Can't be arsed with Christmas

[hairymuffet]

Is it just me?
As I get older I can't be bothered
I used to love it all
The excitement, shopping, wrapping
Putting up the tree
I'm putting the tree up today and I can't be arsed with any of it

Yep. Behaviour modification for the children of lazy parents.

Hardly lazy. It looks exhausting.

Why are people so sneery about Elf on the Shelf? If you don't want to do it, don't do it - no one's making you. But those that do are hardly 'lazy parents' whose children require 'behaviour modification'. GROW UP.

My children would love it, but I don't have the time to think up things for it to do. At this time of year one more job would break me, it would be nervous breakdown by Elf. (Another thing to feel guilty about.)

I've never yet met a 'lazy parent', well not since the 1970s.

I'm feeling the same but I daren't tell anyone in RL.All of my family and friends have always known me to love Christmas(My Mum and Dad started calling me Mrs Christmas over 20 years ago and it's stuck)but we've just lost another family member,my health is getting worse and I had a really bad fall last week because of it.

I still have lots of presents to buy and wrap,most of the food shopping still needs doing and I've already spent a small fortune and underneath it all I feel so guilty,I feel like I should be like I normally am the one that's running around with lots already sorted and making everyone else happy,doing nice Christmas things with our 5DC and my DH,helping my Dad get ready for Christmas(I've been doing that since we lost my Mum)and sorting the house out for him.

But I've done hardly anything yet and now I have hardly any time left.

Can't be bothered. ... havE no presents. No decorations up. No plans. Will have to do something because the kids like it. ....

No decorations here. Bought everything online.
Normally I'm much more into it by now but I'm very short on cash this year and the consumerism seems especially vile. Meh.

But those that do are hardly 'lazy parents' whose children require 'behaviour modification'. GROW UP.

IME they are. It's an extension of "santa's watching" and threats of naughty lists and no presents. It's lazy and intended to modify behaviour through fear.

I think those elf on shelf things are really creepy!! I'm glad my parents didn't do that I would have had nightmares..

ohtheholidays, please tell your DH and / or your DC that you are finding it a bit much and would like some help. They'll probably be happy to do things off a list ( my DC are hopeless unless I'm really specific like do X Y and then Z). It won't be a Christmas worth having if you buckle under it all, as everyone gets older Christmas has to develop.

I'm also a bit meh this year. Too much going on that means I'm stressed and a little bit down and can't muster much festive cheer. I've got most things sorted through, and hopefully in the next week I'll be my normal happy over excited self. The idea of going somewhere hot, sunny and remote sounds fantastic about now though!

I feel like this to, I normally love Christmas but like another poster we have had deaths and long term health problems to deal with so I really can't get into the spirit. We have got the tree up presents bought and wrapped just the dreaded food to do. I hope I start enjoying it soon I'm so bloody miserable and the dc love it.

oh I have deleted several times what I was typing because words fail me. It should not be a chore and if people want the "perfect" Christmas then they need to chip in ... with money and / or time. We need the project managers guide to Christmas...

I have never liked Christmas which is ironic seeing as I was born Christmas day and named after a flipping reindeer but go through the motions for the dc. I was hoping we could forget it when they were adults but it doesn't seem to be looking that way. So I'm resigned to doing my bit for the considerable future unfortunately. I dream of getting on a plane and holidaying in the sun instead but don't suppose it will happen.

Yep.
Meh over here too.
Horribly so.
Doesnt help that dh is and always has been very 'sit back and not fussed' ....it's finally rubbed off.
I feel like I should be making a effort for ds who's 9yo so I'm trying but I've not had a smidgen of the festive spirit yet.
Tree went up today and meh. Meh meh meh!!!!

I've lost my Christmas mojo. I had it at the beginning of the year. I'm normally a Christmas nut. I think I know why, possibly...(Doing too much. Can't deligate either.) I need to find my Christmas mojo again!

The elf on a shelf does look creepy, there's no denying, but DDiL has made it great fun for the children. He doesn't spy on them, he just comes to their house and has fun. Sometimes it's a special breakfast, or abseiling across the room, or playing with their toys. Sometimes he 'helps' around the house. She definitely enjoys it as much as the children! It is what you make it.
It used to be only available online, but this year our local Wait rose had them.

I feel v flat as everything planned has gone out the window. Should have been at german xmas markets last week but had to cancel as bil diagnosed with v serious illness. This has also meant sister and bil are not now coming to stay over xmas along with their daughter. My parents have also had to cancel as dad developed a degenerative condition so unable to travel. Christmas seems a bit inconsequential compared to all that .
It is hard to feel festive with loved ones battling life threatening conditions!
I was beating myself up because i feel i should still be making an effort for the rest of the family but actually i think i will have a little wallow before picking myself up and carrying on .!

I am reknowned as the "Christmas Nut" at work, in Scouts, at home, in the wider family, even one of the dedicated Christmas preppers on MN!

And I have lost my groove.

We have had a very long 18 months, and I think I am worn down by it all just now. I need a long sleep, a few days quiet in my own house, and a chance to just step back from everyone else's needs.

This year, I have been horrifically busy all autumn. I have brought the decorations home from the storage unit (over a week ago), but we haven't yet actually done any decorating. Well, DD (10) put the tree together last night but we haven't yet fluffed branches or put anything on it. DH has done his lights on 1 tree in the garden though.

No one has realized yet how crappy I feel about it all this year - we've been so busy that an excuse for not getting decorated wasn't yet needed. But I must give myself a little ticking off, make an effort to find my mojo again and get back in the groove. I think I need more music to distract me from the pretty crappy time we've had. And maybe just selfishly take a day off that no one knows about this or next week.

Last year I'd have agreed with you. This year DS finally gets it and it's been lovely so far.

I suspect I have a three to five year window before it becomes a hassle again.

feel terrible and this accentuates it. One day at a time.

oh I've always hated it

I wouldn't be surprised if I lose both parents next year and I was actually thinking how to say to sister and cousin that I just want to stay home. They would be really upset but I currently only bother with it because it makes the olds happy. I just don't get what it's all for. I have very bad SAD and it's the worst time of year, if ever there was a day to just hide from the world and have a couple of naps, it's Xmas Day.

I hate it, but have young children so it has to be done.

My usual strategy is to ignore it while quietly feeling resentful, then feel doubly resentful when I have to rush about.

This year, did gift shopping from a couple of independent online retailers, will delay putting the tree up until just before Xmas eve and will have a whizz around Aldi next week.

And that's the only time I shall be stepping foot inside a shop.

Also do the bare minimum socialising.

Feeling less pressured by it then previous years so far.

it used to be my highlight. Now I really cannot be bothered but I have to be as many presents to buy and kids to please. Cannot wait for it all to be finished.

I'm really not feeling it this year either. The only person I have bought presents for is my two year old DD. So I am looking forward to her opening those, but the rest is just meh.

My elderly mother tried to kill herself earlier in the year and the emotional fallout has been tremendous. I just can't be arsed with it all.

Hugs to biddy and random.
There is nothing wrong with taking some time for yourself so go for it.
Sorry you are having such a tough time. Hope 2017 is better for you both xxx