Tis the season to be jolly - Ha!

[Earlybird]

Don't know if we're both overtired and irritable, but I seem to have snapped at a demanding/whiny/bossy dd far too much today. There's so much to do - every day life, and seasonal social commitments - and I think we're both exhausted. We usually have/need one day a week to be quiet/sit still, and haven't had that for about a month now. We're not home much, and when we are, there are stacks of chores waiting to be done...instead of being able to put my feet up. At this point, the two invitations we've got tomorrow - a lunch party and late afternoon christening party don't appeal at all, and in fact, fill me with dread. I'd be much happier being a couch potato with the newspapers, and a big bowl of popcorn.

Does anyone else feel the same, or am I the Christmas Grinch personified?

I like the idea of xmas means everyone just becomes a couch potato with a big bowl of popcorn for at least xmas and boxing day. Life is such a rush we need a day off!

I know exactly how you feel. Dh and I have rowed everyday since the begining of November and had the mother of all rows today and its all over blnkin christmas. Our Ds is overtired and very demending because of all the extra things going on at school. My Dh's family are total *** and seem to think their needs come above and beyond everyone elses and to make matters worse Dh agrees with them hence the rows. I'm 11 weeks pregnant, stressed, over worked, over tired over weight and bloody fed up.Why does one day cause so much hassle.

I was feeling stressed out of my head this week for a multitude of reasons including a family funeral, a very sick FIL, a disabled MIL, a poorly son, a job, a husband, a house like a tip, an ironing pile, unwritten cards, etc etc.

So I stayed in today and did what I wanted to do, which was get the Christmas tree and get festive. I sorted the living room out, tree went up, kids all happy, watched the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film on DVD, kids asleep, me much more relaxed.

Sometimes a day off is the answer. I couldn't face the shops today and luckily I can get what I need on Monday. I was a shouty mummy too and today I was positively lovely .

My mum broke her shoulder yesterday and yes while it hurts she has taken to her bed and wont budge.I have one hubby away next week,one child with a kidney infection who i dont want being dragged out at all hours the last week of work before school breaks up.My mums mate has offered to look after her but she wont go to hers even though she will have us run ragged to look after her.Anyway something had to give and i have rung social services and they are gonna have a rehab team come to get her moving about.Tonight a sleepworker has come -although she doesnt need it!Physio are coming cos she has a n appointment at the fracture clinic and is now umming and ahhing about not being up to going well she has to so me and dh have had a huge mega row tonight too although he has backed down and apologised for pushing me too far-like i havent anything to think about.

Sounds as if alot of us are feeling more exhausted/stressed than festive at the moment.

Here in the Earlybird household, things are a bit brighter today. DD went to bed at 6.30 last night, and slept through until 8AM. I was able to plough through alot of paperwork last night and now feel more organised and on top of things. Sometimes a bit of extra sleep and some quiet time to catch up can do wonders. I think it's key for us not to get overtired/over committed - that's when we both start to feel grumpy.

Yes! I LOVE Christmas but there are never enough hours in the day as it is. Shoe-horning in Christmas shopping is very hard. I seem to be making endless lists: 'to do', 'to buy', 'places to be','stuff for school' Arrgh! My poor little brain can't cope with it all. I shouldn't be on here either