Know it is late but.....the gratitude thread

[Relativelydifficult]

My DD (24] was so thrilled with her completely unexpected present. Nothing huge but I'd paid attention in the past three months and therefore hit 'her' jackpot.
She was so shocked and so pleased. I cannot tell you how happy I am.
I love the giving vibe.

My first time buying for DD’s boyfriend. She went to his family for the night last night.

Everyone was “enthralled”. She “should have filmed their excitement”.

Made my day.

My kids were so grateful for everything they got and it’s made me so happy & in turn grateful for firstly, as a single parent having a career and income that allows for fun Christmases and secondly having kids who appreciate it ❤️

I am also hugely gratified by the reactions of my kids to their presents today. It seems even the fluffy socks were a hit!

I'm grateful I've finally managed to extricate myself sufficiently from a toxic family to enjoy Christmas. Interestingly this has resulted in them well and truly showing their true colours and me realising how very little they care about me. This has given me the confidence to step back from them all even further next year and know I'm doing the right thing. I've been treated like shit but strangely I feel blessed, it's released me from any sense of obligation in the future.

My mum used not to be able to buy more than a generic gift card.

This year she bought 2 of the 3 perfumes I suggested and chose chocolate she remembered DH and i liked. I know buying off a list might not sound incredible, but I couldn't be more chuffed that she did it.

DD(4) loved everything she was given, and, though she clearly has a favourite gift, took time to examine and play with each toy.

She took it upon herself to ask people of they would like food or drink, and then curled up for big cuddles in the evening (virtually unknown as she is a bit of a livewire).

DH was wonderful as ever. Cooked the best Xmas dinner I have had, and he and DD got me some lovely gifts.

Everyone had a great day, the food was good, the presents were good, we had some fun and all in all it went really well. That was a good Christmas!

Spent Christmas eve and day with adult kids. Went out for a prebooked Christmas dinner and it was agreed no gifts for adults so very low key and low effort. We just spent the day talking, playing silly games and laughing, laughing, laughing. I don't have lots materially, but I feel so blessed and fortunate.

Watching my two girls playing together with a Barbie dream house rather than being on YouTube kids or their iPads. And not squabbling, just playing together. Am grateful that my husband and I have jobs that enable us to afford such a gift

We didn’t get dressed, ate leftovers, played games and it was an excellent day. Even 17 years old DC commented it was a lovely Xmas and he can be grumpy.

The older DC are 20 and nearly 18. These cozy Christmases when we’re all home just the 5 of us are limited. I am grateful for this moment.

We had the best Christmas we’ve ever had and I’m so grateful. DS(14) bought DH and I amazing gifts with his own money from his weekend job and was so exited to give them to us, he made us open our presents before he had his. A few days before Christmas he said, “I know why you say that giving presents is better than getting them now.” He’s so lovely 🥰. DS was blown away by his presents and thanked us so many times. He declared it the best Christmas ever by 10am.

DS loves to cook and does all of the cooking in our house so he made us breakfast and Christmas dinner all by himself and dinner was honestly the best Christmas dinner we’ve ever had. He did have a bit of a fail with breakfast as he burned the bacon because he was distracted by the cooking blowtorch he got just to show he’s not perfect 😂.

The weather was nice enough for a lovely dog walk then I got to chill while DS and DH built DS’s gaming chair. DH usually hates Christmas (think this stems back to his childhood although he’s never talked about it) but he was in great spirits and it was lovely to listen in on them working together and not getting stressed about it or DH taking over.

We had a family game of Monopoly after dinner as my parents bought us our local edition and had a lovely time as we don’t play board games together very often then we got asked to go to friend’s for the evening. I have to admit I had a little sulk as I was already in my pjs by then and all comfy and chilled but it turned out to be really fun and we played charades, roulette and cards. DS was on excellent form while their DD of the same age sulked in her room so I was proud of him (as I always am).

It was literally the perfect day; happy DS, happy DH, happy dog and happy me 🥰.

My thoughtful DDs who are aged 11 and 15 bought me lovely small gifts that they knew I would really like. Actually in the bath now about to use the beautiful lavender soap DD2 gave me.

They were grateful for their gifts too - again, nothing expensive (we don’t have much money) but they liked what they got.

I cooked the dinner and didn’t feel stressed out about any of it. Hugely grateful to DD1 who helped me with it. Also grateful that, meagre as our income is, we could afford such a sumptuous meal and include some guests too.

DP was amazing chatting to our 3 guests and keeping them happy - they are all vulnerable adult relatives (2 of mine, 1 of his) who appreciated being part of our day. DP I know would prefer a quieter day but stepped up to the plate marvellously.

Thanks for the thread OP. I just posted on a different one about not liking Christmas and listed all the things I don’t like about it. I needed this opportunity for positivity and gratitude!

Oh what lovely posts! I wish we had a "like" button!
Happy New Year everyone, when it comes

Lovely thread!
My husband cooked a wonderful dinner…we had 2 friends here … so smaller than usual no. Very relaxing!