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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Do you like Christmas Day?

59 replies

Sunset999 · 27/12/2021 16:53

I actually find it quite stressful, the morning is nice opening presents, then its full on rushing about with dh in a hot kitchen, getting the meal ready for us and guests, I cant quite relax enough, wanting everything to be perfect and go 100% smoothly ! All these ads with families smiling on the sofa in matching pjs, is it really like that for people?

More relaxed by the evening and exhausted ! Starting to appreciate the days that follow until 4 Jan!

OP posts:

firstimemamma · 27/12/2021 16:55

Yes I absolutely love it. It's always just me, dh and ds and dh cooks. Zero stress.

BobMortimersPetOwl · 27/12/2021 16:59

Not really. But thats because I never ever get to do my own thing. My husband loves a family Christmas and I wouldn't want him to be miserable on Xmas day so I endure it.

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 17:04

I'm on my own and can do as I please. I went out for a curry this year and it was lovely.

It's the crap throughout December prior to Christmas day I can't stand.

LittleRoundRobin · 27/12/2021 17:04

I don't dislike it, but I do find it boring. Boxing Day too.

No kids at home anymore. (Both mid 20s.) Since they left home at 18, (some 7-8 years ago,) it's not been the same. They live 30-40 miles away, and we don't see them Christmas day (usually 22nd or 23rd instead) as they (and their partners) all want Christmas day to themselves, and don't want to be doing a 2 hour round trip on Christmas day, plus spending 2-3 hours here.

So we just meet a few days before now, and speak for 10 minutes on the day just to say Merry Christmas and thank each other for our gifts. Christmas is so much better with children in the house IMO. (OR when you are a child yourself.)

MaryAndHerNet · 27/12/2021 17:06

It's as fun and good as you make it.

No one forces you to have big meals that spend hours too cook, there's no threat of death if you just have presents, chocolates, pot noodles and hours and hours of Xmas movies.

Take the past Xmas days, look at the things that caused stress, don't do them again, look at the things that brought you joy, do them more.

Elisemum · 27/12/2021 17:07

I hear you! Morning is lovely (we have 2 small kids). The rest is stress, cooking while toddler is running and baby is crying, cleaning, running around and too tired to even watch a movie in the evening.
I booked center parcs for next year! No way I am ever doing that again. I want to relax, go to a spa, drink Prosecco, go with kids to the pool and do all the things you are meant to do!

LuckyAmy1986 · 27/12/2021 17:08

All these ads with families smiling on the sofa in matching pjs, is it really like that for people
pretty much! But then we don't go anywhere, don't see anyone. its just us four. open gifts, nice breakfast, play games, DH cooks dinner leisurely. No pressure, just chill. Stop having guests!

MajorCarolDanvers · 27/12/2021 17:09

Love it.

Elisemum · 27/12/2021 17:09

@MaryAndHerNet hmm easy to say! I agree with everything you said though but I’m sure you know it’s not possible. My husband cannot imagine Xmas without his parents and they all are used to Christmas dinner and he said not having a dinner would be unimaginable. Don’t get me wrong he shares 50% if not more but still It’s too tiring.

pepperminttaste · 27/12/2021 17:11

I love it but it's just me, OH and our two girls (pre-covid, his dad and uncle too). No stress, our traditions, our timetable.

On the other hand, when I used to go back home for Christmas, the day was always rigidly planned and stressful. Presents at my mum's, lunch at my nan's with half the family, pop in to see my aunt and her extended family, evening at another aunt's with more family... It's exhausting (and that's without being responsible for any cooking).

Doggydreaming · 27/12/2021 17:16

Nope. Far too much womaning during Xmas and the run up to it. Touch organising, cooking, cleaning, shopping, sorting, keeping in touch with relatives etc. I'm just not cut out for it. The bit I like is when it is over and I get to sit on the couch, in my PJ's with absolutely no obligations whatsoever.

Youdoyoutoday · 27/12/2021 17:16

We wear novelty cheesy Xmas jumpers or dresses, cooking is stress free as I write down a time line of when things have to go in the oven and come out so I stick to it and it works. Prep most food on Xmas eve so Xmas morning is stress free.
I'd like to be the family playing charades though!

Hoolihan · 27/12/2021 17:17

I seem to enjoy it less with every passing year! Like you say it's a lot of work and now my kids are getting older the magic is fading. But most of all I find the pressure to have a perfect day really difficult. We did actually have a really nice time this year but I felt sad and stressed for most of the preceding week. I love these quiet days between Christmas and NYE best of all.

Octopus37 · 27/12/2021 17:21

Mixed feeling tbh. This year I found it a bit meh. My nephew hit the nail on the head when he said, you open presents, then its all about the Christmas dinner.

I feel as if I never live in the moment, when the kids are opening their presents (they are 11 and 14 but its been like this since they were small), I'm always the one with the pen and paper writing down who bought one and desperate to clean up the wrapping paper straightaway. DH gets OCD about vouchers going missing etc. Then its time to cook the dinner, whilst its only been the four of us the last few years, it always feels like such an ordeal. Luckily they all like Christmas dinner, but this year I ended up with far too much food. DS's girlfriend was meant to be coming over from Spain, but she couldn't come cause of covid and now they've split up. I ordered more food and planned more cause I thought she was coming. Noones fault. Yesteday DS2 and I went to Westfield which was ok. Just feels like a lot of expense and work for what it is. At the moment (know I'll probably change my mind), I've decided that next year I'm simplifying things massively. I'm cooking less and buying less.

SarahWoodWould · 27/12/2021 17:25

No. I’m an only child so have to host my bloody mother every sodding year.

I dread it.

Bluntness100 · 27/12/2021 17:27

Yes, I really like it, it’s the one indulgent day of the year for everyone. I like making crimbo dinner, I don’t find it anymore stressful than a roast, and have cooked for up to eleven people. It’s just the quantities that differ.

Mrstamborineman · 27/12/2021 17:27

Pegasussnail · 27/12/2021 17:30

I like it now (but had very little sleep christmas eve due to dc waking after 3am)

But we just have ourselves. Its low key. I prep all the potatoes and veg christmas eve. Shove the turkey on at 10am. Dh clears up the wrappers and sorts bins and and dcs present building. It's chilled.

Nikki360 · 27/12/2021 17:30

When I was younger I hated Boxing Day as it was all over, now although I love Christmas Day I really love the peace of Boxing Day and doing nothing ! I think I prefer Christmas Eve its lovely. I said to my husband this year I honestly would rather get a take away in for Christmas dinner and just enjoy the day its so much work and takes up so much time.

earlydoors42 · 27/12/2021 17:30

I cook Christmas dinner on a different day (usually 24th) and just have a buffet on 25th and that has made me enjoy the day so much more.

fingersdoublecrossed · 27/12/2021 17:34

I love it - we do something different every year so there are no expectations and I think of Christmas as a two-week period of time so there's no pressure on just one big day.
I'm lucky to have a wonderful DH and DD so whatever chaos is going on around us, we're happy just to be together.
My DH says this year has been his favourite because we stayed at home on Christmas Day, just the three of us, but I know he also enjoyed Christmas Eve with his family and Boxing Day with mine.
Today, my DD requested a pj day. She's cleaning her room and making space for her presents and eating Haribo. I'm drinking wine and watching telly downstairs with the dog, DP has gone for drinks with his friends.
Next year, we'll be doing something totally different, I'm sure!
I love it!

Turkishangora · 27/12/2021 17:36

No, I don't like it. It's been dominated by mil and her needs since we met 22 years ago. Apart from last year in lockdown when we actually got to do it the way we wanted. Bliss. But we can't leave her on her own and bil doesn't pitch in with sharing the load so we do what we have to do.

sofakingcool · 27/12/2021 17:42

It's ok. This year was a bit stressful in the morning as we didn't stay over where we were having lunch/spending the day, and there was a big expectation we'd be round early - or at least they asked for an ETA and then replied telling us dinner would be ready an hour later, meaning we had no room for running late etc. Gone are the days of young children, ours are now teens and no intention of being up early!!

DrDreReturns · 27/12/2021 17:44

No. It's too busy to relax. Cooking, opening presents, trying to keep everyone happy etc

LesLavandes · 27/12/2021 17:47

I used to love it but not anymore

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