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

It's that kind of pointlessness that bugs me
Adding tin opener to shelter list
Interesting that volunteers are in over supply on Xmas day
Makes you wonder how many people do it without wanting to.

I passed toysrus yesterday they had hatchimals in the hatchimals had a security guard i just thought Jeez what a carry on

Pleased to say I don't know what a hatch thing even looks like, only heard of it on Mn
It is a weird reminder of people being sheep, wanting all this specific stuff just for this time of year. I wonder if it will ever wind back?

I only new whatit looked like by the giant poster saying Hatchimals are here. I dont think it will wind in but I thought security was a bit much for a toy.

Knew*

I do love Christmas and always have. I used to bother about things like beautiful decorations which all matched, looking like something from a magazine. I love treating my family to lovely gifts.
However, not last Christmas, but the one before, my Dad was dying. Christmas decorations, lights, songs etc remind me of that time. Christmas day was so hard that year and he died in that cold, horrible early January time. I am looking at the lovely things around me - I have done all the gifts, have dinner planned for 10 people etc...and am secretly drowning in grief.

that is sad. Dont drown....swim to the edge or ask for a lifebelt

Ah putdownthatlaptop.
I had to post. The first 2 years are always the worst. My own Dad died on Boxing Day many years ago. It's hard because of the forced jollyness of the season. 💐

It's such a taxing time for people who are ill, newly single, recently bereaved, struggling for money etc.

My Mum died at the end of September 2014, that Christmas was a blur, I know we did it because we had a 2 and a 3.5 year old to make it special for. Last year we (DDad, DH & Me) really couldn't face it all so we booked a hot holiday over Christmas. It was bloody brilliant! I did light, simple Santa stockings for the kids and the adults took 1 gift for each person so it wasn't all about presents. We bbq'd for Christmas dinner so didn't have to do a massive, stressful food shop. We didn't tear-arse around breaking our necks to visit all the rels. The stand out thing for me though was that none of us were ill - invariably I get so run down trying to make it all perfect I have a stinking, snotty cold for Christmas.
It was so good that we're doing the same again this year - having said we would do it alternate years due to the cost!!! Roll on December 21st 😄

I'm struggling too.
Tree is up. Kids helped decorate. They've chosen some new bits at the shops and done up their rooms (just tinsel really but they enjoyed it).
I have bought some food.
A few gifts (but not nearly as many as last year for kids).
But I am struggling to get into the groove of it.

And, my two break up tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shrieks in panic stricken way.

Tree was up yesterday still no Christmas cheer here I am struggling with pain ATM and everything is such an effort so Christmas is just another effort but I'll cheer up and get stuck into it I hate feeling miserable about Christmas I wish I was a smiley excited person. This thread is the perfect place to moan though

Wow, December gets longer every year and the pointlessness of Xmas becomes more striking!!
The dreich here today too....ugh.

I thought I was coping much better than usual, even went to the work Christmas meal the other night and enjoyed it. Then had a mild panic attack on the way to work this morning...... Lovely.

I have a very difficult relationship with my family, as does DP with his, and Christmas is our absolute worst time of year. I'm fucking well sick of talking about it already. And I'm resenting having to spend another Christmas day at his parents, listening to moaning and martyrdom from his mother and trying to delicately balance alcohol consumption so that I am nicely anaesthetised but don't have a pounding head the next day. Seriously cannot wait for January and the return of normal life

I too try the alcohol balance at my mums she is so stressy she hardly sits down wont accept help i try and not get too pissed cos its me that suffers next day

Lotta it gets longer and longer doesn't it?
Happily this year I will be home on Boxing Day.

I'm working and have a tonne of outside work commitments, so am unable to go "down home" while some family members are home before Christmas (they must go back to their home midweek next week), so I am getting reports from afar. I think I am happy to have been overcommitted - I am not dealing with stressheads of all sorts, who is hosting and who is passively aggressively taking the "hostess" chair in another persons house, who is having dietary issues, who is sick, a mouse infestation, 101 other reasons for grumps....

I will also be minimizing alcohol intake - there is always some drama on Christmas night - ALWAYS!! And I do NOT want to be part of that.

But I bought DH and DD magazines to keep them occupied in the cottage this morning (DH and I will share his), and I will get a good book for myself as well. I intend to have at least 1 full morning or afternoon to myself just curled up watching the sea in between turning pages and not minding anyone else!

Drama on xmas night?
I am hoping we can all chat on this thread on the day, mum has to sleep a lot. I'm hoping for decent weather so I can clear her garden but no other tasks and I think I'll let dad hog the tv as he's not got much chance to relax looking after her.

I'm not feeling it either and I'm sad because I want to. I used to really love it but now it is up to me to make it happen, I can't summon up any Christmas feeling.
I would like to be home with just dh and the kids but I have been hijacked by my mother so am now cooking for parents and siblings as well. I love them and want to see them but my house isn't big enough and cooking makes me stressed.
None of this is helped by worrying about money and feeling sad for my sis, whose dp picked last week to break their engagement.

I know I won't be able to chat, sorry Lorelei, as we have to go between 2 houses and it is a full-on day until midnight or later. (And I probably won't have internet in the depths of rurallness where we will be either). Sorry.

We ski every Christmas. It's lovely. Leave all the mayhem behind on 23rd and disappear until school starts in January. Kids get simple small stocking away, Dh and I no cooking for ages, and loads of mulled wine. some years family join us, some years not.

Really struggling this year too.
My dad died in April and my mum died 6 weeks ago.
This is normally my favourite time of year - and my children call me "Crazy Christmas Mummy". But this year, nothing. I'm struggling to muster up even an ounce of 'Christmassiness'.
We haven't even put our tree up yet. I haven't written a single card. Or wrapped any presents.
If truth be told, I'm dreading the whole thing.

Feel for you Jess xx

I'd go away if I had the cash but its ruinously expensive.