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Original poster

Don’t all come at me, but has anyone else found the day a bit boring?

58 replies

Readyforarefrrsh · 25/12/2025 21:31

I generally love Christmas, but as I’m getting older they seem to come around so quickly.

The dc are teens and an almost teen, we’ve been doing the same traditions since they were babies.

I absolutely love watching them open their presents, but apart from that it all felt a bit flat this year.

Dh has been saying for a while it’s felt a bit samey. Eldest ds was definitely bored but he was appalled at the idea of maybe doing something different next year 🤣

I’m not complaining as we are so fortunate in so many ways but I’m wondering if anyone else has felt the same?

Has anyone done things a bit different and enjoyed it?

OP posts:
Gliblet · 25/12/2025 21:41

I usually find that only but thats because I'm sort of the odd one out - DH is from a family who are very 'all join in and do Christmas Things' and I'm from more of a 'less is more, let's have a lovely drama free day' family. Both have their value - and I am so grateful for my family's usual Christmases for DS's sake (ND and easily overwhelmed, especially when smaller) - but now that he's older I'm surrounded by people (DH included who prefers my family's approach to his) who are all talking about how tired they are or actually dozing off in their chairs and I'm feeling absolutely fine and would quite happily play board games or go for a walk to look at Christmas lights 😆

Saturdaysun · 25/12/2025 21:47

Yes I get you. Ive a teen DC and once the presents were opened it was flat until my elderly relatives arrived, they actually provide entertainment with random chatter. DC happy once their friends were available to chat on video call, now sorting their rooms/dressing table out.
I don’t make them do ‘forced fun’ , they want to chill and do very little.

Springbaby2023 · 25/12/2025 21:50

We have young kids but I still find it a bit dull. We spent the day the four of us which I love in some ways but can make it a bit boring. I’ve done a lot of building play Mobil and refereeing sibling fights. Obviously lovely to have young kids at Christmas, but also never feel the day itself quite lives up to it. Now kids are in bed and I’m scrolling mumsnet while DH watches Netflix as usual.

frecklejuice · 25/12/2025 21:53

Boring here, just the 4 of us so we went out for dinner but that was over quickly and then we were back home. Ds17 is a bit hungover after being out last night so has gone to bed and dd11 has just gone to bed with the hump because I’ve had a go at her for having a shitty attitude (not just today it’s being going on a while).

We go away tomorrow only for a few days but now dh is moaning about how it’s going to be shit because of dd and her moodiness. All great fun and can’t wait for January to get back to normal!

LokeyCokey · 25/12/2025 21:53

So grateful for this thread. I feel awful because my DC are young and still enjoy the magic of it all but this year was a bit meh… and I’m not sure why. Confused

CalmShaker · 25/12/2025 21:58

No have really enjoyed and all went to plan but now fully convinced there are some traditions that I am done with.

  1. Turkey, chicken just as nice and more available
  1. Kings speech. Tired of being told how we should be feeling/thinking/doing by people so out of touch from ordinary lives it doesn't sit right anymore. I can see their purpose of years gone by but it's out dates now (and I'm a traditionalist in most things)
Princesspollyyy · 25/12/2025 21:59

This would be the same for us, but a couple of years ago we started running and every Christmas Day we do our local Christmas Day Parkrun, which is so much fun with everyone dressed up. Our local one had over 400 participants, so by the time we were home from that and showered and ready, and then started putting the Turkey in etc, it was 11:00.

My eldest 2 are late teens, so they were more than happy to stay in bed until then, we actually started opening presents at midday, with lunch at 1.30, we were still opening presents at 3pm, it was lovely to
do it this way, and not have everything opened in the first hour of waking up.

Then at 5pm we visited relatives, then back home to watch tv and relax. It’s been a really lovely day.

mumwithallthebooks · 25/12/2025 22:04

Yes, our day was a bit flat due to illness and I can't help but feel "that's that for another year" especially after all the build up but I'm grateful nevertheless to see my DC so happy opening presents, for our home, for a hot meal etc. I guess it's just a day like any other.

Valeyard15 · 25/12/2025 22:08

Bit the same here - DCs are teens now so are over the magic of it all, but were chuffed with their presents this year. I spent the whole morning (and all of yesterday) cooking, we ate at 3pm, and after everything was cleared away I was too tired to do anything but sit on the couch. Got presents opened which was nice, but tbh have been feeling a bit bored and sad since. We don't really get any visitors so just us. Might have to suggest we do something different next year.

EmeraldRoulette · 25/12/2025 22:13

I absolutely hate it
In fact, I hate it less in recent years

But it's usually either very stressful - that was mostly when my late father was around but also a couple of times with my elderly mother being ill, and it feels as if she has been elderly for a very long time. I realise it feels much worse for her - or very boring

And then I'm so grateful when it's boring because it means it's not stressful!

Thank goodness it's over. If I had anyone else who could look after my mum at Christmas.... I would go away.

I think this is the first year in awhile that I haven't moaned constantly on MN. I figured it was better to try not to think about it.

But yeah, I am so relieved when it's done. There will definitely be more fun ways to spend it. I'm just stuck at the moment.

I managed to get my Parents to go out a couple of times, that was nice - so expensive though.

I'm not fussy at all about how the food turns out but they were/are.

NotAnotherScarf · 25/12/2025 22:13

Yes, it was bloody lovely. We got up late 9 o'clock, went for a walk, came home and had a sleep (decadent at 1pm) then opened presents. Watched some TV, sausage chips and curry sauce for tea then my partner was in bed at 9.

We usually have so much to do on a Thursday that it was lovely to do bugger all in a dull way

Eggcheese · 25/12/2025 22:16

Even as a Grandma I do find Christmas expensive and tedious!
So much fun when my children were younger without all the SM rubbish.
My daughter definitely finds Christmas more tiring/ competitive than I did when my children were younger

PruthePrune · 25/12/2025 22:17

I've spent most of the day alone, apart from the cat. DH has been in bed unwell for the past 3 days and doesnt look like he's going to improve any day soon. Christmas dinner was a bacon sandwich. So, meh.

FeeLipa · 25/12/2025 22:17

I have teens and 20s DC. We went on holiday for Christmas 2 years ago and it was nice having a year off tbh.

16yr old DD has felt a bit flat and unchristmassy this year. I'm considering booking a holiday for next year and doing Christmas at home just every other year.

lolawasashitgirl · 25/12/2025 22:17

Yes it was very quiet here. Trying to be grateful as it was fine but yes boring.

husband is ill
daughter at work
son & me did parkrun then cooked dinner but there was too much time to kill.

anyway - a lovely problem to have.

Mwnci123 · 25/12/2025 22:17

I have basically come to approach our usual Christmas Day of doing dutiful family stuff as I would a long journey. Kids on tablets eating crap, and I'm as drunk as I can get away with while still functioning.

GanninHyem · 25/12/2025 22:18

Yeah, but it's cos this year we're at my.parents. I love the bones of them but all they do (even outside of Xmas) is rot on the sofa and watch TV. Luckily it's not been as bad as I thought as my 4 year old has been keeping us entertained (alongside trying not to wake sleeping grumps) but I much prefer Christmas at DHs family's. It's lots of people, and chaotic, and music, and games and just loads of fun.

Redburnett · 25/12/2025 22:18

I have been abroad for Christmas a few times and it was a welcome change from the usual family traditions.

YourAquaLion · 25/12/2025 22:19

Interesting. I thought ours was going to be boring but also stressful, due to a couple of fun family members not being able to make it this year, but in the end it turned out fab!

We met another family for a run and playground in the morning (kids on bikes), then extended family came round and we did the whole massive turkey thing, amazingly it was more moist than I’ve ever tasted before,

my son LOVED all his presents and DM & MiL felt they had sufficient attention and good behaviour from him (that was the bit that was stressing me out, I hate when they moan to me if he’s not 100% happy all the time or a bit naughty, fgs he’s 4!) then we went to the skatepark, then back for some pud and a nice chat before they all left.

Then bedtime for DS and us not long after. Surprised that it was such a nice day. For me it massively helped to go outside a couple of times so thank goodness for a lovely day.

id advise going outside and board games to mix things up a bit. I do remember Xmas getting boring in my 20’s and thinking yeh this kind of needs some kids to bring back the magic.

hmmnotreallysure · 25/12/2025 22:19

Tbh I've spent the day in the kitchen cooking so not had time to get bored, ds13 has been a bit bored today though. We did play some games and watched a bit of festive tv. Absolutely shattered though from too much cooking and eating!

winewolfhowls · 25/12/2025 22:24

Tbh I read the Emma Thomsoning thread and it was so very sad what some people are going through, so I've counted my blessings today and had a lovely day. We have several seriously ill family members and friends at the moment so it's felt a bit calm before the storm ish.

oustedbymymate · 25/12/2025 22:26

nope. Loved the chaos even if we were all a bit over stimulated at times 4 kids 2-8 so right in the best bit. My lovely PIL my own sis and BIL and my own parents and my nan. Brilliant. And I pulled dinner off

Original poster
Readyforarefrrsh · 25/12/2025 22:27

Phew glad I’m not the only one as I don’t want to sound like a moaning sod.

I am grateful that there’s no drama.

We’ve said definitely no Turkey next year as a chicken would be just as good. Dh suggested a curry but ds was appalled at the idea of changing Christmas.

At least we pulled it off for another year.

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 25/12/2025 22:28

Once the presents were open my sons were building Lego or on their longest. They did help with the preparation for dinner but I'm tired of cooking every bloody year. But they did wash up so some positive

Charlize43 · 25/12/2025 22:29

It's been a lovely day, especially starting it with some lovely Mimosas, then lovely food and chilled Viognier, which is one of my favourites, but think I peaked too soon with the Albarino and missed dessert because I'd fallen asleep! But then in the afternoon I got a second wind with the Tequila and had so much fun dancing. Probably a mistake to have had the Port and cheese, as Stilton before bedtime is a bit irresponsible...