Help me feel less stressed about Christmas

[flutterby4]

As always it feels so hectic. I would really love a quiet Christmas with no deadlines but it literally feels like I’ll be rushing about from now until everyone leaves on Christmas Day evening (and I’ve been busy for the last week too!)

Im working tomorrow. Still need to pick some last minute food items up at lunch from the supermarket which will be hellish. Home to clean and finish wrapping. Still waiting on a parcel of stocking fillers to arrive. Christmas Eve morning I really want to get out for a dog walk early doors but we have friends coming later so I need to make sure the house is presentable, prep food for them coming and get all the kids Xmas Eve boxes and whatnot ready.

Christmas Day morning will the the usual chaos. I have to take my eldest to his dads around lunchtime, then come back and host 5 people at our house (Dh will do most of the Xmas day cooking luckily) while entertaining my youngest. I already feel stressed and would much prefer a slower, steadier day.

Please give me your tips on staying calm and actually enjoying the day amongst the chaos!

Yep. I’ve done fucking everything… Loads more still to do.
Did the Christmas food shopping this morning. Haven’t sat down until now. DH had a go me, as DS friend came around (great, keeps him busy!) and they messed up his bedroom, playing. DH started shouting when the spilt juice in the kitchen.

My job to make sure the house is spotless too, as apparently “everyone else’s house is perfect, and they’re all sitting down watching Christmas movies & drinking hot chocolate, while we live in a dump”. He does this every year… I work over Christmas too. He’ll cook the bird (Gordon fucking Ramsay) that’s it.

Sorry, no tips on stress management, ha ha… I’m actually a fairly chill person. It’s just the pressure to deliver the whole thing!

Now is the stage of the season to turn to whatever your usual vice is!

Plan better next year?

Delagate some tasks to your husband and use your time well! Can he pick up the last minute food tomorrow? Can he walk the dog on Xmas eve and you can do one on boxing day when the pressure is off? Also, only clean rooms that your guests will actually see, no need to clean the whole house :) then next year don't host, I hate hosting so we don't do it. It's just me, my husband and my 3.5 year old son. I've seen all family and friends in the run up to Christmas and seeing the last ones at their house on Xmas eve, then we can totally please ourselves for a few days. We get to do everything our way with no compromises; open presents in pjs first thing, croissants for breakfast, Christmas lunch made by my husband (nothing too extravagant), then a cold buffet style dinner later on, bliss!

My life s not perfect. But December is never stressful.
we host 10 for the day.
we set alarms to get our supermarket delivery slot booked.
supermarkets always have everything still on Xmas eve if push comes to shove (and we know this from experience).
Stocking gifts are bought and wrapped and hidden early in the month.
all other gifts are wrapped before the kids break up for Xmas which means no rushing around.
i work full time as does DH.
we have learnt over the years about how to reduce the stress.
also this year I ditched making a wreath and a Christmas cake.
i write cards in lunch breaks so it’s done during the working day.
We decided as a family to do a secret Santa style “big ticket” gift for one adult and then do the kids and a token for the rest.
Food and table prep is done Xmas eve (daytime) so we can enjoy the kids in the morning before the family arrive.
some of the above may help for next year!
we have lived and learned. I have been stressed. And so we made changes. I’ve used the word WE a lot in this post. This isn’t all on you. He has to step up too.
merry Christmas!

You need to make next Christmas a little simpler. Things like Xmas eve boxes should be ditched, presents ordered and wrapped a lot earlier if you have to work up to Xmas. Get your guests to bring starters and desserts with them.