Anyone just not feeling Xmas this year?

[MutedUser]

I just don’t know what’s wrong with me this year. Im usually Mrs Xmas . But something just isn’t clicking this year. I don’t want to shop . I don’t want to think about it. I’m usually all done by now . I normally have lists of lists with timings and food I need etc. I’m actually thinking of leaving it all to December . The kids don’t really need anything . I can’t be bothered to buy them stuff that they don’t really want so they have piles of stuff that I will then spend the rest of the year decluttering. Has anyone else felt like this and managed to get out of this funk before the big day. It just seems like spend , spend spend and I don’t want to buy things that get used once .

It is too early for me although have started to buy gifts.

Haven't really enjoyed Xmas since had dcs and they reached the age where they understand the concept tbh, which is ironic I realise, as that's what it's actually all about. I find the whole business stressfull, shopping for 3 lots of presents for 3 different ages, knowing none of them actually need anything and it will mostly inevitably end up in the tat pile with all the previous years tat. It's expensive, tiring, and as the only one to have to source and purchase presents I feel under a lot of pressure. That's not to mention thinking about other family members presents, and then hosting a dinner for all the family, which adds to said pressure. I'm always glad once it's over. My dcs don't know I hate it however, I plaster on a happy smile and plod on. I never start anything until December either.

I love Christmas as much as the next person, but you’re not meant to ‘feel it’ in November, are you?!

I go through peaks and troughs of feeling it!

Most of my 'meh-ness' has been caused by Brexit uncertainty and stress though.

@SoyDora, our two are 5 and 6 and we aren't that busy. But they only do swimming (consecutive nights), no rainbows / dancing / gymnastics etc, and their school is refreshingly party-lite. Plus most stuff arranged by school takes place in school hours.

I do loads of planning / buying during my commute (i.e. now!) so fit it in during my 'work' time.

The kids are really excited already though, so I'll get there!

That’s where I’m going wrong, we have rainbows/dancing/gymnastics and swimming! Also have a 9 month old so it means any ‘free’ time isn’t particularly free. I feel harassed at the moment anyway .
DD1’s birthday is next week so along with planning for that we don’t really think about Christmas until December here. We also have 3 family birthdays in December and baby DS’s is beginning of Jan.

We a) can't afford that many things and b) decided not to tie ourselves in knots even trying to do it!

Luckily we have summer borns! Just me (yesterday), DH (23.12), my sister (19.12) with birthdays around the planning time!

My parents are dead so we now spend Xmas with PIL, SIL and family. They're very nice but don't do 'fun' or get Xmas extravagance, despite PIL being extremely well off. MIL sat drinking warm water last year and SIL warm Vimto. Their contribution to Xmas lunch (we hosted) was two £1 cheesecakes from Morrisons and six mince pies for ten people, the remainder of which FIL took home. Our Xmas gifts came from B&M bargains and included a plastic serving bowl and six bags of Cheddars. DH got an oversized t-shirt with a santa face on it. We're coming home early this year and going away for New Year to Seville, looking far more forward to that. My family did Xmas properly, I miss it.

I like to get everything organised in November, and then sail through December with no stress just enjoying all the events with nothing to think about.

So OP, maybe just think of it as the slog you need to get through in order to get to the fun bits?

To all the people who don't even think about it until Dec, well that's nice for you. If I left it til then everyone would be getting presents from the nearest 24 hour supermarket.

December is so packed with parties, visiting family, work nights out, school concerts, etc, etc. It's nice to have everything bought/booked and not be stressing about where to find a specific rare playmobil set.

Hi. With two older teens l miss the 'magic' of Christmas.
This year we've decided to not to celebrate the 25th specifically (we're not religious), but still do all the things we enjoy over a couple of weeks.
I'm looking forward to putting up my feet on Christmas Day, watching all the good tv and just eating cheese on toast.
We're having the family roast on the 22nd instead.
Maybe time for you to make some new traditions, or adapt the old ones to suit you?