Or is the Christmas break just more feeding, cleaning etc. With no respite.

[Givemecoffeeplease]

I know I should be grateful for my health and my job but OMFG after a year of being stuck at home, mostly with the kids, the Christmas holidays are just more feeding, cleaning, wiping, entertaining (DS 6 and DS 5). I was so looking forward to a break but honesty a work hour on Zoom is more relaxing than making yet another meal. And I miss my family so much, even though I know they’d just really annoy me if I were with them. AIBU or am I just a miserable old grinch!? Probably a mix of the two.....!

Yanbu, I have been tying myself in knots trying to make Christmas lovely for my children after a craptastic year, but I'm knackered, burnt out and fed up.

They're having their first Chinese takeaway tomorrow. I'm done!

I've had the best Christmas we've ever had. Our boys came home Christmas Eve, and it's just been us as Covid stopped in-laws coming here, which was a bloody shame as they're lovely. We've slobbed about, I've done my usual mega Christmas dinner, but not had to think about everywhere being tidy (so my in-law's don't fall over the presents) and they've cleared up after themselves so I don't have to.

I didn't think I was going to enjoy this year, but I'd love every Christmas to be like this. It'll never be repeated though.

Apart from the manic Xmas Eve/Xmas day madness, I have bought snacky food, easy to prepare stuff and left it out for people to help themselves. I'm not rushing about cooking all holidays. I'm only tidying as I go. House will do. You really don't have to be rushing about cleaning. As long as it has a basic level of cleanliness/ tidiness, I'm not bothered ( and I am usually a very Houseproud/Mrs Hinch level person)

I agree OP. Our teenager is really bored as he cannot see any friends due to Covid rules. Activities are all closed. It's just cooking and cleaning all day.
DS and I are chilled but DH is winding us up constantly.
Desperate for back to school but then DH is WFH and in the living room all day using the computer. It is unending

I am usually cleaning and tidying non stop. Not this year, no visitors, no need. I have done very little, for the first time since I was a young teen. Loving it.

All I'm doing this Xmas is cleaning and tidying. Not had a chance since March.
If winter is going to be even more miserable than usual I'd like to do it in a tidy house.

This is why with little kids I never went self catering. It's relentless.

With Christmas there should be a couple of days of leftovers / bits and pieces meals though. Add in a takeaway and beans on toast!

I expect it's very different with older children who can help themselves to food and tidy up after themselves but if your kids are younger it's just unending drudgery. I was really looking forward to having family visit so they could take over some of the child entertainment duties but that went out the window so everything has to be done with the "assistance" of a couple of 3 year olds and their 7yo brother. After having them at home so much this year and with the shadow of potential school closures hanging over us, it's a slog.

How messy do peoples houses get if some of you spend all your time cleaning? Or do some people just have impossible standards.

It can be hectic at Christmas. I have been working out of the home again since June until Christmas holidays so it has been nice being home. I can appreciate that it perhaps isn't if you have been wfh throughout.

Tidying/cleaning- can you lower your standards? At least until they are back in school or until next week when the excitement of presents has reduced slightly. Just do the basics and don't worry about the rest.

I know the weather isn't great but can you get them out for some time each day? At least then it's not mess in the house.

With meals, again, I would keep it simple now that the main Christmas dinner is done. My son is 7 and loves the odd 'picnic' tea -it's just something like a wrap/apple/cheese/crisps but he thinks it's great or other simple food like egg and chips, beans on toast etc. Can you afford a takeaway one evening to reduce food prep?

It's tricky at the moment because a lot of the usual things we would do aren't open so it's more time at home, usually inside because of the weather. We would normally go on the steam train and have a meal in a pub between Christmas and New Year, visit the library and meet up with my sister and her boys at soft play but we can't do any of those things this year

In a week's time, they'll be heading back to school- hang in there!

My thoughts exactly. Cook, eat, washing up and clean. Dishwasher is on once a day and so much washing up several times. Bored with cooking, what to cook. Adult DS wants to start on kitchen cleaning, which we did in the first lockdown so now needs doing again. 2 long walks with dog yesterday, to keep me sane.

Might suggest a takeaway tonight, as apart from turkey, there is nothing in fridge.

@LagunaBubbles

How messy do peoples houses get if some of you spend all your time cleaning? Or do some people just have impossible standards.

I have 4 children and they are all really messy and seem to shed possessions behind them. I can get a room tidy, leave it to make a cup of tea and come back and the floor is covered again.

I don’t mind stuff being out if it’s being played with and I don’t mind them combining different toys but I hate everything just being discarded all over the floor.

And the crumbs! So many crumbs!

I felt like that Christmas eve to yesterday as we had both step kids and its just chaotic. Magical, wonderful, lots of fun but heavily pregnant with 4 very different kids its certainly not a break. DH is off work and does his fair share but I certainly haven't felt any kind of relaxation, it's like a game of whack a mole keeping everyone happy, fed and safe from swallowing lego or losing an eye from a nerf bullet. He took them home yesterday afternoon but the baby was overexcited and overtired so I was up late with her and didn't even get to eat a proper tea - I had a pot noodle at 11pm.

This morning he has got up with the baby and has just brought me tea and toast in bed so I feel like Christmas has finally started being a holiday. Hope everyone else's improves too!

@Parbor totally agree! We don't often have all 4 here at once but my GOD its messy, and loud, and they eat SO MUCH FOOD! Astonished we've voluntarily had a 5th one, must have lost our minds in lockdown. So much respect for you having 4 every day!!

It is hard! Small DD with lots of toys everywhere. We've decided to just tidy up once she's in bed rather than nap time too. My DH thinks my standards are too high and I put too much pressure on myself so I'm trying to relax a bit more but it is hard when you're in the house 24/7 for the best part of a year.
My mother always said if you do things once a week they never become a massive chore and she is right - nothing to scrub if it's cleaned regularly!
Luckily DH is an excellent cook so I barely lift a finger in that department.

We had a cleaning blitz Christmas Eve morning and a few weeks ago a clear out of cupboards etc, so last night when DH was doing bath and bed routine, I put everything away in its new home, just ran the hoover round this morning while DH did breakfast (cordless doesn't take long). Fridge is full of left over turkey and ham, and I generally batch cook most of the time anyway so plenty in the freezer for dinners, the next few days will be feet up and playing with DS. The pre organisation makes this bit a lot more relaxing

Oh and only having one DS not four or five!

I’m not doing much cleaning though it has to be said, just constant tidying! I’ve run the hoover round a few times and kept on top of the kitchen, kept the loos clean etc but no actual cleaning

It's gets easier when the DC get older. Having a DH/DP who pulls their weight helps as well. We cooked for family on Christmas Day (mum, brother, SIL and their kids) allowed as we are a low Tier before anyone starts. Everyone bought a dish or two and it went really well (first time I have hosted). My Dc are 10and 13 and old enough to forage for themselves. We have had a lots of cheese and nibbles teas. I'm back at work on Tuesday and will miss mooching round the house in my dressing gown.

YANBU

I usually look forward to a few days chilling at home. No work, no school runs. But after a year of sitting in because of one lock down after another, I'm just so fed up.

Its just more cleaning and cooking with nothing to look forward to except maybe a walk. But when its 2 degrees and the wind is howling, going for a walk isnt really that appealing.

Even alcohol isnt helping my mood right now :(

Well yeah, but this is better than doing all this but with a 10 hour day job on top. Which is how I've lived for the past nine months. Grateful for small mercies etc.

You are so right, it’s much easier than fitting work in around it. We do go out everyday to walk the dog, and we play games at home, but the kids are on screens for the rest of the time (which I feel really guilty about even tho I know it’s not the brain rot it’s made out to be - huge benefits in age appropriate gaming). It’s the tidying / dishwasher / clothes washing (so much mud in the park) that never lets up. But there is so much to be grateful for. Digging deep for that.

Thanks for the kick up the bum.

Christmas day and the lead up was manic, but since then we've been eating easy, picky food and I've gone on strike! OK, not quite, maybe more work to rule but I'm feeling much more relaxed, less exhausted and able to tackle the hovelish state of my house tomorrow.