To find Christmas really difficult with Ds!?

[reddaisies]

He's not long turned 4.
He's very easily stressed out and wants to play with us constantly and won't do any self play or screen time. I thought last year was hard work but this year has been harder.

AIBU to say Xmas holidays with young kids (pre school age) are really hard work!??

No. I’m finding it hard too. Mine’s not yet two but he’s really running us both down to the point, I’ve actually had to book annual leave to extend my time off after he goes back to nursery. Essentially, I need a break from a “break”.
doesn’t help we all got ill over Christmas despite not seeing family or going anywhere public. I’ve reached the point of burnout.
mine can name Christmas stuff but obviously is still at an age where it means very little to him so it’s all a lot of hard work with not a lot of things on to keep him entertained.

Thanks for replying @Pizzaandsushi - it's good to know someone is also struggling but sorry to hear you're struggling too.

DH and I are trying to work out how to deal

Oops - how to deal with this situation next year. We have a baby too who will be nearly 2 next Christmas.

I'm thinking maybe days out planned every day and lots of family visits... it difficult though because we're not in the best mood visiting family feels harder if you know what I mean? Also DH and I are starting to bicker a lot.

Little did I know when I was a child how difficult Xmas was for my parents!

Haaa. Same here! I have been doing this for the past 2 years and this is the third Christmas. I always take Annual leave 1-2 days before and after the nursery closes/ opens. I need time for myself which I absolutely don't get during the break. Don't worry OP lots of us in same boat

@reddaisies
yeah I think there’s an awful lot of us feeling like this right now. I was dreading this time off for this reason tbh. I don’t remember what our first Christmas was like because I completely blocked it from memory for similar reasons.
this year I planned something on as many days as I could but understandably lots of places are shut so people can actually enjoy their break 😂
we did a lot of walking in the park and when I say walking I mean, toddler threw a tantrum because I took a bag off him that he was tripping over, lots of carrying him and lots of pulling on his reins like a dog because he kept wanting to shoot off to other areas.
i get the family thing too. We don’t have family close by so they don’t really know how to deal with him so it’s basically just me and his Dad struggling even more but in a unfamiliar environment that wrecks havoc on the toddler’s sleep when he’s already not the best sleeper. The plus side of family visits is less chance of bickering and if it’s the in-laws I kind of feel like I have to be on best behaviour so keep pushing through.
I’m not surprised you’re bickering either. Honestly I think that’s normal when you’re this exhausted. I keep saying to myself only 2 more days but dear god! I don’t know how to do another couple of days.
plus you know when they go back to nursery/school they’ll catch more illnesses in the first week or two so they’re back home again.

@icanlovemebetter ooo a few days before the break is a good shout too. I’ll definitely be doing that next year, if I haven’t been killed off by the end of this year 😂

The 1-2 days before let's me get the house in order , get nails done, etc and prep food. Then once the break is over and the house is mess, annual leave lets me clean it up and then get a massage and if there's time pop out to city for a cozy lunch with DH.

@Pizzaandsushi let me add here. Day 1 of nursery and he's contracted chicken pox. Thought of having a luxury day off. But destiny had other plans. ☹️

@icanlovemebetter nooooo! You are kidding?!? That’s awful. I’m sorry for you and your child, poor thing.