I will be spending Christmas running around like a headless chicken and eating sandwiches on the side of the road. Great.

[WillyWonkster]

I’m dreading Christmas. My DH and I have 3 sets of ‘households’ to visit and so are having to carefully time our day.
All 3 sets of people are being bloody difficult, they have their own plans (which overlap) and they aren’t budging. 2 of them are renowned for being 2-3 hours late to things too, so I just know if we do come up with a plan it will be left in tatters. And I’ll then be called ‘uptight’.

When we suggest they move things forward or back 30 mins to give us more time to dash across the county we’re met with pursed lips and accusations that we ‘don’t care enough’ and ‘we’re being selfish’. Not going isn’t an option, the fall out would be huge.

Currently we won’t make it in time for Christmas lunch ‘at 3pm prompt’ at household 2 but will they move lunch half an hour, hell will they. So they are happy for us to leave household 1, grab a sandwich from a petrol station and sit in a forecourt for an hour or so before turning up ‘at a reasonable time’ to household 2 (I.e after they’ve eaten Christmas dinner). I should add we can’t have Christmas dinner at household 1 because we’re not bloody invited! They are literally kicking us out!
Just fuck off all of you!!!!!!!!!!
Rant over, needed to get that off my chest.

Why on earth are you doing this? Why are you jumping to everyone else's tune? If you don't want to do it then don't, but please stop playing the martyr.

@WillyWonkster

I just said that to DH, we’re doing a lateral flow test on Christmas Eve and I’m praying it’s positive!

Apparently orange juice is handy for ensuring a positive result, according to mums on the school whatsapp whose children were invested in getting time off school....

I’m sorry but this is just ridiculous and of course you don’t have to pander to it all.

By all means prioritise the terminally ill relative for Christmas Day. Then see the other two households other days.

No need to subject yourself to this.

NRTFT

I’d be inclined to only visit the TI person, LFT permitting. Tell everyone else your not going. Ignore any fall out, I know it sounds easier said than done, but once you start not caring about fall outs you will feel much better.

You've chosen to do this so I don't get why you're moaning about it. Either do it or don't.

Being a massive martyr here

Just don’t do it it’s literally as simple as that

If they're not catering then arrange to go see them on boxing day. Tell everyone you don't want to rush around on Xmas day.

You're adults. They're adults. They've made their plans. If it doesn't suit you to fall in with them, make your own plans. Just stay home, keep your sanity, and have a lovely day. As for the fallout, believe me, it gets easier every year .

@SnarkyBag

Don’t be such a mug OP. Another Christmas martyrdom thread 🤷‍♀️

Agree. Nonsense you aren’t a puppet

Just stay at home. See DHs family after christmas

These people are family, they are supposed to care about you. People who care about you don't guilt trip you into having a horrible stressful Christmas.

Tell them you can't do it all.

Keep only arrangements that involve significant catering. The others can reschedule to another day. If they make a fuss tell them that it is ruining your Christmas and making you feel stressed and they wouldn't want that if they cared.

You’re being a mug and then moaning about it. Just stay at home

I just said that to DH, we’re doing a lateral flow test on Christmas Eve and I’m praying it’s positive!

You know, watered down orange juice gives a positive result. Just for scientific interest, like 😉

As my sister says ‘you can’t complain that people are sucking the life out of you, if you keep handing them a straw’

Just say no.

Stop being a martyr then. You could at least make yourself something nice to eat on the trip instead of whingeing about petrol station sandwiches.

Or better still, tell the ungrateful gits to piss off and have a nice Christmas at home.

You (quite understandably) sound like you don't want to visit, and they're treating you pretty badly as well, so why bother?

Nope. Wouldn’t be doing any of it.

Never understand why people spend their Christmas day getting stressed like this ?

Why do people do this to themselves at Christmas? There is no way I would be entertaining this level of faff.

You've lost sight of yourself, OP. It is easier to tell them you've tested positive so I'd do that but ffs in future put your own family at least equal to other people.

Set an early alarm and go out to get all the Xmas food you need. Then send a message saying you've got sore throats and a temperature.

It's your Christmas, not just theirs.

Super spreader pub dinner crawl? Did you have to buy tickets?

Joining in with everyone to say stop being such a wet blanket and say to everyone you can't be in several places at the same time.

If you accept one invitation you then tell the others that "no, we have already been invited to x, so we will see you on Christmas Eve/Boxing Day".

Please grow a pair and stop behaving like a martyr. No-one likes a martyr.

@3luckystars

As my sister says ‘you can’t complain that people are sucking the life out of you, if you keep handing them a straw’

Just say no.

Oh my god this is the phrase of the day. I shall say this to my dearest friend who is the queen of all Christmas martyrs

And why exactly are you doing this? Just tell them you’re staying at home for Christmas Day and spread out seeing them over the other days. Better still, invite them you yours but be sure to chuck them out just before you eat 😉

You can’t equally be the ruin of their Xmas if you don’t go but on other hand not important enough to stay for lunch.

@WillyWonkster

I just said that to DH, we’re doing a lateral flow test on Christmas Eve and I’m praying it’s positive!

Even if it isn't, surely you can just tell a festive fib! And have a nice Christmas at home, then work on extracting yourself from this madness in time for next Christmas. It's absolute madness!