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Christmas

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Original poster

What will you do differently next year?

104 replies

MaitlandGirl · 26/12/2017 09:22

While the horrors of 2017 are still fresh, I’d there anything you’ll do differently next year?

We’ve already decided we’re having Christmas just the 5 of us. It’s time for BIL to take one for the team and have MIL (and FIL) for Christmas lunch. FIL is great but MIL is hard work.

The kids will all be over 18 next Christmas and I’m seriously considering giving them all cash + a stocking. It’s not easy finding ‘big’ presents for them anymore as they’ve got pretty much everything the want/need.

The big thing will be doing the entire Christmas food shop on Christmas Eve - I always buy far too much food and figure if I’ve got to restrict myself to what I can fit in a small trolley it’ll still be a great meal but I’ll save a fortune.

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 26/12/2017 09:40

I say it every year but I have to buy less food! There's only 3 of us and we seriously don't eat as much as we used to.

My trouble is I like choice but can't buy small quantities of it! I was born to cater for the masses!

Softpebbles · 26/12/2017 09:44

All of it! 😟

Queenofthedrivensnow · 26/12/2017 09:47

Co ordinate decorations, plan better food and make it more fun for the dc. I alternate xmas eve/xmas day to 2 and 2 on wards plus Boxing Day with exh. 2018 it's the second routine so I don't have to do the big food. It's the less pressure year so I have no excuses.
2017 was a bit half arsed I had a big breakup in June and I'm happy to admit I'm not the right headspace but 2018 we will be in a new house - I'm buying stuff way earlier and co ordinating the shiz out of everything Grin

DancesWithOtters · 26/12/2017 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sallycinnamum · 26/12/2017 09:49

Where to start!

Not book loads of activities and meet ups as we've all been ill at some point in December and had to cancel so much.

Not visit my SIL on xmas eve again as she said some pretty awful things this year about my family disguised as 'being concerned' which left me very tearful yesterday.

It's been a very calm xmas this year as both sets of grandparents are elsewhere but I've really struggled to get to find any xmas spirit.

HeffalumpsnWoozles · 26/12/2017 09:53

Another vote for not buying so much food, & definitely not to eat so much food as I was awake half the night with acid reflux & then when I did drop off woke up roasting hot & sweating which led to an anxiety attack (for no good reason?) I’m tired today so staying in PJ’s lounging on the sofa with my new book.

Barring that we had a lovely relaxing day Xmas Smile

jakesmommy · 26/12/2017 10:01

Buy throughout the year for my 4 children but limit the amount they all get, I have a 10 and 7 year old and 2 year old twins and although I didn't go too overboard the amount was still too much and my 2 year old son was overwhelmed, plus my 10 year old has said some pretty ungrateful things which has made me realise he doesn't appreciate what he got

Try to enjoy the build up to the day more, it can be quite hectic with two 2 year olds, hopefully next year they can join in the activities I wanted to do with them all

Dairymilkmuncher · 26/12/2017 10:09

Not promise so many relatives face time calls or at least have times planned, it was an added stress when the little ones were opening presents to hold them back and try and contact family members who weren't awake and didn't want to speak till I was elbow deep in Christmas bird and the kids were busy playing.

Not to hang washing up next to the kitchen where I'm cooking Christmas dinner, either going to wash them again or have our clothes smell like Christmas for a while Smile

Everything else I would want the exact same it was the best Christmas we've had yet so no complaints

Slartybartfast · 26/12/2017 10:09

sprouts with chestnuts.
delicious

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 26/12/2017 10:12

I need to find a way to save up for Xmas throughout the year. I love the idea of saving with Park but worried in case they collapse and I lose the money. I a method where I can't touch it until next Xmas. And buying gifts throughout the year would help too

BarbaraOcumbungles · 26/12/2017 10:14

I won’t have a turkey again. It’s alright, but every other type of meat is nicer/cheaper/easier to cook/takes up less space in the fridge/oven.

Next year I’m going back to fillet beef.

Cagliostro · 26/12/2017 10:14

Organise family and friend visits earlier. It really stressed me out. Granted I have a two month old so it was always going to be a bit up in the air this year.

I am going to put reminders in next year's diary to organise things like cards for club leaders etc as I always feel guilty for not doing it, making sure I have stuff like tissue paper for stockings, little things like that.

We should be in a bigger house next year though and that will make a huge difference as we will have more space to decorate, bake etc and have people over too.

Present wise we did about right I think but could spend less on the younger ones still. Finding DSCs really hard to buy for now as they are adults and buy what they want, again due to new baby brain fog I struggled more this year but I do need to plan theirs earlier I think.

Hopefully I will be less grumpy from sleep deprivation, I think that'll make everything better!

W0rriedMum · 26/12/2017 10:19

We’ve already decided we’re having Christmas just the 5 of us. It’s time for BIL to take one for the team and have MIL (and FIL) for Christmas lunch. FIL is great but MIL is hard work.
Be prepared that your BIL doesn't step up at all and makes alternative plans. That is what happens to us every year so we and up issuing a last minute invite. However this year we couldn't so in-laws were on their own which isn't right either. Shock

thiskittenbarks · 26/12/2017 10:26

Not going to my parents/ MILs and having Christmas just us.
It's so stressful packing up and getting here (3 hour journey) and we were greeted by no Christmas decorations (I was expected to put them up, despite arriving on Christmas Eve evening), microwaved veg (my mother is a very good cook and would never normally dream of doing this), the worst presents I've ever seen, and incredibly grumpy parents who didn't even want to pull crackers.
At MILs we had an array of tantrums from grown up BILs including shouting "for fucks sake" and slamming a door in front of my 1yo because there were no roast potatoes left. The BIL is 30.
Never. Again.

NoSwsForYou · 26/12/2017 10:31

Put my foot down and refuse to go to MILs for the third year running. DS is 1.5 and I was so desperate to host last year that I cried when she flat out refused and DP backed her up. I didn’t cry this year but it was just as stressful and I had just as miserable a time.

Timetobookaholiday · 26/12/2017 10:32

To go away for a whole week on my own, and let the ungrateful DS spend the whole time with his dad!

buttwingsham · 26/12/2017 10:32

I think I would pretty much repeat this year. We went out for lunch which was amazing. We didn't go to mass on Xmas morning so no big rush to be up and out. Everyone came back to our house after the dinner at about 5 so I only had the inlays for a few hours it was lovely.

AceyMcLaughlin · 26/12/2017 10:36

Work on my yorkie making they were a disaster 😂 also don’t forget the cauliflower haha. Other than that it was a fabulous chilled Christmas, no arguments no stress! DD (4) & DS said this was the best Christmas ever as mummy was at home and not at work, brought a tear to my eyes! Spreading presents through the whole day worked wonderfully and made the excitement last longer!

Jakadaal · 26/12/2017 10:51

Definitely buy less food. Invite my lovely PILs - I missed them this year. Try and reset my expectations of family time - teens just want to be in their rooms and dd can’t cope with board games Hmm

yummyeclair · 26/12/2017 11:01

Definitely to buy presents for DC & DGC through the year and write cards in August. Very stressful this year as had a major operation in December at short notice but just ran out of time as my DH got flu and had another family emergency . I will be buying in January sales!

youarenotkiddingme · 26/12/2017 11:07

Stop buying 'bits and bobs' of food throughout the December shop to 'spread the cost'

Ds and I now have all sweets we got for Xmas, lots of chocolates I bought that won't get eaten during the xmas period, a whole xmas pudding, sponge cake, time log ds made and Christmas cake - neither of us have much of a sweet tooth!

On top of this all the leftovers from hosting xmas eve.

LeonoraFlorence · 26/12/2017 11:08

Buy less. Both food and gifts for the girls. It's only when sitting everything out I realised how much we had bought Blush.

BillyAndTheSillies · 26/12/2017 11:10

Not go on holiday with my inlaws. It's been horrendous and ruined an already strained relationship. Tempted to go NC after this.

WipsGlitter · 26/12/2017 11:17

I think I got the food right for once. And didn't order too much. Will begin to reduce the presents for the kids a bit.

Good stockings this year - resisted tat and just got practical stuff.

C0untDucku1a · 26/12/2017 11:18

Nothing. As a family of four we stay home and only have grandparents onan flying visit. We walk to the pub for an hour at lunch to break up the day. Home And dh completes the christmas meal and then we eat and children play, watch strictly.

The stress of christmas seems to be extended family, so we dont see them Grin

Although im sat here trying to work out what my anxious cat has sprayed so i will get some feliway or whatever it is called Confused