I absolutely love Christmas. I was just out and about, saw some lovely decorations in a shop and nearly cried with joy.
However, I’ve been working on toning Christmas down for years and years. I’m nearly there.
I had “friends” who insisted on swapping presents for the DC at Christmas. I got Christmas cards off extended family who I wouldn’t know them if they crossed me in the street. I’ve got extended family members both sides who took the piss big time WRT expensive presents demands, hosting and never reciprocated. I’ve stopped it all. There was some major pushback, but I did it and am still “holding the line”.
I’ve just been informed that certain people aren’t coming to our house on Christmas Day this year. This is just an example of the piss take. I haven’t actually invited anyone for Christmas. [shrug].
That said, I love Christmas, but other peoples expectations of us ruin it for me. My DC just want to stay home. I buy for them, my DH, my parents, my nieces and nephews and a few other people who IMO are fabulous human beings and they deserve it.
This may be just an offloading rant but IABU to continue to “Hodor” (Games of Thrones throw in there) and not let other people suck the Christmas joy out of me?