What circumstances is it acceptable to opt out of Xmas obligations?

[kerala]

OK I have a newborn who feeds every 3 hours day and night, a lively toddler and a house that we have just moved into and are decorating (not the best decision we made but there you go).

I can just about keep the babies happy-ish and fed,house up and running, food on table, washing done. But everytime I get a Christmas card or a parcel I feel like crying. I just cant seem to get to doing the Christmas jobs of cards and presents etc and now time is running out. Is it rubbish not to send cards? Havent even finished my thank you letters for the baby presents. I got a few more baby presents yesterday and instead of thinking thanks how lovely I just thought damn more cards to have to send out. Eek!

Just relax and ignore everything. No-one will mind if they don't get a card from you; and if they do mind, sod them.

imo no one should expect thanks for baby presents for exactly that reason. Email everyone a pic of the baby and make a couple of phone calls to the people you really like. If you can manage. If you can't manage that just don't worry about it, it's hardly a priority.

do it by email! write a massage and send to everyone, explaining about circumstances and thanking them all. you can send the same email to multiple people all at once.

message even

I think you should still thank people for presents - can't dh do it?!!

if he writes the xmas cards or an email he can thank people in that