Do you actually enjoy it or do you fake it a bit?

[MerryChristmasyouarsehole]

Christmas…

I think unlike most other things -you can never say you don't like Christmas without getting into some kind of discussion with someone trying to talk you out of it or call you scrooge or the grinch or miserable or some name to make you feel like you need to fake it because people have made it abundantly clear that your honesty is not welcome and the forced fun just makes it worse.

I understand that there are people who don't like Xmas because a lived one has passed away or something traumatic happened and it all behind back memories but it's possible to say you love or like Xmas and mean it without loving the whole family, over-the-top, bank breaking, back-breaking toil of it all.

My approach is to admit to loving it then just laugh and say "sounds great but not my thing, we're doing xxx (going away/snuggling on the sofa/walking Offa's dyke path/staying in bed all day - whatever). Maybe it's me but I genuinely don't care if most people think I should be doing it differently, they usually get over their disappointment at me wanting to enjoy myself my way, if they don't it's them that the grinch and are miserable sods.

I enjoy getting the house festive, buying for others and wrapping gifts to look amazing. But the ‘day’ isn’t all that these days. After losing my dad the loss was felt, then my Nan, it’s just not the same anymore (that made me truly understand why my DH mother doesn’t really do Christmas after losing most of her family).

We get my SS for Boxing Day and all the family pile together, both my brothers and their families, and the children all have an amazing time! That’s when it feels a bit more like the Christmases I remember and more exciting!

Truly though, outside of the above, I look forward to it for the bloody rest after the two days, my life is so bloody busy the rest of the year that I genuinely enjoy the opportunity to just switch off for five minutes (even though it usually results in me being ill for finally winding down!).

Since having my kids the Christmas magic cane back now I love it -I've always loved Christmas anyway but when the magic cones back it's great -the look on my kids faces when they see Santa has been is wonderful -it'll be even better next year as my toddler will understand a bit more -she loves Santa this year but doesn't really understand what he does!