Need to rant? Come on over.

[DontlikeChristmas]

I’ll start. We’ve just opened presents. I couldn’t give a fig about presents for myself, but I think if you’re going to spend money on a gift for someone you’d may as well make sure it’s something they will like/use. DH has panic bought me a horrible tie dye jumper two sizes too big. I’ve never worn tie dye in my life. My mother has inexplicably bought me a truly awful outfit clearly meant for a teenager (I’m 50) in a colour I never wear, also in the wrong size. DH has also managed to buy DC a load of stuff they already have because he couldn’t be bothered to check. I feel so deflated by this & think it’s all such a massive waste of money (we probably could have gone out for dinner with the cost of the presents no one is going to wear/use, or made a charity donation).

We now have DHs family coming for dinner, who are lovely people but seem to have ever changing dietary requirements (none of which are due to diagnosed conditions) that it’s impossible to keep up with, so I’ve got to make about 15 different gluten-free/oil free/non-acidic/anti-inflammatory and whatever else dishes (DH ‘doesn’t do cooking’).

I’m over Christmas & it’s not even 8.30. Anyone else?

I am exhausted, broken and on the verge of losing patience with my two year old screaming every time something tiny doesn’t go her way. I know it’s a lot for her but it’s soul destroying.

dh still in bed …..prob for the best as we’re not speaking after he lost it with me last night for spilling food (wtf). Two out of 3 teens being lovely tho so that’s nice (3rd teen is the route of the original row and obv feeling disturbingly smug that they have caused chaos & misery for everyone else.

I’ve been where everyone is. My kids are now adults including the one with ADHD/ AU and my other LD autistic son. Over the years, I’ve done things to make it easier. No surprise presents as DC cant deal with that: they give me a list so they have exactly what they’ve asked for. One only wanted a book so he’s getting an envelope of cash and we will swap it for a bank transfer into his account- we did this last year and it worked well.

I no longer trust my DH to buy presents for me so I give him a list with links or - shocking I know - use his card to buy something if I see something fabulous in the shop ( all low-cost but perfect for my interests)

No parents / pil anymore and we don’t exchange gifts with in-laws.

But like I said, I’ve been where others have been and know the years of Christmas with young SEN children. I’ve also known the years of mountains of cheap, unsuitable tat from relatives.

It does get better

I got unexpectedly put on call by work on Saturday so all plans cancelled because I now can't go anywhere or do anything and just for added fun, came down with lurgy on 23 Dec. DH still asleep whereas I've been tossing and turning all night due to lurgy. Really wishing Dominos where we ae were open on Christmas Day.

Our family agreed £50 secret Santa each person and agreed to do couples this year. We agreed absolutely no extra gifts just the secret Santa - they have all come down with extra gifts and we now look like the meanest people because we haven’t bought anything extra 😩.

We’re staying at family and have given them £50 voucher and candle and bought a sack full of nice food, chocolates, drinks, case of beer - but that’s a thank you for hosting not for Christmas.

Husband couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed then moaned that he missed kids
opening presents.

Husband announced at 1130pm that he had broken kitchen door handle earlier yesterday evening. Announced that it was too late to fix it and huffed off to bed. Kitchen door closure essential to Separate animals at night. Had to shut dog in a different place to usual and she barked all night. I got up at five so tha she didn’t wake the neighbours

Asked husband to take dog out for a walk just now and he’s in a huff because I “haven’t given him chance to wake up.” I did everything this morning.

Sat watching the kids play with all their lovely gifts that were completely planned and executed by me, with a banging headache, feeling like I despise my selfish manchild of a husband.

elderly dad will arrive soon and start fussing over everything and insisting on helping whilst making a total mess and getting in my way.

@Liverpool52 Our local Burger King is open today. Tempting…

We're leaving for MIL's in an hour and she's already announced that she's prepared her "famous duck" for lunch. I'm pretty sure it's famous for being absolutely inedible (which DH has admitted in the past), yet we're all supposed to praise it to heavens. And she will try to sneakily feed the dog leftovers, so I'll probably be up at 3 am walking him and cleaning up his explosive diarrhea... I've tried suggesting that we leave him at home, but MIL had a snotty crying fit at that... So apparently we're sacrificing the dog for DHs sanity.

Had a lovely breakfast at home though, just the two of us, so there's that.

Two of the our three toilets aren’t flushing, the sink is blocked and the en-suite is leaking through the ceiling into the dining room.

Yayyyyy.

@GelatinousDynamo tell MIL that the dog already has explosive diarrhea (must have eaten scraps from the floor) and has to be left at home...?

To any comment of the sorts, I'd say in a very annoying, loud voice "It's Christmaaaaaaaas!!!" and do it anyway (the nice cheese, the light, the mugs... it's your own house ffs)!

On god my dad does this too. We are having a simple Xmas meal and he will probably go on about how decadent it is, how the kids got too many presents, why am I putting things in the dishwasher that aren’t that dirty, etc etc etc. He is loaded but has become incredibly tight and precious as a pensioner. Only heats one room of his massive house. Fusses about everything.

Husband decided that right in the middle of the chaos of the kids opening presents….. it would be a great idea to start cleaning out the fish tank right next to them.

Mines very 1st world problem but we go on holiday every Xmas to get away from it all.
The current 1st half of the holiday we are staying in a countryside converted barn for a week, it's lovely but the fridge is tiny and barely kept my turkey crown cold enough so Im worried about cooking/eating it.
The other is the bed is the hardest ever mattress I've ever slept on to the point I have to sleep on top of the duvet with a blanket to keep warm. My entire body is so sore and feels so tight that walking and sitting is uncomfortable and on top of that the insomnia. Yes I have many many blessings compared to others but we have paid a lot for this and I just don't feel refreshed or rested.

Sadly, she'd recognise the lie, we'd never leave the dog home alone while sick. Anyone know how I could manage to upset my stomach in the next 40 minutes to stay here?

Did I mention that DHs uncle has been single for the first time in his life since February and is still trying to convince us to do his laundry because apparently he's not capable of such a technological feat? He'll try again today.

This is so lovely and made me very happy to read it, happy Christmas to you all!

It's hard! My oldest did the same at 2 and 3 yo for Christmas and birthdays. It was too over stimulating, they don't mean to be like that. Sounds weird but giving her a bath, or a little walk in the pram around the block for fresh air (or a run in the garden) might seem like the last thing you want to do, but it really helps resetting their senses. Even just for 10-15min, it really does help. After that, you/the other parent can take her to her room with only 1 present and play with her in the calm, again for 10-15min just to decrease stimulation. Good luck, it is quite grinding, but they're not being ungrateful, they just don't know how to deal with sooooo much going on.

My DH lost his job a few months ago and has been a lazy down in the dumps git ever since who just sits and games all day. I was hospitalised on Monday needing a calcium transfusion and I feel horrendous (post cancer complications) but I’ve bought and wrapped all presents, done all the shopping, put everything out for Santa last night and bought us all matching pyjamas. I begged him to just pull it out the bag for today, to just try and be semi cheerful and he has failed spectacularly. I’ve just told him that this is the straw that breaks the camels back and is a deal breaker for me. The kids are asking why dad is “spoiling the vibes” and honestly, I’m over it. Merry sodding Christmas x

Autistic 8yo tore through his presents in about 10 mins, then tore through his baby sister’s presents too. She’s too young to unwrap them to be fair, but I was hoping he would take some time to open them with her. But he barely acknowledged they were for her and unwrapped them for himself sadly. I might bag them up and show them to her again later.

I‘m not materialistic, but of the 3 presents I’ve opened I have received 3 candles. I’ve never lit a candle in my life. I wish people just had not bothered to spend their money tbh!

Have a rest yourself and leave the cooking for tomorrow.

10am and we've already had the first full blown shouting match because DH and MIL are territorial over the kitchen. Counting down until we can go home.

Knackered. DD2 had us awake at 2 and 5! She will be 3 in April but is delayed and probably autistic. She hasn’t shown one bit of curiosity in her gifts, just tried to eat the cardboard from the packaging.

also her main present is the biggest pile of shite, so annoyed I’ve requested a refund but they want me to to return it (fair enough but it’s a partially built trampoline that isn’t ever going back in the box it was sent in!)

She is acting out your exhaustion and stress. Possibly tired herself. Its your job to restore the balance.

Adjust your expectations to your capacity and to the fact you have a two year old.

Love this thread.

My annoying grumpy father poked a hole with a cooking spoon into one of my special Christmas apple strudels. To mark it as it didnt have fresh enogh roasted breadcrumbs in it.