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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas is not for adults it's just for kids

87 replies

TheAverageJoanne · 01/12/2023 07:12

Saw this on a page this morning. Allegedly
Christmas is not for us adults it's just for kids.

What do you think about this? I think it's rubbish and very upsetting for adults without partners or family.

As I'm out on my first Christmas party tonight, I say Bah Humbug to "it's just for kids".

Christians will have something to say on that point too.

Christmas is not for adults it's just for kids
OP posts:
Original poster
TheAverageJoanne · 01/12/2023 07:47

Hardbackwriter · 01/12/2023 07:40

It's a random Facebook post with no impact, but in any case it doesn't actually say it's 'just' for children, in the emphatic way you have. It says it is 'for' them, which I read as saying they're the primary focus in households that have them. You've made it more provocative.

"We should always remember it's not for us adults it's for the kids" is clear to me what the writer of the post means.

OP posts:
Gillypie23 · 01/12/2023 07:53

Absolute nonsense. Its for everyone.

sollenwir · 01/12/2023 07:59

I tend to ignore people who think they can tell others how to celebrate Christmas, or not. I am not religious so while we mark the 25th as Christmas Day and do the usual Christmassy stuff (tree, gifts etc), it's also about bringing light in a dark time of the year (we are very north so think 9.30 am to 3.30 ish day light, and it being quite dull sometimes too).

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 01/12/2023 08:03

Most parents/grandparents of young children will probably feel that their Christmas is primarily about the kids, and not them. I think that's pretty normal and natural, tbh.

However, that isn't to say that they think nobody else should celebrate. It's just about their own focus at this time of year.

AgnesX · 01/12/2023 08:06

I think it's more of a big deal for younger children who totally buy into all the glitz and glamour.

That said, as you get older it's still a great time of year and also breaks up the dark days. I love Christmas Eve evening the most.

Hardbackwriter · 01/12/2023 08:08

TheAverageJoanne · 01/12/2023 07:47

"We should always remember it's not for us adults it's for the kids" is clear to me what the writer of the post means.

Show quote history

But I think it's fairly obvious that it's talking about parents and grandparents as 'us'- not all adults, and so not saying that those without children shouldn't celebrate as you've suggested. You've cut it off halfway through but I'm guessing the sentence that started 'as parents' made that implication even more obvious.

Peacheroo · 01/12/2023 08:08

I think they've really clumsily said that they prioritise the kids and they do what they do for the kids. They've not given a second thought to adults without kids or any other societal group. It is for the kids in the way that it's less exciting when you're an adult and being a kid/watching your kids at Christmas is just so wholesome but they've not said it that way and it's been taken literally.

As an adult, I love it all.

CandleWick4 · 01/12/2023 08:10

Oh god I can’t cope with these Facebook posts. I know a few ‘It’s all about the kids’ people in real life and nothing about what they do is really for the kids. They do it so people will look at them and say ‘oh aren’t they good parents’ when in fact it’s self gratification but that’s a rant for another day 😏
I have 2 children and I do my best to make sure Christmas is a wonderful time for them - but I also make sure DH and I have a nice time, that I buy him a thoughtful gift and we have nice drinks and food and we do things for all of us. Christmas is absolutely not just for kids.

CoffeeCantata · 01/12/2023 08:12

Of course it's not just for adults. I was brought up in the C of E, but no longer believe, but Christmas has a lot of meaning for me.

It's primarily a celebration of family and friendship. It's bittersweet, though, with memories of people I used to celebrate it with who are no longer here, and Christmases of my childhood.

My children are adults now, but Christmas is very special to me still.

CoffeeCantata · 01/12/2023 08:13

God - it's too early in the morning - I mean not just for CHILDREN.

Where's the caffeine....

Original poster
TheAverageJoanne · 01/12/2023 08:17

@Hardbackwriter I cut it off halfway through as the rest of the post was identifying. Not to spin things.

OP posts:
Makkacakka · 01/12/2023 08:19

Of course it's for everyone. It is most exciting for children I think. And now I have a child, I am excited for him.
I did vote YABU, not because I don't believe christmas is for adults too (it is!) But I think you read into what that person was saying, a bit too much. When you're an adult, it is most exciting to see christmas through the eyes of children.

BottleRocketInTheSky · 01/12/2023 08:26

Thanks for those of you concerned I'm upset or worried about this meme. I'd like to assure you all that I'm not. It's just debate for the first morning of December that's all ...

So you weren’t even upset, you have just decided others might be because a random person wrote something? 🤔

You do know you can just ignore stuff like this. You must know that many adults enjoy Xmas so it’s clearly untrue or a matter of opinion. Although, ‘debate for the first morning of December’ screams ‘I need attention’ to me. Maybe you even wrote it so we could all become upset on others behalf and then debate. 😅

Original poster
TheAverageJoanne · 01/12/2023 08:37

@BottleRocketInTheSky Have a day off.

OP posts:
Lucytheloose · 01/12/2023 08:42

HeraSyndulla · 01/12/2023 07:37

How offensive are you?

Show quote history

Not offensive at all. Jesus was well into partying according to the Gospels and was criticised by the Pharisees for being 'a glutton and a winebibber'. I guess you would have been a Pharisee.

MammaTo · 01/12/2023 08:47

I think you’re reading into it too much.

BottleRocketInTheSky · 01/12/2023 08:51

Have a day off.

The irony. 🤣🤣🤣

Weatherwax13 · 01/12/2023 08:53

@PicaK bloody hell, I don't blame you for feeling venomous!!

IStartWhereYouEnd · 01/12/2023 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Zanatdy · 01/12/2023 08:59

Christmas is a time for pausing our busy lives and spending time with loved one’s. Yes kids love Christmas but doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy it too. I personally find I spend a lot of time buying for others, I find it very stressful in all honestly and having had a bereavement in December it’s not a time of year I look forward to unfortunately

IncompleteSenten · 01/12/2023 09:03

What a load of bollocks.
Christmas as a religious event is for Christians of all ages.
Christmas for us pagan heathens is a time to light the house up like all of Santa's elves had noro in his grotto, eat chocolate and get pissed at 10am.

This whole Christmas is for children nobody else matters is the kind of martyrdom that should come with a side of self flagellation.

DrFoxtrot · 01/12/2023 09:06

I agree with the PP who said it's just written tat. Lots of this meaningless shite is all over social media. YANBU but roll your eyes and ignore.

Crushed23 · 01/12/2023 09:09

Yeah it’s a nonsense. I’ve not got any children and I adore Christmas.

A month of parties, festive lunches, dressing up, champagne almost daily, Christmas markets, presents (most of which are to myself 😉). Topped off with a winter sun holiday over Xmas/New Year.

I mean, what’s not to love?!

gotomomo · 01/12/2023 09:13

What a load of rubbish, no kids at all in my household and Christmas is loads of fun, my dc (as I said all adults) are far more interesting now

HeraSyndulla · 01/12/2023 09:18

Lucytheloose · 01/12/2023 08:42

Not offensive at all. Jesus was well into partying according to the Gospels and was criticised by the Pharisees for being 'a glutton and a winebibber'. I guess you would have been a Pharisee.

Show quote history

No, I would have been a Brython Celt, probably a subsistence farmer.