Why does christmas do this too me?

[BaronessBarbaraKingstanding]

I get, knowlingly but uncontrollably, obsessed with a milion things that i think need to be done, when really they don't matter at all.

Example: I am washing all towels in the house, because of course christmas would be ruined if we had to use a towel used the day before

Example: All beds have to be changed. Beacuse of course christmas would again be ruined if we went to bed on christmas eve in less than pristine sheets.

Example: i have purchaesd more bags of Kettle chips than will physically fit into our utility room. Because christmas would be ruined if we ran out of Kettle chips before 5th january.

Example: i phoned my Mum to discuss whether it would matter too much if the napkins were more burgandy wheras the central decoration is more scarlett red. bacuse of course, christmas would be ruined if someone noticed the shades were not exactly the same.

There are many more examples.

Why do I get like this/ I am not normally this kind of person, I'm usually laid back.

I can feel a fluttery panicky kind of feling.

It is madness.

am I the only afflicted one?

Nope - me too.

We're going to my mothers for xmas dinner and yet I'm panicking about all the housework and washing I have to do tongiht.

It's not like I'm off work next week and can do it then

I am the same too. Usually.

However, this year I have had some perspective thrust upon me as we were supposed to be celebrating in France right now and am instead having a last-minute thrown-together celebration here as our flight was cancelled. We are just getting on with it and actually are immensely more harmonious in the Tulpe household than previous years

Make yourself a coffee, sit down with DCs and watch some naff Christmas movie. You will feel far more festive than stressing about matching table linen

I am 6 months preg and stripping all the beds and getting all that washed crossed my mind this morning too.

I have this morning shampooed all my carpets in preparation.... my thinking being, the kids will spend a lot of time on it over the next few days, playing with new toys.

I am going to wash the hallway and kitchen floor later too.

Will also attempt to rearrange the kids room if I have time as it's a bit hodge-podge since the new bed got thrust in there without a space being made for it first. Am thinking can't go 'into' Christams without this beng done.

I do it too. Started as a child when my bedroom had to be immaculate on Christmas Eve. Now it's the whole house. Curtains, cushion covers, everything has to sparkle. Why? Why? Otherwise, on every other day of the year I don't give two hoots beyond reasonably tidy and fairly clean.

I get a bit like this, in my case it was cleaning before MIL came, or cleaning before going to her (so that I wouldn't come back to a dirty house. I am so glad that now I am no longer in that marriage, new DH and I always have Christmas here and can do as we like. Even when his Dad was alive and came to us I didn't get as agitated, mainly because his eyesight was so bad he wouldn't notice a bit of dust!

The thing is, we want to do the best for everyone, the whole perfect Christmas thing. It is a myth perpetuated by chefs and home design magazines. Some of the best Christmases are imperfect.

I can understand people getting extra food supplies in because of the snow, but there was so much food in the local supermarket you wouldn't believe. I am relieved to have got everything I needed this morning, and am not doing any more!

Now, I think before I do anything, "is it important, or can it be done another time? Will anyone actually notice or mind?" At least we know we're being a bit daft. The problem is those who don't, and work themselves into such a state of nervous exhaustion, they can't enjoy themselves anyway.

lol, we have just done the christmas clean up
whole house clean laundered sheets, clean towels.

Dc wanted to know why, i replied it was so Fc didn't fall over trying to deliver the presents DD just said yes but why do you need to wipe the bannisters for that

I too have managed to get abit of perspective this year and have been nowhere like as obsessed as I usually am. The crackers and napkins and table decoration are not co-ordinated. I have not travelled 30 miles to my favourite farm shop and deli to buy special cheese, ham, olives etc.

However I have spent this morning handwashing all the crystal glasses and had to stop myself emptying the kitchen crockery cupboard to give that a good clean.

I will probably save that for Hogmanay as I get even worse then. I once came home early from the pub to clean my front door step as up here it is bad luck to let anyone walk into your house at New Year if it has not been cleaned. And I think the world stops turning if you dont strip the beds and hoover and clean absolutely everywhere before the old year ends and the new one begins.

We are only here on xmas day til 10.30 then away til the 30th as well

i am changing all my beds today- becuase i dont have time to do it tomorrow.

I am cleaning up a littl emore than usual but ths is mainly because mil and co are coming for xmas dinner - its all gone a bit tis up now though because my new bathroom got delivered today and dh didnt leave the key for the garage so the very heavy items which we coldnt possibly carry between us are now in the dining room so i suspect someone will have to sit in the bath to eat their dinner .

we cleaned up yesterday in advance. then, dh discovered everything in our loft is wet with condensation (when he was putting some stuff away up there), so today, he's emptied the ENTIRE loft, in order to put more insulation up there and check it all over. dust sheets all over upstairs.

plus, my family think its okay to drop off all of their presents in advance (13 people for dinner), so i either have dustsheets or presents everywhere.

i give up if i wasn't 27 weeks pregnant, i'd be on the pinot grigio by now.