things listed in your OP.

@ChocAuVin good catch