7 days to go, school is nearly done, stress is slowly decreasing..

[ittybittybigtiddies]

Is anyone else at that very sweet spot before Christmas where the Christmas stress is starting to fade.. mostly because it’s getting too late to sort out what I stress over.. and that’s ok.. we always make the best of what we have!

The kids are getting excited. They’re peak Christmas age now, nearly 6yo DD and 3.5 year old son. They’re asking everyday how many days left and I can’t lie.. I love to hear the countdown on Alexa too.

I’m really looking forward to our Christmas Eve Chinese dinner, and having the Christmas playlist blaring while I prep vegetables, watch the kids get sleepy as they watch a Christmas movie, take them to bed seeing how excited they are Father Christmas is coming.. then back downstairs to finish the wrapping, put out the present and chew up the carrot how I think a reindeer would..

then to see their faces lighting up asking to go see if Santa has been at a hideously early hour of the morning.. sneaking down and letting them walk into the living room to see their gifts and their sacks covered in glitter.

Just everything about seeing Christmas as an adult, through the kids magic tinted glasses just makes every stress and worry worth it 🤣🥂

I agree. Being a parent at Christmas is so magical. My daughter is 13 now so we haven’t got that level of excitement and I’m sad about it. Still excited to see her face but it’s not the same. Enjoy every moment

My kids are 20 and 22 and I feel the same! Even though I’m now the one who does all the work - my son did come home to help put up the tree, I decorated it, do the cards, order the food wrap the presents (I’m a widow so no partner). My DD is just home from uni and has volunteered to cook Christmas dinner!

Ah your kids are a lovely age for Christmas OP, such a magical time. Mine are all a bit older than yours now but the youngest is 11 so he’s still up a height and giddy with excitement. School’s out today. I’m full of cold unfortunately and don’t finish work until Tuesday but I am really looking forward to leaving work then and having a full 5 days off, having lovely food, hanging out with DC, having friends over on boxing day and as it’s just us this year for Christmas day, no stress or need to entertain anyone. Bliss.

This is lovely to read, hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I’ve had Christmas gatherings with wider family, book club, neighbours and longstanding ‘mum’ friends this week and it’s been lovely to shift into proper Christmas feelings and just enjoying meeting up with people instead of planning. As you say, pretty much anything that is t done now won’t get done, and nobody will mind! But the peak is that ds is coming home either today or tomorrow and even though he’s 21 I’m still looking forward to Christmas with him ❤️

Mine are now 19 and 12. Loved all the magic when they were younger but prefer it now 😄 It's so much more relaxing. Enjoy everyone 😊

My manic period is beginning! I’ve finished work, dc finish school today. Awaiting a load of deliveries of presents, still have bits to buy & need to do a big food shop (pre ordered the main bits). Have a few xmas events to look forward to as well.

I'm also at that stage but no santa magic anymore as youngest is 11. Still love watching them open their presents and all the rest though.

It's nice to relax with a cuppa and a mine pie knowing everything is wrapped and i only have the fresh bits of food to get. I hope you have a great Christmas with your little ones. Seeing their faces on Christmas morning will be lovely at those ages. I've still got an old video clip i look of ds at 3.5, opening his stocking. Seeing his little face in astonishment of what was in there always brings a smile to my face.

Yep. We finish work today, my first big shopping order arrives, everything is bought and I need to wrap but I actually like wrapping, upstairs with a glass of wine and some podcasts on!
I went for a walk with ds (he’s 10) last night to see some Christmas lights and he is just so excited and I can’t wait to be able to get really excited with him. It’s such a shame that what is a lovely cosy magic time becomes just this horrible stressful thing when actually what’s important is the little things. Hope you enjoy your break @ittybittybigtiddies - it’s so magical when they are little but it doesn’t have to stop when they grow up. I still think Christmas Eve is the best day of the year and my youngest is 10 and my oldest is 22.

Yes, had a tough time in the past few weeks with bereavement but kids finish school today at lunchtime, we have Lapland UK this weekend. Last present ordered this morning, 90% of the others wrapped so just a Christmas clean, food shopping and Christmas baking to do!

I'm with you, in many respects. Littlest DC is 5, and so excited. He keeps telling everyone it is Christmas already "but not Christmas Day". Eldest is at the age where she had questions, but still really wants to believe.

Littlest has asked for a remote controlled tractor, with an orange flashing light. I found an agricultural company, that sells scale models of all of the big tractors, I'm so excited to see his face!

The wrapping is done (I had 22 people to wrap for) all bar 2 things that I need DH to bugger off out of the house for.

The in laws are arriving tomorrow (thankfully staying at a cottage very close by), and whilst that is a bit of a bind, the children are always happy to see them.

Last day of school for me too, 6 lessons to get through. Hoping my.voice makes it!

I’m sorry for your loss. I lost a friend at the beginning of December so I can relate. Sometimes it feels weird to be in high spirits given the situation but I know that they would want to everyone to be happy.

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas! I love this age, but I won’t be too sad when it’s over as like some of you say, it’s likely more relaxing when they’re older.. and still lovely to watch them open presents and just be together as a family 🩷

Lovely to read, OP. It is truly magical when they are young. Mine are 15 and nearly 13 and it’s still lovely. The run up is the best! Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄

I always get a little less stressed once school has finished for a couple of days and neither of the children are ill!

Dd finished college yesterday. I'm planning a complete down day today. No jobs need doing, we can just be gentle.
Then tree and house can be decorated tomorrow.

It's a lovely age. I think we have our last year with a believer here. Youngest is 10 and I've caught the odd look from her this year that suggests she suspects the truth. She has clearly chosen to keep playing along though so we shall see.

We're trying to transition into a slightly more grown up Christmas, 13 year old is onboard but still loves playing along for her sister's sake. As much as I will miss all the Santa magic, I think I'm ready for a change.

I am really looking forward to schools breaking up today though, it's much more fun once they're home for the holidays.

My 11 year old broke up from school today, this is the first Christmas she has realised I buy and wrap the presents and also the first one in years when I have not had a calendar of school events now she is in secondary school. I have been organised with the shopping for gifts and food and have all gifts wrapped up. I have one event to attend myself tomorrow, a couple of shopping deliveries and then I can chill and enjoy the last few days before Christmas with both of my daughters - the older one is disabled and at a day centre until Christmas Eve.

I love your description of how you imaginatively chew the carrot!

Mine are 12,15 and very nearly 18 (birthday is just before Xmas). I’m working till Xmas eve but we are pretty organised and the DCs finished school/college today. Been a busy few weeks! DF has dementia and is not long out of hospital after a leg break so will be very glad to host and give DM a bit of a break.

This is when the stress starts. Work is done, school is done and now all the crazy shopping and cleaning begins. I didn't used to like the time between Christmas and new year but now 27th onward is always the relaxed part - guests have left, still the holidays. Hope everyone has a lovely time however you fo it.

Yes! Mother to a 10 yo true believer (this might be the last year!) and love it.
I was super stressed at the start of December but as the month has progressed and stuff has been done i have moved from stressed to excited.
School and work are now finished 🎉
Presents are more or less done.
Big food shop nailed yesterday so just pottering, Christmas movies and seeing friends and family ahead.

I am so excited! Husband has finished work now and we’ve got the Christmas shop in. There’s just a few more bits we are going to Waitrose for later after swimming.

then it’s just half a week of bliss before the fun really starts on Christmas Eve. I think I’m more excited than the kids about it all

Aw I love this post, so magical when they are little. Enjoy every moment of the chaos. Mine are all adults or teens now and it's really not the same. I do miss the Xmas magic so much with little kids.

There's benefits to them being older though, it's alot less stressful. No teacher presents to get, no month of madness with Xmas jumper days, pj's to school day, church, nativities, home lunches to get them ready for parties etc etc. Where you think how the heck am I going to do all this and work. No bloody elf, I don't miss him!

Tuesdays my last day of work. Husband and son are finished. Both my girls are working till Xmas eve. One till two and one till seven, then wel get our Xmas pj's on and have a buffet, board games round the table and a couple of proseccos. Wel be at my dad's Xmas day, so no big Xmas day food shop. It's our first Xmas without my inlaws who both died in the last year so might be sad. Hope everyone has a lovely Xmas.

Yes walking out of work yesterday had similar thoughts -
also have a 3.5 and this is the first year of excitement. Last year he couldn’t care less and wasn’t even interested in gifts lol.
ifs making me very excited.

im clear in my head what still needs done and looking forward to it rather than stressing - plus I have time to myself next week to do what needs done :)

Loving hearing what other are looking forward too!

Totally get that this is when the stress starts for some, my mum would be the same! I spend far too much of my time stressing as it is so I refuse to stress at Christmas. What will be, will be!