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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel that Christmas is not fun as an adult?

102 replies

Swissnotswiss · 28/10/2022 08:44

And if I'm unreasonable, tell me your tips!

I'm not usually so bah humbug but this year with everything that's going on including lack of money it just seems overwhelming. I've been looking through Christmas magazines (big mistake!) and slowly realised that if I want decorations, nice food, kids to have presents etc it's going to be literally hours and hours of work and I just feel defeated. Anyone relate? And no, dh isn't terrible but he literally would not bother with anything Christmassy and we always host as for various reasons (health, space) noone else can.

OP posts:
Goldbar · 28/10/2022 10:58

I agree. I loved it as a child but as an adult it's just so much work. Women/mothers seem to be expected to make Christmas magic for everyone else. Men just don't seem to put the effort in in the same way. You could say that the answer is 'make less effort', but kids love all of the Christmas stuff - even the little things like making snowman marshmallows and decorating pine cones.

Last year, I refused to cook Christmas dinner (I'd done almost everything else). Tbf DH accepted that he'd be cooking but then he ballsed up the timings and kept consulting me every 2 seconds on everything. When he doesn't cook, he gets to sit uninterrupted in his chair and watch shit TV.

SmokedHaddockChowder · 28/10/2022 11:04

I love Christmas!
I don't have kids so I can bypass most of the more commercial stuff.
Rather than focusing on one day, I treat December like a month-long Winter festival.
I love decorating the tree with my beloved baubles (the same ones every year, with one new bauble bought each year). I make a foraged Christmas wreath for the door. I work on a 'winter scene' jigsaw from December 1st onwards. I make mulled apple juice. I watch Christmas films. DH and I will go for a wander into town to see the lights.
It doesn't need to cost a fortune.

Fairislefandango · 28/10/2022 11:14

Ok, rather than hijack this one, I’ve started a new thread with a campaign for Christmas to be moved to once every four years only.

Anyone that agrees with me, I need your support over there because the nay-sayers are winning so far…

The reason the 'naysayers' are winning is because it's a ridiculous idea to suggest imposing something which everyone is free to do anyway! Celebrate Christmas every 4 years, every decade or not at all - it's entirely up to you! Just don't expect everyone else to join you.

whoisthatpersoninthemirror · 28/10/2022 11:14

I normally love Christmas. My favourite time of year.

This year it doesn't seem like it's actually real. I'm seeing the stuff in shops but not believing it's really coming up.

I don't feel like it. I'm tired. I don't want to decorate or shop for people or cook. I don't want to do anything.

BiddyPop · 28/10/2022 11:23

Magazines are great at making you feel it all has to be wonderful, sparkling, full of laughter and joy, peace and goodwill, perfect food, .....loads of stuff. Instagram and SM are also prime offenders for this.

Sit down with a sheet of paper and a cup of tea and think about what makes Christmas special to YOU and your family.
Do you want loads of people around or is it a good time for your household to hunker down from the madness of mid-winter for a break?

Do you want loads of fun and frivolity and nights out, or would a quiet hour over coffee and a bun to chat and catch up with a friend be what you prefer?
Do you like religious services, particular types of music or theatre productions (seasonal or not), a trip to the cinema, long wintery walks, shopping til you drop...?
Do you have many obligations in the diary to cover - and how many of those are real obligations that you could quietly let slide?

Then sit down with DH and talk about what the reality of "making Christmas" looks like for your household. If you hosting cannot change, then what needs to be done to make that happen. The cleaning, the buying and wrapping of presents, the decorating, the buying of food, any moving of furniture or making up beds or other preparations for visitors on the day or staying over, planning of all meals over the festive season - not just turkey (or whatever) on 25th...

How is DH willing to step up and do more than in previous years? Or what is he willing to compromise on that you will no longer be doing?

Give DH specific tasks. Like doing ALL the food shopping (you can provide lists). Or buying (and wrapping) gifts for his family. Or moving the spare chairs from around the house and lugging the table into the space that works for large numbers compared to normal living. Organising the chimney sweep, or cleaning out the closet for visitors coats. ...

And manage expectations early for visitors - if you "always" do a massive buffet in the evening that people only pick at, you might do a much smaller spread this year - plenty for them all but not as much choice. Or ask them to bring something to help out - or pay for something earlier. Could be a side dish they are good at, a couple of bottles of wine, a pre-bought dessert, or giving you a donation earlier in December towards the day for when you/DH are doing the big shop.

The other thing in our house, apart from "let it go", is that December is particularly nuts for us. Year end things at work (actual work - not just "lets catch up over lunch/drinks invites!), year end things in my Cub Scout pack and in DD's hockey club, family expectations that we will travel to see them, likely work trips overseas, and normal life as all the shops get really busy so just the weekly shop takes so much longer.
So I try to get ahead as much as possible before 1st December on writing cards (I usually bring those on plane rides), buying (often online) presents, booking online grocery slots for December and getting odd deep cleaning jobs done early so I just need to do minimal maintenance (keep kitchen clean, quick swish over bathrooms regularly, hoover) for most of December. And booking my appointments early - hairdresser, babysitters, any beautician appointments I want (I used to get regular facials, lots of DFriends love getting nails done etc). I try to book a day off to organise myself and take time to relax, and also try to book 1 lunchtime carol concert near my office in the weeks running up to Christmas as I love it but no one else in my house does. I use my early Dec grocery slots to get ahead on storecupboard items for Christmas, including cleaning materials and plenty of things for easy meals. And I try to have a couple of batch-cooked meals or convenience meals (could be fish fillets and oven chips!) in the freezer to throw together a dinner on madder days.

spiderontheceiling · 28/10/2022 11:30

I was a bit like you, OP, as we always hosted and basically Christmas was a massive chore where I had no fun whatsoever.
What I've learned over the last few years:

  • cut back on all unnecessary gifts (ie friend's children)
  • set aside two evenings around now for online shopping and get as much as you can then. For example, MIL always has a beauty gift set and DF always has a M&S jumper and some socks so I just order those
  • I take two non-consecutive days off work in late Nov/early Dec. The first is spent shopping but includes a stop for lunch and also buying myself something. The second is spent having a massive cooking day and putting stuff in the freezer. Yes, this involves annual leave but my DC are still of an age where they couldn't be left alone all day if they were ill so I always keep two days of my holiday allowance for illness and, touch wood, have never had to use it
  • DH always has two nights out in December for Christmas events so I set those aside for wrapping nights
  • set aside a weekend day for the entire family to go & get the Christmas tree, decorate etc. We then go out for dinner and it's lovely to come back to the festive looking house
  • don't put up (or send) Christmas cards
  • make sure you've set aside a couple of evenings or days over December to do exactly what you want to do, whether by yourself, with friends or with your family
-
Daisychainsx · 28/10/2022 12:19

Give the kids half the tree each (assuming there's 2 of them) and tell them it's a decorating contest, winner gets their side facing the living room and losers side has to face the wall.

Tell everyone who is coming for dinner to bring a dish, you cook say the meat, someone else can bring the soup, someone else the veg, dessert etc and serve it all buffet style.

Tell the kids to start thinking about what they want for gifts and make sure they know what you want too. We go by the:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read
And something to give to somebody in need.

If the kids aren't interested in helping with the tree, set aside one day, or even half a day to give the house a good clean and put the tree up. You'll enjoy it when it's done.

Likewise, if you really can't be bothered with it, tell the family they're welcome to come over but you're doing it differently. It'll be a take away that everyone chips in for and a pack of tesco Christmas Crackers. Presents will be cash and decorations will be minimal. You can still have a lovely day regardless of what you do. Just do what makes you happy!

ghostyslovesheets · 28/10/2022 12:30

I love Christmas but I don't go OTT

I save all year for Christmas and Birthday presents (Oct/Dec birthday for 2 DD's) and I start buying early so I'm not skint come December (most things already purchased)

It's always been me and the tree kids - until Covid when my mum and step day came down - we had such fun it's a new tradition but they stay in a hotel not with me.

Food I do my way - namely frozen or pre-prepared stuff and a chicken crown that cooks in the bag - I enjoy drinking a glass of fizz in the kitchen while I cook

I do the tree (trees) and decorations because the kids argue and I'd rather get on with it

Kids go to their dads for a few hours, parents arrive at about 1pm - it's a nice relaxed morning followed by good food and laughter

I do a party for my friends and their kids a few days before - they are all older now so it's usually a drunken riot and we love it!

The one thing I do that makes Christmas for me is going to the family service at Church (my local one is Catholic now - used to be CoE) - I don't take communion but I love singing carols and listening to the message - I was raised in the church so it's what makes it feel like Christmas to me even as a jaded old agnostic!

ghostyslovesheets · 28/10/2022 12:31

Fuck me! Sorry so many typos - three kids, step dad etc!

SmokedHaddockChowder · 28/10/2022 12:41

@spiderontheceiling So you're buying presents for your inlaws, booking time off work to batch cook, and wrapping everything on your own - and your husband's only input appears to be going on a couple of nights out!
Balls to that!

Swissnotswiss · 28/10/2022 13:11

Thanks for the tips. I think a lot of the overwhelm is I want some British traditions but all of dh's family is Italian snd are not bothered. (His brother even said "if it's too much just don't do any British stuff..."). Also I used to get more help but sadly the most helpful family members are no longer with us. A lot of the stress (for me) is just because the kitchen is tiny so no room for helpers, ditto the lounge - we have to remove furniture to put up the table so it just doesn't feel very relaxing. No room to freeze stuff ahead of time either. I just have to reframe my idea of Christmas as it's never going to be like a glossy magazine one.

OP posts:
BigSandyBalls2015 · 28/10/2022 13:27

DD is 21 but still loves coming out to choose the tree and help decorate it. If she didn't I don't think I'd bother with a big real one, just get a tiny fake one. She was horrified when we couldn't find a mutual date to go out and get it last year and changed her social life around 😁

RedHelenB · 28/10/2022 13:35

You don't have to be a martyr. Have the Christmas you want if no one else is prepared to help. And for presents I'd suggest a copy of The little red gen.

Floralnomad · 28/10/2022 13:43

I love Christmas , as do both of my adult children . I’m not sure what the secret is , I think it helps that we only ever did FC as a fantasy story so Christmas was always fun and never relied on FC making it special . Both of our children prefer buying for other people than receiving so it’s not a one sided arrangement on the present front . I love our Christmas trees and getting them sorted , I love picking out gifts for people and I enjoy a wander round a NT house to see what they’ve done for Christmas .

Teaandtoastedbiscuits · 28/10/2022 13:50

If you're in Italy make lot's of pizzas! I'm only half joking, my mother hates Christmas because she tried to do it all ...several meats couple of different types of potatoes veg etc, with very little help from anyone which would result in her getting totally overwhelmed snappy and invariably sick by the new year. She still does it, still gets upset that no one appreciates it and never enjoys it despite her birthday being around the same time.
I have small kids my dad joins us (seperated) We have the dinner when it's ready and apart from visiting my Mum in the morning I don't put any pressure on myself on the day itself.
I have siblings that sometimes come from overseas with their kids and it just ends up being really stressful for my Mum

northerncrumpet · 28/10/2022 13:53

Christmas is one of those times when comparison very definitely is the thief of joy...thinking you should have X and need Y and it'll all be rubbish if you don't have Z inevitably leads to feeling like it's all too much, you'll never get it perfect and you can't be bothered with it.

I am newly divorced (with young DC) so I'm taking this year as an opportunity to do things a bit differently...and a lot of that is about having to make less effort and spend what money and energy I do have on stuff that will make the time special for me and the DC. They aren't bothered about huge amounts of food, just the right food (for them!), and so I'm ditching the usual huge lunch in favour of a lighter meal that they will enjoy more and will also mean I don't spend all day in the kitchen.

I'm also not doing the traipsing about to family - we're catching up with people at other times instead - so we can enjoy spending the days at home together rather than in the car.

If you're the one in charge of it all @Swissnotswiss then make it work for you, so that you can enjoy it rather than feel like it's a burden.

ChristmasFluff · 28/10/2022 14:15

I bloody love Christmas (partly cos my mother was a nightmare, but she loved Xmas), and it's not hard. It's SO much fun as an adult cos you literally create your 'traditions'.

I presume you have a tree? If not, get a decent re-usable one. Fun to decorate with Christmas music on and a tipple of your choice. I mean, you could even let the kids join in? Not that I would EVER do that.

Ditto room decorations - maybe there's even the modern equivalent of those gummied paper strips to turn into garlands? But lots of my room decorations are things my kid did in primary school.

Stockings are a great decoration, and they don't need to ever be filled unless you want to.

Your have teenagers, so giving them a Xmas list of suggested presents for you is a really good way to get things you truly want.

And as for the dinner - it's just a big Sunday lunch. If you have guests - they are very lucky. Keep them plied with alcohol, snacks and entertainment kicked off by your teens (or the TV) and if they complain? One less worry next year.

Christmas as an adult is THE BEST. You do it your way.

And I have to add, my son had a Dominos pizza (from the day before) as his Christmas dinner for quite a few years. Nobody died.

girlfriend44 · 28/10/2022 14:29

Dont celebrate it then. Just treat is another day.

Its a complete borefest year in year out.
Youve only got to see the trouble it causes between families to know its not worth it!!

picklemewalnuts · 28/10/2022 14:44

Do the bits you all enjoy and ditch the rest.
We have a pre Christmas meeting as a family, decide the meal and snacks.
We decorate together, and stop when we are bored/don't want to do it anymore. You can't be precious, though. Do the bits you care about first!

Does anyone want to go and look at the windows/lights this year?
Who wants to make cookies for the tree?
Are we having crackers?

Etc.

Onlyforcake · 28/10/2022 14:47

Well it certainly sucked as a child! Cancel the nonsense, it is after all intended to kill off a different set of cultural festivities, uses appropriation too. How very passé

alwaysmovingforwards · 28/10/2022 14:57

When the kids were school age Christmas was great fun!

Now they're older and out doing their own thing, it's different.
I like to see them and have family together, but a restaurant is less stressful than cooking all day. And it doesn't have to be 25th Dec if all the diaries don't work, we're not religious folk compelled to sing songs to the invisible sky fairies like our less educated ancestors.
So don't sweat it.

It's a nice 2 week winter break.
Last year I didn't even have a tree as I spent 8 days hiking in Slovenia.

Christmas is whatever you want it to be :)

WonderingWanda · 28/10/2022 14:59

I love Christmas but really enjoy some of the things you've said you hate. I love an afternoon or 2 watching a Hallmark movie and wrapping. Love baking with my kids. Love doing the decorations and the elves. Love making a Christmas cocktail on Christmas day. Love seeing people opening the gifts I bought them. Zero interest in getting anything for myself.

user1471554720 · 28/10/2022 15:23

Lifelessordinary1 · 28/10/2022 09:20

I understand why you feel that way - but you get the Christmas you create.

There is no compulsion to do any of it - decide what Xmas you would like.

I know it is not quite that simple as there are others involved but you can be clear that do not want a Xmas like this.

I found that as an adult with children, family, I have to create a nice Christmaa for them. I certainly do NOT get the Christmas I create.

I work full time and it is even harder than nornal trying to fit in cleaning, shopping etc. I find that if I make time to look round the shops myself, then something else either doesn't happen or I am going round late evening trying to do things.

The best Christmas ever was when I was single and had newly been made redundant. I had time to look at shops, read books and relax. As I was single there was less cleaning etc to be done.

I would love Christmas if the dcs were a bit more independent and if I worked part time. I could enjoy the build up more without having to fit lots of jobs around work.

RedHelenB · 28/10/2022 15:34

RedHelenB · 28/10/2022 13:35

You don't have to be a martyr. Have the Christmas you want if no one else is prepared to help. And for presents I'd suggest a copy of The little red gen.

Meant to write Little Red Hen btw.

DullAndOvercast · 28/10/2022 15:38

I think you need to work out what is fun for you, and do that.

This.

I like decorations but hate them after a while - so DH and kids put them up Christmas eve and they go down after New Year day.

Christmas dinner - it usually isnt everything every year and it'a as easy as we can make it - one year was a supermarket Christmas dinner box - other years it's joint and pre-done microwave veg - meals before and after and Christmas tea tend to be buffet things - crackers tea - few pre heat oven things. We see family before hand - not on day.

It is harder to make it feel special with teens - but we do things together watch alit of TV together, board games occasional walks and some baking when we feel like it.

Does sound like a lot of the issue is size of kitchen, freezers and lounge - most of which isn't easily changed - any chance of going out for lunch somewhere or doing a buffet style help yourself meal?

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