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Christmas

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Original poster

What will you do differently next year?

187 replies

NotEnoughTime · 25/12/2022 17:29

As thread title.

For me personally I will NOT be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve/early hours of Christmas morning I say this every year

Tree will be put up BEFORE Christmas Eve day 🌲

OP posts:
DifferentYearSameShit · 25/12/2022 22:02

I'll not buy Xmas food until day before Xmas Eve - me and child have waded our way through everything this past 9 days. Scrumming but I'd love a cracker and cheese but they're all gone and I refuse to buy more

Stressfordays · 25/12/2022 22:21

I'm not working next year (I hope!) I want a full day at home with my dc and actually get to eat a Christmas dinner. This is the 3rd year I've gone without one due to working.

What I will do again next year though is start presents in sept and book the first week of Dec off again and have all presents done and wrapped by the end of it. Its been a pretty stress free Christmas overall!

userxx · 25/12/2022 22:24

SallySunrise · 25/12/2022 20:22

I'm in the process of splitting with ex(ish)dp. We're still living together, it's been mostly okayish but today was shit. Really really shit.

Next year I don't have to try and pretend everything is ok for the children. I don't have to arrange the day and his sodding family.

Next year I won't be cooking a roast, i won't even be buying and prepping stuff for someone else to cook. A selection of throw in the oven buffet food, I'd much rather spend the time with the children.

That sounds tough, you've made it through, it's almost over. Roll on next year and freedom!

WearyElf · 25/12/2022 22:27

We will have Christmas at home . We are away for the first time ever this year and I am missing being at home.

neverendinglauaundry · 25/12/2022 22:30

I will not go out drinking on Christmas Eve.
I will order any presents from Etsy by mid November at the very latest

whenthedreamhappens · 25/12/2022 22:32

Not be eating a stater! A main and dessert is more than enough, plus all my nieces/nephews are seriously picky eaters so nothing actually got eaten. Next year it's 2 courses !

Yea · 25/12/2022 22:40

I know a lot of people will be aghast at this, but I really cannot be arsed with cooking up turkey and all the trimmings. I’m going to really simplify next year and they can lump it. It never comes out how I want it anyway and takes far too long.

PickleASturgeon · 25/12/2022 22:41

I'm not having turkey again.

SilverLilacLilac · 25/12/2022 22:43

Wheelyweddingwipedout · 25/12/2022 18:02

I will be on a cruise from 21st December to 4th January (booked it online today)

Great idea, which sounds lovely, have a great time next year. 😊

I’d have to be land based, but would love to be in a position to do something similar.

SilverLilacLilac · 25/12/2022 22:43

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 18:16

Probably not visit the cemetery next year, but only six months since both my parents died in a car crash.

Terribly sorry for you loss . Xxx

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/12/2022 22:47

I’ll either be with DB and his family at the other end of the country, hopefully DM and stepdad will go too or I’ll go by myself with DB.

Or I’ll book a holiday abroad. Nice spa break in Koh Samui for a week or so should do me!

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 25/12/2022 22:50

Yea · 25/12/2022 22:40

I know a lot of people will be aghast at this, but I really cannot be arsed with cooking up turkey and all the trimmings. I’m going to really simplify next year and they can lump it. It never comes out how I want it anyway and takes far too long.

Top tip get a Turkey crown or do it yourself with bacon on the top. DB did it a week ago for a pre Christmas dinner and the bacon made all the difference.

Also don’t buy cranberry jelly yourself, make it, very easy and DB did it and make or buy pre prepared bread sauce.

For once Christmas dinner was delicious as opposed to a dry turkey.

Stripedbag101 · 25/12/2022 23:02

I will not be cooking a meal for seven people alone while everyone else watches tv!

Lndnmummy · 25/12/2022 23:02

I have been really sick but in the end was wonderful. It meant I just physically couldn't stress over all the things I normally stress over. It was just the 4 of us. Our dinner was mainly cook and M&S semi ready stuff. Lamb shanks, roast potatoes, sides and veg. Easy fuss free. We were all in comfy clothes. Kids opened presents and played with them, dh put our food in the oven, tended to it, made veg while I was on the aofa under a blanket. Had dinner, then afternoon dh played FIFA with ds 1 (who was so happy his dad played with him) and ds 2 and I were building lego. It was bliss. Just no pressure, calm and bliss. The food tasted beautiful (why have I have been slaving all these years). Dh and I agreed no presents, he got me a book that I had eyed up and I gave him something he wanted. Low lights and candles on all day. It was just so very peaceful.

QueenOfHiraeth · 25/12/2022 23:06

Next year I am not giving DH a list of gift suggestions. I got a few things of the list, nothing thoughtful, nothing that required any thought.

He bought the things off my list that had links with them so about an hours online shopping at most, despite not working at present, whereas I, despite working, bought for him, DCs, their partners and the grandbabies.
Next year will be different...

ColdinNovember · 25/12/2022 23:11

I’d like to stay home with my kids. I worry it would be boring compared to their busy day with ex and his extended family. My family relationships feel more complicated and probably not much fun for kids anyway we were together..

Benjispruce4 · 25/12/2022 23:13

I’ll not be inviting MIL.

Tadpoll · 25/12/2022 23:14

Isleoftights · 25/12/2022 18:32

Not bring the neighbours bins in. There's two of them + two teenage kids; and one of me. And yet again, the couldn't be arsed to pop a Christmas card in my letter box.

Why do you bring their bins in? Confused

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 25/12/2022 23:16

I'll buy everything AND wrap it all up in good time not at the last minute

I'll buy more Pre-prepared stuff rather than peeling carrots and potatoes as I spent a lot of time in the kitchen

I'll set my table the night before

And invest in a Christmas t-shirt (not a jumper!!) as I was boiling 🥵 in the kitchen getting everything ready

allboysherebutme · 25/12/2022 23:18

I will buy all foil roasting trays to throw away. X

mamaduckbone · 25/12/2022 23:30

I will NOT drink Prosecco and sloe gin cocktails on December 22nd and ruin the first day off with Dh with a stinking hangover.

Ahnobother · 25/12/2022 23:30

I will not be getting food poisoning on Christmas Eve and spending the whole day not knowing what was going to happen next.

Doing Christmas dinner here tomorrow now, looking forward to it and feeling massively guilty at having not been able to go downstairs with the kids this morning to open their presents

beastlyslumber · 25/12/2022 23:39

Spend it on my own. Everyone has been pretty chilled and lovely, but it still feels like such a stressful time and I can't cope with this much socialising, food, preparation, cleaning etc etc. Next year I might book myself into nice hotel and just eat chocolate, have a couple of baths, go for a walk, and read my book.

Rosieandtwinkle · 25/12/2022 23:57

We did the hot and sunny this year….binned the whole of Christmas off, came abroad, bloody loving it! None of us are missing the tree,
decorations, presents, faff and stressful family dynamics. Can highly recommend it and will be booking next year as soon as we’re back in Jan!

Flux1 · 26/12/2022 00:00

Probably won't do anything differently next year, despite finding today hard going and feeling generally unappreciated. It is what it is. Feel disappointed as I spent so long preparing for it and trying to make everyone happy.