not sure if I have the energy this year for a home made Christmas

[domesticsluttery]

In recent years I have prided myself on giving homemade Christmas presents.

Hampers of jams/chutneys/biscuits/fudge etc for friends and family. Hand knitted toys for the DC. Homemade fudge for the children's teachers.

But this year I don't think my heart is in it. The idea of spending the next 3 months worrying about whether things will taste OK etc is not looking appealing at the moment.

Will it matter if I forget the home made stuff this year?

Of course it doesnt matter! If you still want to give those type of gifts couldnt you get them ready made from farmers markets/craft stalls etc?

I could, but it would cost an awful lot more than it costs to make them from scratch.

I have a sneaky suspicion that some people aren't actually that keen on the home made stuff anyway...

I am going to be snowed under with crafting anyway as I am helping to run a children's after school craft club. I'm not sure that after spending hours teaching primary school children to sew/knit/crochet I will be very enthusiastic about making presents!

I am definitely still going to make sock monkeys for my 3 DC as they really want them, and I could give my mum and inlaws a little basket with 2 HM jams or chutneys in as an "extra" present to go with their main one, but I think for everyone else I might go down the vouchers and bottles of wine route.

Wow I'm suprised you have the time! But yes just make the homemade things for your close family and brought gifts are fine for everyone else. I think I'm just going to make one large Christmas cake and divide it up and ice for Grandparents etc, but I wouldn't have time (or energy) to do it for everyone.

The other problem this year is that I teach nursery school PT, plus am secretary of the PTA at my DC's school. They don't break up for Christmas this year until December 22nd, so there will be the full merry go round of concerts, nativities, school fairs, christmas parties etc right up until the very last minute. Which doesn't leave a lot of time between the end of term and Christmas Day, when both my side and DH's side of the family are coming to us.

I foresee a nervous breakdown if I try to do too many homemade gifts as well!