To feel bad we haven’t done anything festive?!

[Wombatbum]

My social media is full of pantomimes, Christmas days out etc. The only thing we’ve done really is a trip to the shopping centre grotto. I feel like I’m a bit rubbish 😣

We usually don't do anything either, but this morning my son was playing with his band in our local town centre which got us up and about early. They were amazing.

We then played the longest game of Catan ever with a new early opened expansion present which took us up to midnight. Feeling all family happy without spending a fortune and none of it went on social media.

So, ignore social media and do your thing whatever that is.

It just doesn’t really feel like Christmas, I struggle in the run up as I get really stressed and anxious 😬

This perfectly articulates my problem too. I always want to make it really magical in advance, and have visions of Christmas crafts and baking and days out, but I get a huge sense of overwhelm and paralysis and can't organise myself to do any of it. I actually find it much easier to relax and do things in the week between Xmas and New Years.

We haven't gone on any Christmas days out/events. We do usually do something.
She's been to see Santa. That was just at shopping centre like you, a free one.
I haven't had the money to go on any festive days out anymore

We haven’t done anything either. My FB is full of posts at reindeer lodges, of grottos, breakfasts with Santa, pantos, meals out, Santa steam trains, the list goes on.

We can’t afford any of that. We don’t have the money. I used to be bothered, but now I’m past 40, I cba getting worked up about it. It is rather freeing.