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Original poster

What age did you enjoy Christmas?

39 replies

lunaalice · 21/08/2023 14:01

As a child - Hated it. I'm autistic. My mum used to tell me to look happy when I was given a gift as you could tell by my face I didn't like it. Strangely I was often ill too. Looking back I was probably over whelmed.

Teen - 20's - Felt pressure to do something Christmas and NYE. Never wanted to see anyone. Usually spent time with my mum abs grandparents or siblings.

Mid 20 - Late 20's - Met now Husband.
Stressed as he is very social with a lot of friends and I never knew if and when I would see him. Spent every Christmas Day together with my family.

Late 20's-Late 30's - Trying to book events / trips for the kids. Seeing Santa / School party / school concert. Elf on the shelf / Christmas Eve boxes. Buying crap kids don't need.

Only now at 39 have things slightly calmed.

OP posts:
Theamofm · 21/08/2023 14:09

I'm in my 30s and I love it now. Seeing my daughter enjoying the build up and the actual day is everything!

Didn't like as a kid or teen, parents always argued.

When I left home I enjoyed the socialising part, love a good boogie to Mariah!

But now, this the best time for me.

HairsprayBabe · 21/08/2023 15:06

I am annoying and have always liked it Xmas Smile

As a child it was magic
As a teen it was nostalgia and enjoying time with family, plus some good opportunities for snogging boys at christmas discos and the like
In my 20s it was hosting parties, dinner parties, more time with family and some travel, home made hampers and poncetastic time
now in my 30s I get to make the magic for my children - although they haven't started school yet - I may change my mind

BadBadDecisions · 21/08/2023 15:19

In my late teens I loved it.

My mum would always buy us something good to wear out with our mates on Xmas eve, we'd have a late start (probably hungover), swap gifts, visit the grandparents, have Christmas dinner then get pissed all over again 😁

riotlady · 21/08/2023 16:53

I’ve always enjoyed it! I think the only dips were around 11/12 when I was too old for toys and Santa but too young to really appreciate the sentimental side of things or presents like makeup and bath stuff, and Christmas during lockdown.

I love putting up the trees (we do our one and then my sister and I go to my parents to do our family one!), I love watching my DD in the nativity, I love the food, I love church, I love presents. Best time of year!

Babdoc · 21/08/2023 17:08

Didn’t like it as a child. Parents abusive and unloving. I was left to open presents alone, then take them to my room, without disturbing parents. Father hated Christmas as it had been his mother’s birthday and he found it upsetting after she died.
Mother hated having to pretend to be happy all day, and was always relieved when it was over.
Sister made and iced a Christmas cake one year and father threw it in the dustbin, saying if he’d wanted one he would have bought it.
I only started enjoying Christmas after meeting DH and spending it with him instead. We had 16 lovely years together before he died, and then Christmas was awful again. Trying to make it nice for our baby and toddler when I was grieving, was exhausting.
Eventually, I managed to find some pleasure in it - the magical midnight service at church, carol singing round the village in frosty starlight, seeing the DDs open their presents, going to the pantomime etc. It’s very tiring now that I’m old and still hosting the adult DDs and their partners, but we have a nice time.

LadyMargaretDevereux · 21/08/2023 17:53

Between the ages of 7 and 14 it was blissful.

WhatNoRaisins · 21/08/2023 17:54

I've tried to find different things to enjoy about the season as I've got older. It was really magical as a child and now that I'm doing a lot more of the hard work I appreciate the nice music and little traditions.

SpamFrittersYouSay · 21/08/2023 17:57

27
The first Christmas that I spent with my in laws.
A breath of fresh air.
No more drunken parent or slanging match.

TheBeesKnee · 21/08/2023 18:00

I remember actively enjoying it when I was 7 - the twinkling lights, and I had a Christmas magazine with a cassette tape which I would listen to incessantly. There was a story about a black cat who was attacked by the mean alley cats but then a family took him in and saved Christmas.

I didn't really enjoy it as a teen-ager because my mum was into pomp and circumstance and I was body conscious and hated getting dressed up, especially with their friends around and my dad drank too much and so my parents were always arguing.

When I took control of my holidays in my 20s I started enjoying Christmas again as I spent it with people I liked and got to decorate my own tree etc.

CheetosCheerios · 21/08/2023 18:05

Loved it as a child - the lights, the build up at school, the magic of discovering stockings at the end of my bed etc - and still quite liked it in my teens (money instead of gifts and being allowed a few cheeky glasses of bubbles!).

Stopped enjoying it, other than time off work, and ann older teen until my kids were born. Loved it when they were little, but the ‘magic’ stopped about 4-5 years ago when they hit their teens. Now I just find it has the capacity to be expensive and a bit stressful. We try not to make too much fuss and just have nice food and a break from work/school.

Not religious, so it’s never had that meaning for me.

Hibernatalie · 21/08/2023 18:29

36

2weekstowait · 21/08/2023 18:36

I have always liked it. As a child until about 15/16 I loved the day itself. Then had a period when I mainly liked the partying. Then moved away so loved going home for Christmas. Then had kids so that was the best time for me, seeing them all excited and enjoying the build up. Probably now is the least exciting time for me, as kids pretty much grown up and the anticipation and excitement has gone somewhat. But it's still a nice day.

user1471554720 · 21/08/2023 19:00

Loved it as a child. As a teen, I found it boring as we lived out the country and I couldn't socialise/meet friends. Loved it again in my 29s as I had my own car, could go places and had time off work.

I didn't like it when dcs were small. I was already tired from working fulltime with dcs, and found the preparations, shopping, hosting hard work. On top of this, I would always have to go to work between Christmas and New Year, coming home to visitors on 28th Dec after working all day.

I am getting to like it again as we have no Santa, dcs are older and I have more energy. In my 50s, still working fulltime but work from home some days. Less hosting after Covid.

Rainbowx90 · 21/08/2023 19:02

Loved it when I was a child, still love it now as an adult.
The best time of the year!

Whatsthepoint1234 · 21/08/2023 19:05

Didn’t celebrate it until I met dh when I was in my 20s, 15 years later I have two dc (who now don’t wake me up at 3am to open pressies) and it’s the best it’s ever been.

Stompythedinosaur · 21/08/2023 19:54

I loved the idea of Christmas as a kid, although the reality was far from perfect due to my family dynamics.

I enjoyed it as a young adult with friends.

I bloody love it now as a middle aged woman, though admittedly there were years when the dc were young when it left like a slog. I love planning it, I love seeing my dc enjoy it.

Floralnomad · 21/08/2023 20:08

I’ve enjoyed them since I was about 12/13 , prior to that we always had to go to my nans and that was a bit dull .

Snugglemonkey · 21/08/2023 20:10

I fucking love it. It is my favourite time of year. I go overboard tbh, but I do nit care as it is totally worth it.

I was sad sometimes when I was younger as my parents were a bit rubbish at it. So I am full on and my children LOVE it.

Teethnope · 21/08/2023 20:23

I loved it as a child. I was the youngest from a large family. It was very lively and fun. Lots of gifts.

Changed as a teen it was just me and my dad my dad by then. It was still lovely though and me and my dad were very close.

I found it very hard from 2005 when my dad died. I was on my own with 2 children. I had no gift no acknowledgement of Xmas what so ever . Of course I was doing it for my children so they were happy . But for many years I felt so lonely and forgotten. It was around 2014/2015 when I met my then partner that I started to get Xmas gift and acknowledgement. It doest feel so bad now I'm starting to enjoy it more and it feels busy and normal. Some of my kids are adults now so it's different now .

Ragwort · 21/08/2023 20:41

I think I've always enjoyed Christmas... we had lovely Christmases when I was a child and then as a teenager and a young adult I occasionally worked in restaurants which was fun (& £££££s). As a young married woman I loved entertaining and hosting; as a family we always did different things - volunteered at Church, been away on holiday etc ... never had the 'routine' of my DPs one year/ILs the next ... however now in my mid 60s maybe I've just had too many Christmases ... it does get a bit 'samey' & I would genuinely love a Christmas on my own without having to worry about aged DPs or even my DH & DC Blush

RedVanYellowVan · 21/08/2023 21:01

I remember enjoying it as a small child, all the decorations etc. As a teen it was ok on the day but knowing we would invariably go to stay with boring friends from Boxing Day onwards overshadowed it.

Twenties meant the obligation of going "home" even if I didn't want to or if it was difficult with work and/or transport.

When the DC were small it was fun, they loved it even though it was always low key.

Now I have lost interest and do the bare minimum. Our DC will sometimes be around but they have partners and need to develop their own way of doing things. There is absolutely no pressure from me or DH to see us.

No religious beliefs, can't stand the consumerism, no desire to overeat. Don't drink alcohol. I would happily never do it again.

Original poster
lunaalice · 21/08/2023 22:06

I probably enjoyed it up until 8/9. We had lots of presents and always spent it with grandparents and aunt and uncle. I feel bad now as it wasn't awful. Just my personality I guess.

OP posts:
crossstitchingnana · 21/08/2023 22:13

I hate it. Just drudge and making it happen for everyone else. It's shit and has been for years.

I loved it when kids were small and when I was in late teens and 20s.

AliasGraceful · 21/08/2023 22:18

I enjoyed it as a child, like a pp it dimmed a bit at that awkward too-old-for-toys stage, but I decided a long time ago to take what I love and leave what I can of the rest. Now I love it.

snowballsinhell · 21/08/2023 22:23

I love Christmas

The only year it was dreadful was the one where my mum decided she was dying (she has form for this) and made us all cry repeatedly, even my father

She didn't have cancer, has never had cancer and it transpires that it was just an attention seeking ploy as dad had been working a lot in the run up

Anyhoo.. I love Christmas. I have 2 DC. The 9 year old doesn't believe in Santa but very much embraces the time, and the littlest doesn't have a notion - she's just turned 2

It's the only time of year I can fully turn off from my high pressures, full time job

We will get the annual Christmas photoshoot done, go to the extremely pricy Santa experience which is amazing and decorate the house

Mum, despite her weird tendencies, does a brilliant Christmas dinner - dad and I will kick back with 2 or 3 gins, and we'll be off to the in-laws on Boxing Day

Love, love, loveeee it