Bloomin fed up (1st world probs)

[StillWearingOddSocks]

I have finished work for christmas and It's my first day of 2 week christmas staycation - DH & DS are both ill. The house is a tip. I've bought presents but they're not wrapped because our house is a tip. Need to get the happy festive nibbles in, and think of something for the Boxing Day we are hosting. But the house - did I mention - is a tip.

Half made 30 cards for school class but DS couldn't get in for last week & never got round to printing our christmas photo & doing cards for family and friends.

Still need to buy for DH and now stressing about money. Is anyone else too scared to look at their account?

What can I do to pull this house & family back together & sprinkle the christmas spirit again? Should I bother tidying, or should I be bundling people up and finding a carol service?

.???

Perhaps you could tidy one room, or at least a table and either wrap the presents or do a plan of action of how Christmas is going to get done!

I looked in my bank balance and nearly had a heart attack.

It's close enough to fret about but enough time to do something about it.

Get well soon DH and DS.

Merry Christmas oddsocks

Put the kettle on make yourself a drink and take a deep breath. You gave another 5 full days until Xmas. Make a list and plan out jobs for everyday it will help you to feel more in control of the situation. And don't worry about Xmas cards for every tom dick n Harry just do your nearest and dearest.

First, don't worry about the cards or the Christmas family photo. Give family and friends cards as and when you see them, or phone or email in advance to say that due to illness you are very behind etc. Do you have a friend who could deliver cards locally if you have already written them?

Try to clean and tidy the 'public' areas of your home as a priority, again can friends or family help you? And also with shopping, are the Boxing day guests local, could you get some to bring things? If doing a main meal, make it simple, and bought desserts for pud. If any are staying over, could they bring their own sheets, pillowcases and towels to ease the laundry load.

Leave the gift wrapping until last when you have space to do it.

The first step to gettting a tidy house and things done is.......

getting off mn

it always helps me and yes dont panic, plenty of time!

In the same boat here. I had an exam to sit last week and thought that once I'd got that out of the way, I could crack on with the card-writing, present-making/buying and general festive merriment. Instead I sat around in a post-exam haze of lethargy then caught a foul cold which DH and DH have also contracted. As a result, the house is a tip, there's loads of washing/ironing to be done and we haven't done our Xmas food shopping and I still need to find a few more gifts. At least I managed to do my cards, organise teacher's present and get my MN Santa gift posted. I usually love this time of year but am feeling decidedly stressed and Grinch-like right now. Bah humbug!

step away from the stress! forget the christmas cards, seriously people wont be that offended and if they are that's their issue not yours!

It sounds like you have all been unwell - maybe start by having a night off to recharge with the aim to start sorting properly tomorrow? If you must do something maybe make a list of what actually needs to be done (does the house actually need to be spotless?). Sometimes a nice day out can be just what is needed to cheer everyone up - even if its just going for a nice festive walk followed by hot chocolate by the fire. There is still time to sort, and lets face it if it was spotless now you would just fret from now until boxing day trying to keep it sorted. A blitz on christmas eve might make more sense than stressing now.

Read this: revolutionfromhome.com/2013/12/dear-friends-and-family-please-dont-stress-on-account-of-me/

Deep breath - its meant to be an enjoyable time! reclaim it!

Ah - breaths deeply - I feel a bit better now.

turkeys okay it's not just me with bank panic...phew. And I've shoved everything off the table and yes it looks better and I can wrap tonight...

susie as soon as I read your post earlier i had a cup of tea and sat at the back doorstep. And felt calmer. And then made the list

girly practical advice on making it work - thank you

vite ahem, you're right but can't keep off mumsnet and all the admirably organised christmassers on here

verucca we are so on the same track - horrid bah humbug illnesses.

luggage you are so right & I loved that blog post link. I feel such the need to make it spotless. But you're right it will be a tip again on Boxing Day. And if I tidy today it will no,doubt be a tip on Christmas Eve again.

Thanks everyone - wish there was a christmas spirit potion you could just down it is baileys