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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I hate christmas

119 replies

In234Out23456 · 06/12/2025 16:50

Things I hate about Christmas …

the routine.
things we have done for the last 30 odd years. Not because any of it is pleasurable but because that’s What We Do. Any suggestion there is a comfortable change is met with absolute horror. Fuckers.

the expectation that we have to see everyone on one day. Most of these people I don’t see from one year to the next. Some of them I don’t even like. Hundreds of them. and they try and hug or kiss ffs. Why? Why would they do that?

In the car, out, sit cramped and loud, exchange presents nobody gives a shite about and are destined for the charity shop. On to the next house and repeat.
this sounds nasty and ungrateful but really, what shit can you buy for a tenner for someone you don’t like much? WHAT’S THE POINT????
Too many people in each house. So many.

Too many presents. I get it. He likes it. He’s passed on this to the DCs and they like it. Everyone is kind and generous but I hate it.
Too. Much.
and then it sits in piles for days and days. And the expectation that I join in and do the same.

ancient in-laws with dementia. Crankier by the year. I do love them but why do they always have to come to us when there are numerous other relatives they could go to. But no, This Is What We Do. Again. And FiL will bang on about the dead dog again (and again and again).

The timings.
because He does the cooking he gets to decide what happens when.

I DO NOT WANT TO EAT A FULL MEAL AT 3 PM.

That is neither lunch nor dinner. I will be hungry at a normal time. That means I either have to stay hungry and drink on an empty stomach, or eat and then I’m not hungry for the feast.

somebody will leave chocolate out and the dog will eat it resulting in yet another vet trip. Again. FiL I’m looking at you.

after a day of merriment He will proceed to drink too much. Mostly in response to having to deal with the ancient relatives. And then he will peacefully go to sleep in a chair while I clear up.

NOBODY LIKES SPROUTS

the last 10 years I have volunteered to work. Which is shitty but an excellent reason to bugger off for a few hours. This year I haven’t got work as an excuse. On the other hand no work means I can drink myself into oblivion but then risk actuallly murdering people.

OP posts:
hqKFSJAHVSJVCJS · 08/12/2025 13:29

Swiftie1878 · 08/12/2025 08:45

Bah, humbug.
You sound like a right old misery. Perhaps that’s why your DH wants to see lots of other people? 😖

You sound mean.

HoneyParsnipSoup · 08/12/2025 13:30

Oh God OP I felt every word of your post.

I feel under such pressure to ‘produce’ a Christmas. And therefore I do, as I have small children and they deserve that. But when they’re adults there is absolutely no way I’m doing a ‘full’ Christmas again - aka the whole day serving, entertaining, cooking and cleaning, plus inviting relatives I don’t like ‘because it’s Christmas’.

Got the sodding in laws round this year, they don’t like me, I don’t like them. Sick of it

Skyejay · 08/12/2025 13:33

I spent many a Christmas Day when I was young frightened caused by everyone fighting/ arguing wrecking the house, I dreaded every Christmas , when i had my own family I swore her Christmas memories would be magical and they where , we went no where near any family members spent Christmas Day on our own and no one was welcome either , no one would spoil my daughters Christmas I made sure of it , I spent Christmas Day on my own one year and it was at that point in my life one of the best days

Swiftie1878 · 08/12/2025 13:35

hqKFSJAHVSJVCJS · 08/12/2025 13:29

You sound mean.

Not mean at all!
A lot of people LOVE Christmas. Avoiding being around people who hate it is a part of their festive navigation and organisation. If you’re married to someone who hates it, that’s tricky!

CharlotteLightandDark · 08/12/2025 13:42

3pm is an ideal time for Christmas dinner. I’d say many people do this.

large breakfast and then cheese and biscuits later in the evening if peckish - no problem.

also if he has cooked why shouldn’t you clean up?
and god forbid he gets drunk at Christmas, the horror

lifeonmars100 · 08/12/2025 17:34

This year we are having take away curry, I am going to order it several days in advance from one of the best Indian restaurants round here and fteeze it. Will get the Naan and sides from the supermarket and have a sorbet for dessert. Simply cannot face cooking a dinner and clearing it all up, so much work and although I love food I really don't like any of the traditional Christmas stuff at all. As I have already posted on here a young member of my family died very suddenly in shocking and tragic circumstances and we are all just longing for it all to be over. The enforced jollity is bad enough at the best of times but when you are tying to get through each day without crying it is almost unbearable this year

Pinkprescription · 08/12/2025 18:07

I can’t stand Christmas. This year I’ll either be on my own or with an adult child who’d rather be alone and drink themselves into oblivion. The teens are with their dad and neither of them cares much.
im thinking no tree, ill give them some presents that they need and everyone else can foxtrot Oscar. Actually maybe I’ll drink myself into oblivion. It’s a boring day, being disabled I’ll be pretty much stuck in bed with no help.

DoubleHardBastard · 08/12/2025 18:19

What a miserable fucker.

SpikeGilesSandwich · 08/12/2025 18:25

Get yourself a child with special needs, trust me, no one will visit you then. After a few years, all our friends and family have drifted away as they can’t cope. It’s always just the 3 of us now and we do whatever we want. It’s lonely but it would sort your problems right out!

Theoldwrinkley · 08/12/2025 18:27

Best christmases I ever had was when I worked. Let the others get on with it. Nice early start (5.30) in retail. Everyone who came in so very grateful we were open (always for batteries) in a good mood. We got mince pies brought in by reular customers. Back home sort of 2.30 to have lunch cooked and ready, and all the 'excitement' handled by DH. So good!

Newyearawaits · 08/12/2025 18:32

I don't like Christmas, epitomises all the pain in my life that isn't going anywhere.
I paint a smile on my face for relevant people and am relieved when it is over.
For those who enjoy Christmas, hope you have a good time

OnlyLittleOldMe · 09/12/2025 03:10

I totally agree. Ive told my youngest daughter that next year she doesn't need to do it unless she really wants to. She's been doing alternate Christmas and Boxing day for our family for a long time now and I think she deserves a chance to not do it if she wants to. She had a great Christmas in 2020 for obvious reasons when it was just her own immediate family. Ive told her just to give us all 3 months notice and if no one else steps up to do her own thing, whatever that might be.

ThistleTits · 09/12/2025 06:59

In234Out23456 · 06/12/2025 17:55

Next year I’m off to a nice all inclusive in the sun

This is exactly what I am doing this year, and have the previous two. It's fantastic.

LittlePurpleTeapot · 09/12/2025 07:13

I hate it too OP.

I hate having all the responsibility for everyone else's good time while I run myself ragged waiting on everyone hand and foot and paying for it all, while they sit on their arses, like they have done all fucking year and get pissed on my wine.
I hate having to be the collective brain for all the lazy bastards in my family who can't be bothered to think what to get each other and EVERYONE forgets that DD has a birthday in January so nobody gets her anything and I have to compensate that for her sake because it isn't her fault she was born then.

I just want to fuck off abroad just me and DH and not speak to a living soul until January.

We do the same shit every year and every year I say I don't want to do it any more and every damn year MIL will start pecking DH head about what we are doing this year from August onwards.
If she likes Christmas so much why doesn't she host it at hers? 🤔 But she won't because "It's easier to have it at yours" (of course it is, that's because I will do all the grunt work!)

Thank you for letting me rant.

FootyMumOf3 · 09/12/2025 07:26

Kittyloulou · 08/12/2025 12:37

none of that crap going on in my house at Christmas. We’ve banned all relatives on Christmas Day. It’s just me, DH and our two adult children who still live at home. Everyone is welcome to stay in their pyjamas. We both do the cooking and have the feast at around 6pm.
seriously if you can’t avoid your house being used as a community centre for the day, get out. A lovely break in the sun sounds ideal!

Absolutely agree with this! Make it the day you want it to be!! I love Christmas always have since I was a kid , build up to it is my favourite time BUT I ended up hating Christmas Day because me and DH were trying so hard to please everyone we never got to enjoy it ourselves. About 8 years ago we said no more and started spending Christmas our day at home (told family they were welcome to visit us knowing full well the ones we didn’t to particularly want to visit would come nowhere near) cook our own lunch and let our kids enjoy their gifts. Recently my elderly parents started coming for Christmas dinner and it’s just the best!

SEAHORSESROCK2 · 09/12/2025 08:20

I get the other side of it. I love Christmas I love spending time with family, I love giving gifts, the decorations even cooking for everyone. Its magical. My husband hates it from start to finish moping around with a sour face taking the shine off every sodding thing I try to do. I tone my enjoyment down but he cant even meet me half way. It just makes me sad. I now encourage him to spend his Christmas with his family where they can all mope about moaning together whilst I have a shed load of fun with mine xx

KilliMonjaro · 09/12/2025 08:49

Love sprouts though! 🥬

Ladybyrd · 09/12/2025 15:00

I hate Christmas because, regular as clockwork, some sourpuss comes out of the comes out of the closet and starts stiring up some family drama bullshit. ‘Tis the season, apparently.

Monty34 · 13/12/2025 12:03

I used to hate all the travelling. And a mother and one or two other relatives who failed to tell you they were ill. And insisted that everyone saw each other. As planned. So everyone became ill in turn. Great. I don't miss that.

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