To get takeaway food instead of cooking Xmas dinner?

[HelloHilda]

I know it's early, but I've been thinking about it recently.

I've never liked Christmas myself/feel apathetic towards it, but since having children I've tried to make an effort for them, but I'm sick of it. My oldest child is 13, and for the past 13 years, it's been nothing but stress and annoyance.

What is the point of christmas when I'm the only one who makes any effort? I'm also the only one who doesn't enjoy it. My husband is useless and doesn't cook, and we don't have a lot of close relatives to invite over, so every christmas it's just me and the kids and my husband eating the food I spent all day cooking. They just gobble it up and show no appreciation.

Also, I don't eat meat but I cook a whole turkey and ham every year for them. I'm not going through that this year. I don't see the problem in just ordering chinese takeway or Dominos pizza. We hardly every eat out, so maybe this would be a treat. I'll buy a cake and some sweets, and that will be it.

I don't see the point in "making christmas special" for people who show me no appreciation, and they eat fast anyway, so it doesn't even matter what the food is. As for decorating the house, I don't care. They can do it if they want.

Do it. Xmas should be fun, not a chore. I’ll certainly not be cooking a meal when my kids have left home

Next door to my mother is a family who has 6 children, every year on Christmas Day they order a massive Indian and have that for their ‘Christmas dinner’ they’ve always done it that way and seem a lot happier for it.
I don’t blame you for wanting a takeaway

Do what makes you happy, personally I love Christmas dinner (& would happily cook it just for myself ) but as you seem to be the main 'cook' in your household then you should choose the menu.

I think you’ll need to order it the day before and re-heat it, as I doubt takeaways would be open on Christmas Day.

But YANBU either to do that or to just buy ready made stuff from M&S which is ready to bung in the oven (and is actually really good).

Yeah make Christmas shit for the kids that should be fun ! Then they can go back to school and brag to their mates how they had pizza for Christmas .

Yes, do it!

Do it! So many people make themselves miserable for the sake of tradition that it’s just not worth it!
I know someone who got takeaway every year when the kids were little so they could all enjoy playing with new toys and not have someone stuck in the kitchen all day, and in 2020 when the mixing household things got pulled at the last minute a friend got Chinese and Dominoes instead of going to relatives and the kids asked if they could do it every year!

It’s not Christmas that’s the problem, it’s you feeling unappreciated all year round.

I’d work on that, the Christmas meal is a red herring.
I’d be furious if no one at least said “thank you for dinner”. It’s basic manners.

Why would it be shit? Kids love a takeaway treat surely? Takeaway is rare for us, so definately seen as a treat.

If you eat takeaway food all the time perhaps I can see that it would be less of a treat to you.

I wouldn't cook dinner for your husband any day of the week, lazy little shit.

Do it OP and make sure the food is your choice.

FFS. Why would it be shit? In any case no one is appreciating the OP and her efforts.

Read the OP she doesn't even seem to like her family .

Oh do grow up.

Tonnes of people opt for takeaways on Christmas day rather than a roast dinner.

Besides, it frees up more time to spend with the kids.

Your husband can fuck off expecting a Christmas meal.

Do the takeaway.

I think it’s fair enough to not worry about a Christmas dinner if your family isn’t bothered. But not decorating seems a bit sad and miserable. Sounds like Christmas is the least of your issues, are you ok?

Don’t bother with the Turkey, just do a chicken. Keep it simple and don’t spend too much time on it.

I’d be happy if they ate it all, it shows you are a good cook but I would definitely expect them to say thanks.

If they liked her they might treat her with more respect.

We tried this a few years ago...made a beautiful Christmas dinner on Christmas eve with plans of ordering a Chinese banquet Christmas day. Turns out all the local Chinese places are closed Christmas day....we ended up with a kebab for Christmas dinner 🤣😭

Make sure somewhere is open first by calling up and asking, not listening to your lying sister who swore they were open!!

We had Chinese takeaway for Christmas Dinner a few times.
Nothing wrong with it, and we ordered the nicer dishes that weren't for everyday, crispy duck, scallops, mussels etc
We loved it.

She wants a takeaway.

Don't do Dominos. It's shite.

Chinese sounds lovely. You could have a Christmas like A Christmas Story.

Put your kids in charge of decorating and also taking everything down afterwards.

Do it! I might do it too 😁

YANBU this is the way people ( mothers & wives ) feel when any and all emotional labour and effort goes unappreciated for years and years.
If your husband wants a Christmas dinner he can learn how to cook it, if not then you order or make what YOU want.

One year I just bought the ready made type Christmas lunch from M&S - that was nice!

But no, I don't think you are being unreasonable. Eat and cook, or don't cook, what you want! I wouldn't personally put up with a husband and children that didn't help me though, and would hate to be stuck in the kitchen all day on my own while the lazy, ungrateful fuckers just did their own thing. My kids (I'm a lone parent now) all help me so we're all in the kitchen together.

Your Christmas Day resentment is just the magnification of your actual issues. If you have ungrateful children and a useless partner that’s on you to make the change. Having a takeaway on 25th December and putting up no decorations will achieve nothing except perhaps to worsen your relationship with your children. There are more effective ways to tackle this problem than having a one day strop.