What have you learnt from this Xmas that you'll take forward to next Xmas?

[Trudee]

I'm in bed on my phone unusually early for Christmas Day as I have learnt that staying with family for the festive period is not for me. As such I shall not be repeating the experience.
On the plus side I have learnt that having to cut down on dc's gift due to having to fit them in the car has been a great success and I will stick to a reduced amount in the future. I was concerned by the size of the pile lastnight but dc's really didn't care.
What will you all be taking forward from this year?

[shazza99]

Buy massive foil trays for everything that goes in the oven - a tip from MN.

Why didn't I know this before? No washing up of tins - they get chucked away.

[Ifailed]

Christmas dinner is a dish best served cold.

On boxing day.

[ICJump]

So very close to not having Christmas st mums. It's pretty here and a great location but I think my mum and aunt my both by narcissists. It makes for a tense time.

[MothershipG]

Goose breasts!

Goose breasts are a revelation! I love goose, so much nicer than dull as dishwater turkey, but it is a bit of a faff cooking a whole one. This year my Mum got goose breasts and they were fab, delicious and easy and quick to cook.

[sansoucitherednosedcariboo]

That spending Christmas alone might not be so bad.

[Rosa]

To do my own stocking as thanks to the post and a totally crap dh ( I never had time.... Yes you did but you don't think). I had 1 gift. We have dds that the santa /FC is still real... Last minute re wrap ...dh card did say thank you for all that you do... Also do a british corner shop order next time we are at home as there were too many elements missing!!!

[FreeButtonBee]

Buying all gifts for the kids in November meant that December was actually really enjoyable.

Jamie's gravy (minus the star anise) was excellent

I missed the plain breadcrumb stuffing (not sure anyone else did)

I need to work on my turkey carving skills. The leg meat was definitely hacked rather than carved!

The roasties needed to be at the top of the oven. Not sure what went wrong g with them. They were not as good as normal. I think perhaps not par boiling the root veg. And adding a splash of water to them meant the oven was too damp for them.

[hazeyjane]

Don't rely on being able to get out of the house for the week before Christmas.

[CheckpointCharlie2]

That people are soooo much more important than anything else.
Little dd was in hospital with pneumonia right up until Christmas Eve afternoon from the end of term and I couldn't have given less of a shit about Christmas to be honest, just wanting her to be alive was more my concern.

I think it's changed our perception massively, yes we will always do the whole Christmas thing but I'll never forget this year and how insignificant the actual day was itself.

I have also learnt that the nurses in our local hospital children's ward are just the loveliest people ever and I wish I could do something to make them understand how much we appreciated them.

So I've learnt tons this year!
Last thing I've learnt is that when I say to DH in the middle of the really bad bit when she was really fucking poorly that 'I will never be cross with her ever again' was a bit ambitious.......

[ivykaty44]

Going out cycling on Christmas day is amazing, no traffic to contend with so will be repeating this next year.

Hostess thingy is a godsend keeps vegetables hot for ages.

Peeling all vegetables, meat and Yorkshire's Xmas Eve - took me about 30 minutes, put all vegetables in saucepans in water ready. Then tipped water away on day and used boiling water from kettle then cooked and popped in hostess.

[Kr1stina]

I have learned

To spend Christmas Day with people I love and not those I feel obliged to be with

That my kids prefer loads of junk from Poundland /B&M store

[sansoucitherednosedcariboo]

I didn't mean it re spending Xmas alone. I would hate it. What would be wonderful would be to spend Christmas Day without the passive-agressive family members.

[minmooch]

That I still hate Christmas Day and the feelings that it brings. The sense of loss (my eldest DS died nearly three years ago, my mum died nearly two years ago). Trying to make it ok for my other DS and my Dad. Means I am feeling lost, lonely, desperately sad. It's a reminder of how family days should be and never will be.

My brother invited me to his family day. But I'm not able to do that yet.

Next year my DS will be at his dad's so I think I will go away somewhere hot. If I'm going to be lonely I might as well feel the warmth of the sun on me. It's a terrible day for me and Boxing Day is the day I cry as I hold it in on 25th.

Sorry - I know this was a light hearted thread - please lighten it up again after me.

[Imbroglio]

minmooch .

[Cagliostro]

Getting less toys definitely worked. DD actually said this is the most santa has ever spoiled us - but I know there was much LESS than previous years (both in cost and volume)

On a more trivial note I just try and find a smaller pot of bread sauce next year as it mostly got wasted since I'm the only one who eats it

[ZeViteVitchofCwismas]

no bloody goose or large birds - duck is fine,

[newmumwithquestions]

Another Jamie vote here. I learnt that his 'best Christmas turkey' recipie was amazing. Moist and tasty.

[ZeViteVitchofCwismas]

neither of mine ever see their stockings in their room, placed in dff places every year in the hope!

I have to get up -walk them in and physically show them

[sandgrown]

To not host for 10 people unless DP helps with shopping/prep and resists getting drunk Xmas Eve. Took himself back to bed Xmas morning leaving me to cook dinner and try and sort out seating and table setting( his job). My lovely 14 year old DS came to help when he saw I was getting stressed. DSS and wife arrived early to find me still not dressed ! They got stuck in and helped and DP finally appeared! We had a lovely day in the end but I won't forget .

[Spadequeen]

Don't use wrapping paper with glitter on it. Ever. Yes it looks pretty but it gets everywhere

[Wait4nothing]

Don't let grandma take dd out to church on Xmas eve (over an hour late home)
Repeat photo in pjs by the Xmas tree
Reduce presents (we didn't overspend but she got lots from other people)
Don't wrap clothes - pop in a gift bag - dd got sick of unwrapping
Stick to nap schedule - this was so great - she napped as usual and so was a nice baby (instead of the screaming mess she becomes when tired!)
Let others cook (my brother did an amazing breakfast and my dad dinner - was great - I was over the moon to just be washing up!)
Dress up - normally stay in pjs but felt good to get dressed and look nice

[HardLightHologram]

We've had our most successful Christmas ever. Just us and my lovely sister.

We did it all at our own pace, let the kids have all their presents first thing instead of making them wait until after lunch for tree presents.

Kebabs for dinner was an absolute revelation, I marinated the lamb on Christmas Eve which took about five minutes, and put it in the oven when I got up, ate it seven hours later. The rest was just assembling. It was the easiest (and tastiest) dinner we've ever had I reckon.

We didn't bother too much with keeping tidy (which we would have if we had parents or in laws round). We've blitzed the place this morning and it took hardly any time.

We did SingStar and watched Christmas telly and it was just fun and not stressful and nobody argued.

[annandale]

That having time off before Christmas is really nice and makes everything more relaxed.

Unfortunately - that spending too much money is really fun!

That my SIL, having refused to join in the 'no presents for adults' thing when we really needed to so that we had to keep on exchanging gifts on no cash, has now stopped bothering with presents for us or for ds. Should be pleased but I'm unreasonably cross.

[Flowerpower321]

Mine are now late primary/early secondary and I am deeply grateful that we never made a huge deal about Father Christmas- so many threads on here about Christmas being RUINED because someone hinted to a child that He might not be real. If Father Christmas was never the main focus then Christmas doesn't get any less special when (shock!) the kids realised the truth. Actually Christmas with older kids is lovely- they are happy to sleep til 8am or later, help with the cooking and it's all much more relaxed.

Also- bought Christmas cake and Christmas pudding are a lot less hassle and almost as nice as homemade. Disposable roasting tins are the way forward. M&s 'posh turkey gravy' in a tub is really nice and much easier than making it properly. Shortcuts are fine if they make life easier!