Anyone else awake and dreading tomorrow?

[Marjie3]

First time in my 53 years that I’m not feeling it at all this year. Not looking forward to pretending I’m joyfull tomorrow at all and not sure why

I'm in same position.

I've been so looking forward to the break. Started feeling rough yesterday morning, but just a bit stuffed up. Got back in the evening and rapidly got worse.
I filled the stockings and left them on the sofa, telling the ( adult) DC to take them to their rooms if they want them there and retired to bed.
I've now woken absolutely freezing. I have 4 duvets and a blanket and still can't get warm.

I really wanted this to be a good one as I don't think we'll get another family type Christmas as next year hopefully dd2 Will be working, and dd1 probably will be with her partner.

Thankfully dh will step up, but I do feel ill. I have that feeling of desperately wanting to cough, but if I do I can't stop, it doesn't help and it hurts my head.

Manager having a power trip. Colleague clearly excited. I would have just left if i were you! If it was quiet and the only reason to keep you there was manager spiting an unproductive colleage........ nope.

Right… mine are up! Game face on, let’s go!

Love and strength to you all xxx

Feeling the same as a few others here…looking forwards to the break so much with my two teens and parents but absolutely knocked out with temperature, really bad chesty cough. Have barely slept since it started on Monday. Am cycling multiple medications to keep upright and make it through the day but feeling rough as hell. Trying to just reflect on the overall good of having my family and this bit is temporary etc.

ive managed a couple of hours of broken sleep. Everyone else still fast asleep. I’ve got a banging headache which isn’t being helped by reading MN in the dark on my phone 🤦🏻‍♀️. I feel sick too and just generally ‘off’.

No lie in’s while I’m off either as DH back at work tomorrow so he’ll be up early every day except New Year’s Day but any sleep will be ruined then by our neighbours either side partying.

my 3yr old will definitely have at least one melt down as he’s been ill so is behind on sleep and is trying at the best of times anyway 😄. I’ve been thinking that the presents are going to look very uneven as my DD has a couple of very large exciting presents - hoping my DS won’t really care due to his age.

I probably ought to check soon that the cat hasn’t had another go at destroying DD’s main gift.

I think you've posted this on the wrong thread . . . I remember reading the one about the staff who weren't allowed home early because a colleague spent the morning on her phone, so I suspect that was the thread you intended to post on?

I love Christmas as a whole, but feel such stress to make it fun. We have stayed home this year, but will be seeing my family later. I love them dearly, but they're not 'light' company. My sister and I get on perfectly well on a surface level, but she's like the jellyfish in Bridget Jones, and has very much a victim complex. There's a massive back story and a huge thread on here from Christmas 2 years ago, but short version is I feel like I have to be on high alert to defend boundaries!

Got to bed just before midnight after waiting for teens to sleep, youngest (8) then woke up around 1245. And then approx every hour until 545 when I caved and got up. It's going to be a long day.

Bloody hell @Nobbynobbsknob that’s awful. Glad you are all ok.

@Pippa12 heartfelt best wishes to you and your Dh.

Couldn’t sleep because my horrible thug neighbours celebrate Xmas eve and therefore think it’s acceptable to blast terrible music all night. Nearly came to blows when we asked them to turn it off so we can get some sleep and enjoy Christmas today! I love Xmas but hate where I live and wish Santa could make me rich so I can opt out of living in poor areas full of anti social knob heads.

I'm ready to manage expectations which is why I'm taking two extra bottles of Prosecco with me for lunch.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day today 🎄

Not so much dread but this Christmas has felt more draining. I’m not even hosting but I’ve become more aware of just how much is spent generally and I want my kids to feel grateful given there is so much poverty around. They have a ton of (cheap) presents, in total <£100 each and are incredibly happy kids. I can’t quite figure it out but feels like I’m going through the motions and faking it.

This time last year I had a partner who I was madly in love with, and Christmas felt like i finally had someone (which is what I had always wanted for years ) but that ended this year so I think it’s just that I’m back to being just my usual single mum self and just the extra one at family gatherings.

No, your children are having the Christmases they know and will remember and they are having them with the family they know and will remember. Don't make it about some outside people (which your parents are) who shouldn't have any influence on your children's wellbeing.

My children have only known and had Christmas as a maximum of four, two kids, two parents. Even if we were close to grandparents (and we aren't), the day wouldn't be about making memories with them because the memories are about the relationships they actually live on the day.

We love it, they love it. I would theoretically love them to have the 'big family' experience, but it's just theoretical. We love what we have.

Sounds as though it would be easier to move on if you moved away from your parents' neighbourhood. So sorry you are sad and please believe you are enough for your children!

i have dm here which makes for more stress but i am sure she will be helpful
but i havent given much thought to the meal, which we will have much later, i am hoping it wont take too long to prepare
we have lots of wine but she intends to upset dd - they both drink too much wine

I’m 54, cooking for 11. Would be quite happy to disappear off for the day. Really can’t be bothered with it anymore.But here we are, let’s make the most of it.

It’s 30 years today since my lovely dad was admitted to hospital where he died 2 days later.

This year him not being here feels monumental, so much of my life that he’s missed. I was at university when he died and he shielded me from how unwell he was so him dying was a complete shock.

I’m away with the IL’s which feels like rubbing salt into the wound. I’m doing my best but have to keep retreating to my room for a little cry and recharge.

Wishing you all the best type of day that you can have. It’s just another day really xx

I don’t enjoy Christmas I never have even as a child
We are hosting this year there will be 10 of us including mil who I don’t really get on with she’s never happy and always brings a negative attitude and I always feel on edge in her company
I find it all overwhelming and as much as I love seeing family I’m relieved when they have gone
We have already decided that we are going away next Christmas just myself Dh and the dog ( Dd and her boyfriend may join us on Boxing Day ).
Dh has already mentioned this to his mum and she said well your brothers won’t invite me so I guess I’ll be on my own.
Wishing everyone a peaceful day

Never have liked Christmas

Ive had a couple of hours sleep , but that's my norm

Its been a truly shit show of a year and now I have to pretend to be having a wonderful day

I shall cook up a storm and watch mother pick at it , finding non existent gristle on a slice of turkey breast and just sitting there with a face of thunder

She lives with us and I find her very hard work, there is absolutely no joy in her whatsoever - and she cant drink cos of her meds so I cant force cheer on her lol

So I shall be opening the presecco early for myself and will have the radio on for company listening to Junior Choice, joining in badly with the silly childhood songs , then head out to meet friends for a couple before dinner , by which time I should be in just the right state to not let her get to me and remain polite and pass myself

DH is much better with her then me , I just have to keep him out of the garage where hes busy building a train set and where he would rather be all day

I just find the day so lonely

But hey ho, have visitors stopping over tomorrow ( family from overseas) They are young and will bring life and energy. So looking forward to them coming

My brother has already scoffed at me when I mentioned having 3 outfits for today (Christmas PJs first thing, jeans for a walk, and a skirt for sitting down to lunch). I heard him mutter “Jesus Christ” when I explained this in response to his partner asking what we’d all be wearing.

I challenged him on what he meant by it, and of course he couldn’t answer / tried to laugh it off.

He is an overgrown manchild who, at 30 years old, will throw a strop / ignore people if his own feelings are at all slighted, whilst managing to be repeatedly rude to me, our mother, and my husband whenever he visits. Our parents never challenge him in case he gives them the silent treatment.

I am perilously close to telling him being rude / looking down on others doesn’t make him cool, it makes him a miserable git.

@Busyasabumblebee you described how I feel totally, everything that has happened recently has shattered my ability to be happy.

I’m currently 12 weeks on from a very serious fracture to my leg. I’m none weight bearing and can’t get out of the house because of difficult access (only time I’ve been out of the house in 12 weeks is for hospital appointments and then I’ve had to go on stretcher by ambulance). I cat get upstairs because of fracture/access issues so am having to sleep downstairs, only able to have cash as can’t get to shower and have to use a commode as toilet upstairs. I’ve st least another 8 weeks like this and then a very long slow recovery. need constant help so husband not able to work full time and for self employed, so not working means no money coming in and difficulties with bills.

Dh Is dreadful cook, so not doing proper Christmas dinner, barely any presents for my sons (teens) as can’t afford, I’ve no family, husband hasn’t even bought me a card (thinks they’re a waste of money), we can’t afford presents for each other and I’m just going to spend Christmas Day sat in a chair like every day has been for the past 12 weeks. I’ve not done anything Christmassy and don’t feel in the spirit and would rather not have woken up today 😕🎄

I do manage to get some pleasure but it’s never been the same since my DD died 12 years ago. DS is an adult now and seeing how happy he is with his GF has been lovely but there is always an empty place at the table.

@Yearsafter The OP posted asking for thoughts from others dreading the day, you’re not dreading it, so your comment on this thread is a little insensitive. Maybe post on a thread about being happy at Christmas.

I’ve been awake most of the night meaning I’ll be tired. We have dsd (adult with very high sen) for Christmas because I can’t bear the thought of her stuck in her care home, it means one of us has to watch her continuously. On the up side my mum is cooking! I’ll take a nap after lunch as I’ll probably be awake keeping an eye overnight again, luckily I can get away with little sleep. I’ll sleep when she goes back - we don’t have to have her I know but she does like Christmas, especially the lights and hot chocolate

Very sobering reading all these responses. I can see alit of people are struggling. Hopefully will be better than we expect. I will remember today to take a moment and think about you all x