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?

Staying at my dad’s house over Christmas and he’s thrown away pretty much every cooking implement and pan/tray since my mum died. That’s fine, it’s his house and I know he would like with one plate, bowl, knife, fork and spoon etc if he could but when he suggests having something properly cooked from scratch. I have to explain that I can’t do it because there is nothing to cook with.

He also had Covid a couple of weeks ago but is absolutely fine now, yet it seems to have had a mysterious relapse in the few days before Christmas and partook in none of the build up activities or preparations. He has also managed to avoid the family meal this afternoon because he “isn’t well and wouldn’t eat anything anyway”. Apart from the large breakfast he has just polished off and the box of chocolates he has been working his way through all morning.

DS 1, 24yr old working, DS 2 , 14 didnt put a stocking out as " wasn't getting any presents anyway", but actually pleased with everything I'd bought him and put under the tree, including stocking presents, DH pleased with small but thoughtful presents from me and DS 2. I have NO PRESENTS.
DDog unwrapped her own present, played with it and then cuddled it. DDog knows how to Christmas.

I had menopausal insomnia too. Awake all night dropped off at 5/6pm.

I have chronic kidney disease and it makes me tired all the time. I want to go back to bed but daughter is coming soon to pick us up for Christmas dinner.

So far i have had to listen to my mum's endless monologues about her visit to the dentist last week and her neighbours. When i asked her to get something out of the fridge i was greeted with a 10 minute monologue about how she has back ache. She is now talking to herself and listening to rubbish music on her phone. She refuses to wear headphones.

@DontlikeChristmas go with the tie dye and hold a seventies themed New Year Party!

Well the dog is happy with his present ! 😂

Solidarity all. I am about to crack open the champagne - hope it helps.

Bought and wrapped all gifts for children, they are happy but eldest (undiagnosed) ND and needs a lot of attention. I have the period from hell, and some sort of menopausal/hormonal anxiety, which I haven’t had for ages, making me feel on edge.

”D”H has mostly been on the sofa while I cook dinner for his family, who are an hour late so far. I asked him to put the bins out and after a reminder just did it myself.

Currently hiding upstairs for 10 minutes before anyone arrives and I have to smile and host.

Quite interested to see what my MIL gives me this year. Last year it was a Champneys gift set (fine in principle), with three items missing. The candle had been used and the body cream was a third empty. I just laughed. DH just asked if we had anything his mum could give the boys for Christmas as she hasn’t got them anything. FML.

I've been punched in the arm by my non verbal teenager.
He gets so overwhelmed with it all.
I'm hoping Boxing Day will be calmer.

Best wishes to you and all parents of ND children who get overwhelmed at Christmas. This use to be us. I had to lock all the presents away in the conservatory and carry round keys like a jailer, or all would be destroyed. Now he's 18 and amazingly well regulated. But I have utmost sympathy for this whose children don't cope well at Christmas. You do it your way.

I’ve ripped my fingernail off (acrylic and real nail) playing a game with DD. Currently pouring blood and more painful than childbirth

Usually very thoughtful teens didn’t buy one present for me (excuses ranging from wrong address/didn’t have any money/thought I would do x chore for you instead) so nothing to unwrap today.

I am really sorry, but the mental image of this finished me off!

I just need to let off steam so I can go back to the day but I hate when family descend to our house on Christmas.

Both DS and I are autistic, and we're not morning people, and DS has ARFID and won't eat or drink when he first wakes up, or when it's too busy or overwhelming so he hasn't even had a sip of something yet.

He also hasn't opened his presents because I had to take him upstairs out of the chaos, and it just spoils the christmas spirit for us both when he comes downstairs, excited, only to have to cut it short when people just barge in so he doesn't have a meltdown.

It's nice for the relatives we live with, but I just bloody wish the visitors would come later.

DH hasn't wrapped anything. I had to leave the room or there'd habe been a row. I walked back in to see an opened amazon box and a book next to it that's off my wish list which apparently he'd been just about to wrap. Too late. I have grudgingly opened a few amazon bags which included something not for me.
I know theres more for me but I'm ignoring them as Indont want to sift through the stuff for the pils. I assume he'll wrap theirs before we go but he's got our contribution to the meal to cook too. And is making no effort to do so. I'm leaving him to it.

I had 2 presents to open...one from husband and 1 secret santa from work...hideous teddy bear brooch from SS and a diamond ring which doesn't fit. He asked me if I wanted to keep it! Er...sorry no it doesn't fit any finger.
I know we can deal after Christmas but....

There are a lot of people on here who should do Christmas single next year!!

Try and enjoy what you can, don’t let the bastards get you down. All good here but awaiting the imminent arrival of FIL. That’ll change things.

What a lovely post. I feel a bit tearful, your lovely boy.

Recovering from the flu but have two young children so can’t opt out of the day. Totally miscalculated the turkey time so put it in much too late and dinner won’t be ready til evening now, when the kids are nice and tired and grouchy. My siblings partner has had a last minute desire to spend Christmas with us and is now driving an 8 hour drive to get here, I think will likely be midnight though before they arrive. I just want to go to bed! Sad because I love Christmas but feel like it’s just all gone wrong. Kids at least are delighted with their presents and a day spent in their pyjamas.

I’m so sorry to read about so many women who do all the prep, all the planning, all the chores, carry all the mental load - and nobody thinks of them. I for one am sending a hand-hold to all of those who didn’t get a single present.

My own rant is minor but it happens every year - I buy thoughtful gifts for my (very small) family, who live a considerable distance away - think hundreds of miles - and invariably I make a big effort to travel to them to deliver them before Christmas. They have never once reciprocated. This year we’re actually spending the holidays near them and went over to take the presents a couple of days ago, only for SIL to tell us airily that she hadn’t wrapped anything yet and they’d have to deliver them on Christmas Day on their way to lunch with her DB (who she idolises and obviously is way, way more important than us). It’s hard not to think that we’re an afterthought. I wish we could stop giving presents to them tbh.

(Oh, and sorry DH, but if you fuss any more over the simple job of boiling the sodding ham that only you eat, while I sort out the entire rest of the Christmas meal without making any fuss, I’m going to throw it at you 🤬)

I only have one minor complaint which I am parking here so I can get over it.

PIL (who are lovey, I am lucky) have a teeny tiny fridge in their massive kitchen. The fridge will be filled with Tupperware containers of the end of the Parmesan or two half sausages and the cava will remain unchilled. That’s all I have to say.

My 40 year old relative shouted at my 10 month old cousin for peeling the paper off one of his precious gifts …

I spend Xmas my own. I sleep late. Eat what I want, when I want. Watch whatever tickles my fancy (probably season 4 of Only Murders In The Building). It's a chill day.

Over the last few weeks I've been on MN quite a bit.

My rant is on behalf of all the women who flog themselves to death to give everyone else a great Xmas (sometimes in the most desperate circumstances). With little help and practically no appreciation (or even acknowledgement) of your Herculean efforts.

You're all stars!! 💖 And you deserve better.

Fuck every adult person in your life who does not at some point today thank you for making their Xmas special.

😘 🌹

@ GelatinousDynamo-

“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”

This is hilarious. So what’s he been doing since February? Buying new shirts and boxers and throwing the worn ones away??

Away at MiL’s and it’s just not very Christmassy. Doesn’t feel festive. I’m on edge because am cooking in her (time warp c1955) kitchen but with nothing I usually have to hand, and she’s requested a lunchtime meal but only has an Aga so I have no idea how long things will take to cook. DH is on roasties but they’ve taken so long to parboil that they aren’t in the oven yet and I’m worried that there may be tension if the timings don’t work out how MiL would have wanted.

No presents yet offered, I suggested it to fill the pre-lunch gap but MiL is texting and this needs all her concentration (she’s been at it an hour at least) so I just cracked out the Prosecco instead. Mustn’t get pissed on an empty stomach!!

On the plus side me and DH went for a really gorgeous walk in the sunshine this morning with the dogs. Highlight of the visit I would imagine!

Sending gentle hugs to those here who’ve crafted Christmas and whose loved ones have treated them like an afterthought (or worse, a not-thought-about). May your 2026 be more appropriate to your amazingness.

Cheers Mumsnet, happy Christmas! 🥂

Been feeling weird all morning - tired, headache, very emotional, general heavy / dizzy / disoriented feeling. Couldn't put my finger on what it was, then had a seizure and it all made sense.

Now lying in bed with the post ictal hangover feeling. DH and DD are being the absolute best; DH just sitting with me between preparing things for dinner and DD keeps stepping away from her presents to bring me Celebrations 🥹