Do you feel festive or not?

[Rayi]

I don’t and it’s making me fed up! The shops are heaving at all times, and it feels like there is so much to do and so little time. I look forward to Christmas Day itself where hopefully we can just relax and do not a lot alongside loved ones.

I went to a large shopping centre today. It was busy (which makes a nice change) but it didn't feel particularly "week before Christmas". The shops and mall decorations were not that impressive. Stock levels in shops were low (and have been low for weeks - retailers just aren't selling a much Christmas stock as they used to). There was no music. No cheery people dressed as elves collecting for charity. It was mild so people were wearing t-shirts (and some in shorts 😂).
All a bit meh to be honest.

Yes. Went out with friends for lunch in London last weekend and then walked down Regents St to see the lights which I love there and then did a bit of shopping. This week, I've been to a lights display, had a work Christmas lunch, watched Love Actually, finished work for the year, the kids have broken up, we're having a party tonight (should stop MNing really!) and then have a few things in the diary with friends this week. Importantly all shopping is done (no wrapping mind you) so I can just relax.

Not at ALL. Solo parent to 2 teens with ASD. They are both overexcited kids & simultaneously 'not interested' teens. Whatever I do is wrong. This year, for 1st time ever, we are going away from 27-30th. It may be a disaster but it'll break it up as its just us for 14 days.

Not really not in a grinch way just in a tired way. Working up to Friday and this year is my first time back full time in a while which has been hard as no time to get bits done in the week.
I'm jelous of friends who don't work and can potter round feeling all prepared and relaxed.
I wonder where the feeling festive comes now at my age and with all the prep and hosting and planning.
I need to carve out some peace for myself.

Yes, as of today! Bought the tree this morning, and have just put it up and decorated it with the help of ds and dd (who arrived home from university today). Then we started our annual watching of the Box of Delights, which we always do after putting the tree up. I also went to listen to dh's band playing carols.

Not. Still got the usual list of far too much to do without any help and work all next week.

Not feeling festive at all and have bad mum guilt as it's DD first Christmas 🎄 absolutely exhausted and just want to sleep 😴

Not really, but some years I do and some years I don't. However, I'm learning to go with the flow. Last year I literally broke down later on Christmas Day. I felt like I'd tried so damn hard for everything to be perfect, and nothing actually went wrong, apart from I didn't feel festive at all. I was cross with myself I think. Yet I always love Boxing Day. That's my favourite day now out of all of them. This year I'm not pushing myself. If I feel like a Xmas film, I'll watch one. If I feel like a horror or action film, I'll watch one of them. Taking it Day by day.

No, not at all.
Am unwell with a chesty cough etc. which DC has had for 2 weeks so not done many festive things but have a couple coming up next week.
I work term time so don't finish until kids do on 22nd, which feels late and hasn't given me much time to finish shopping, wrapping etc.
Plus we host every year which I don't particularly enjoy - roll on boxing day 🤣

No 😩 I really want to feel festive but it just doesn’t feel like Christmas at all ☹️ We went to a Christmas afternoon tea with Santa at a play area today and last weekend we went to 2 toddler class Christmas specials. We also went to a toddler Christmas craft play session last week and we went on a day out to a kids theme park with a Santa visit but whilst it’s all been nice to do with ds it hasn’t helped me feel festive 😩 I think part of it is that Christmas stuff has been out since September and ds is 2 and doesn’t get what Christmas/Santa is yet 🤔 We have another toddler class Christmas special tomorrow, another day out on Monday and a children’s centre Christmas party and a toddler class Christmas party next week so hopefully the Christmassy feelings will come 🤞 All what really matters is that ds has a good time doing all the things we’re doing though 🥰

I have only got 6 more presents to wrap and 4 more cards to wrap so at least there’s that 😂 I think I’m going to try to watch more Christmas movies and do more Christmas crafts with ds!!

We have the extended family staying with us for a few days and I'm starting to think that less is more. Cutting back on elaborate meals and trying to prep for what we need without going OTT. I have a couple of days of leave to use up and I don't intend to spend it running myself into the ground in pursuit of the perfect Christmas.
The final day at work before Christmas is usually an early finish and I treat myself to a coffee and wander through the town centre, lights, music etc. I think I just need to enjoy some time alone to light the festive spark.

@Rayi , I believe Christmas (and UCL of life ) is horribly commercialised.
We exchange small, thoughtful gifts of little monetary value between adults. Children are given nice gifts according to what we can afford. For us Christmas is (non religious) about brining together of family and enjoying love and fun. That doesn’t have to be expensive. X

Not really. And normally I love Christmas. I feel I'm just going through the motions, due to a combination of heartbreaking bereavement this year, exhausted by a new job and DC being older so less festive fun in the run up, I'm hoping I get my mojo this week though.

Of course not. I’m 52. I like the lights and I like buying gifts that I know my loved ones will like. Not sure what you mean by festive when you’re an adult, what are you expecting to feel?