What are you most looking forward to or dreading about the Christmas period

[DogMamma]

As the title says, What are you most looking forward to or dreading about the Christmas period?

For me i'm most looking forward to the run up and preparations, wrapping gifts, delivering them to friends and family, decorating the tree, baking, and then spending some quality time with DH DSS and my dogs, (i do all my visiting boxing day)

I'm most dreading not having DSS here in the morning its his mums turn to have him on Xmas eve so won't arrive until 2pm, oh and definitely washing the dishes .......so many dishes, even as a team effort it takes forever!

The stress of the food shopping. Staying up til midnight to get my desired Tesco delivery slot, running out when it arrives on 23rd for all the things they've missed off, nipping to Waitrose and Sainsbury's for the stuff we like better from there, going to Marks for the really special stuff. I know I could avoid it by being less picky about favourite foods, as DP wouldn't mind, but that would create a different kind of stress!

Most looking forward to: chance to recharge my batteries (work is intense at the moment)

Most dreading: having to pretend I'm really pleased to be visiting the in-laws

I love all the prep and Christmas baking, I love wrapping presents.
Not looking forward to the shops being busy - I’m a real grouch about having to queue up and other people wanting to shop at the same time as me!

Dread / people moaning about Christmas and having no real problem but still moan

Look forward/ to having a few days off this Christmas & enjoying family time

Look forward for no work and school for 2 weeks although I will be on call. Decorate xmas tree and put up some lights.

Not look forward to shop for presents and xmas food, family gathering.

Looking forward to seeing everyone

Not looking forward to spending 4 nights sharing a room with the three year old and 8 month old!

There's a lot I'm looking forward to. I love decorating the house for Christmas. We always host a party on Christmas Eve and I'm excited to try out some new recipes. We plan to take the kids to a carol concert, which I'm really looking forward to. I can't wait for DD's pre-school Christmas production. I love seeing her face when she knows Santa's been, and we'll be celebrating DS's first Christmas this year too.

What I'm not looking forward to- it's so petty, but DP's work Christmas party. He works for a huge, very well known company and their do's are phenomenal. So much fun, but I still have a post-baby tummy and I'm already panicking trying to put together a nice outfit that I'll feel comfortable in but also look nice in. It's so stressful and almost unfair that all he has to do is throw on a suit

Not sure about this Christmas. I'm dreading being with loads of people, we have lots staying this year. no escape and parties. (I have autism and I need alone periods, which my family just don't understand.)

However we have some children coming so will be nice seeing them opening presents.

Looking forward to all the buildup, not looking forward to DH’s grumpy scrooginess!

Not looking forward to- hosting the IL's and having to serve warm vimto on Xmas day ffs.

Looking forward to two weeks off work and going to Copenhagen for New Year.

Looking forward to -
Kids being off school and DP being off work
DD2s first Christmas
DS2 is 3 and this is the first year he’s really got it, he already gets so excited when he spots Xmas decorations in shops and restaurants, so I’m so excited to see it all through his eyes this year
The day after Boxing Day - this is our annual do nothing day, we lay in bed watching Xmas films, play with our new toys, eat too much chocolate and get a takeaway for dinner, all the stress of everything is over, everyone’s knackered and ready for some down time and it’s always a lovely peaceful day where I feel very content - it’s my favourite day of the Xmas period
Mince pies! I bloody love mince pies but refuse to eat one until after the tree is up

Not looking forward to -
The kids not having as much as usual because we’re skint, I so hope they’re not disappointed Xmas morning 😔
Cooking! We hosted last year but haven’t been invited anywhere this year (whole other thread!) so we’ve got to bloody cook Xmas dinner - again!
DS1s annual Xmas breakdown (he has sensory processing disorder and usually by about 5/6pm on Boxing Day it’s all just too much and he has a little meltdown- I’m better equipped this year though after finally getting him some therapy and spending a fortune on tools to help him so I’m just praying that means it won’t happen this year 🤞🏼)

I bloody love Xmas though 😁🎄

I should have said what I am looking forward to, too. But basically that's every other aspect of Christmas. The presents, the peace, the time off from work, my DS's face when he sees his presents, cooking and eating the food, decorating, Christmas songs on the radio, everything!

Looking forward to... having DC3 (due at Christmas)
Dreading... having a newborn 😂

Looking forward to having my mum here and not working for a while

Not looking forward to January!

I’m looking forward to our Village Christmas light switch on, decorating the house for Christmas, having 12 days off work (it’s a first for me I’ve always had to work some days in between Christmas and New Year), and spending time with family

I’m not looking forward to my husband working (waiting on his call out shifts), trying to stay on track with our finances (101 things have kept pushing us back this year meaning the £500 I would have saved for Christmas is none existent this year)

Looking forward to not thinking about it before 24th December.

Looking forward to not thinking about it after 26th December.

Not looking forward to being 58 on 25th December.

Most looking forward to our first Christmas in our own home as a four. Youngest is nearly 3 and her other Christmases were at relative's houses.

Least looking forward to, having the in-laws visit. Not just DH's parents, but his brother, brother's wife, and two kids. They are coming for four nights and will expect to be entertained the entire time. DH won't think about food for them until they are here and I refuse to take responsibility since he does fuck all when my family visits so that will probably be a major stress. FIL is a rude intolerant arsehole who has to be the centre of attention all the time. It's exhausting.

looking forward to extended christmas, going to see son, dil and dgs very early december, my dad sister bil & school friends on 15th . DD and family are coming over either boxing day or the day after. Also love the baking etc

dreading not having the grandchildren on christmas day. work and location don't want to play nicely

Not looking forward to spending it on my own this year.

Looking forward to 29th December when I will celebrate it with my DC.

I'm dreading it all this year. Dd1 is having an operation at the end of November with a 6-7 week recovery so I've no idea how that's going to affect Christmas. With all the time I'm going to be spending with her in hospital/recovering at home, it's just going to be a thrown together with no thought Xmas.

Most looking forward to spending time with family, and decorating the tree.
Least looking forward to crap on TV and trying to explain to an elderly relative with dementia what is going on as bright lights, decorations & dressing up cause a lot of distress (as does any talk of gifts or money).

To be honest I don’t really have strong feelings either way! I am 60 and honestly feel a bit jaded by it all now. We now keep festivities to the minimum, a nice Christmas Day at my brother’s & another visit to DH’s family & that’s about it. Presents only for under 18s (& that means cash), I actually work quite a lot over Christmas and really don’t mind.

Having my new kitchen vs my new kitchen not being finished. Eek!

A whole week off work. See my younger girl. Hibernation, wine, cheese, films, crochet and adorning the house with my Christmas tat.

Looking forward to buying & decorating the tree, chilling out with DH & DD on Christmas Eve & having a fab Christmas dinner here with DM & DF.
Dreading possibly having to work Boxing Day, although I worked it last year so may get Christmas Eve instead which I wouldn’t mind.