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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Dysfunctional family - always feels sad around Christmas.

5 replies

RowenaRavenclaw · 17/12/2011 01:33

Does anyone else feel like that. I always imagine everyone else is having a wonderful time with 'Uncle Ted' or the grandparents are spoiling the kids rotten, or sisters are round to help and giggle in the kitchen.

OP posts:
FreyaoftheNorth · 17/12/2011 02:02

Sometimes, yes.
Though the universal stereotype of Christmas being stressful and ending in lots of rows after dinner, even in "normal" families, goes some way to alleviate it.

GoingForGoalWeight · 17/12/2011 23:25

Used to take me months to get over spending Christmas at myparents hme, the bullying, spiteful neglectful @!!ts

TinselMakesSantaBonkers · 18/12/2011 03:11

Hi Rowena,
Yes, I have been the alien from the Black Lagoon for many Christmases when at the ils. My own middle sister....

My strategy is to have fun for myself-enjoy the music, walk by the shops and enjoy the window displays, really "look" at the ornaments on the tree, compose impossibly rediculous 'family newsletter' to not send in the cards Grin, and to be perfectly satisfied with not over-eating Wink...stuff like that. If all else fails, have a bit of a hobby on hand (take up cross-stitch for the day) to have a mental sanctuary to escape to.

I can coach myself to be 'thrilled that it is Christmas' and not take the bait of the nasty ones. However, this is after decades of being emotionaly numb from the EA and stupid/naive enough to be oblivious to it Blush: translates into just ignore, ignore, ignore and the time will pass.

You can come to my kitchen, giggling can be so infectious!
Have a Merry Christmas, you can do it!

springlamb · 18/12/2011 08:22

The best thing to do is to say very firmly, with swear words added if necessary, "I am NOT responsible for making THEIR Christmas perfect". Give minimum attention to fulfilling your obligations and GET ON with your own Xmas whatever shape or form that may take.
Every November a family row starts to simmer and bubble and threaten to boil over, now they are all Big People they can just get on with all their drama whilst I concentrate on making MY home a happy one.
And if a rotten tummy bug has to be invented to avoid a stressful visit, then so be it.

Heleninahandcart · 18/12/2011 18:40

OP I can assure you there are lots of people who feel like this, me included. Will not go into the background, but I hate the whole business and have done since I was a kid. The only thing I take joy in is the Christmas tree decorations. I used to love watching my DS face light up on Christmas morning, but as a teen that is just as likely to result in him being disappointed for whatever reason.

Even without the background reasons for me not to want it, its miserable on a practical level. I usually spend the day in the car doing a 6 hour round trip, cooking dinner for my elderly Mum, watching her and DS open their presents which I have arranged, knowing there will be nothing under the tree for me (Mum doesn't do empathy so cannot see that I would like to be acknowledge in my own right, open something, anything that I haven't wrapped too). No other family at all. Mum has refused to come to our house for one reason or another for years so its down to me to do it all.

I start to go ever so slightly mad around the second week in December, and by this week can be found ranting at Xmas music, becoming more and more irrational, needy and sorry for myself. I spend from now until Boxing Day wanting to scream, making sure I don't cry, plastering a smile on my face for my DS sake and wondering why I bother. It's like having pms for 3 weeks.

Miraculously, Mum has decided she will come to us this year. All the reasons she couldn't come before are suddenly not an issue Hmm. I have arranged everything for her and if she decides not to come so be it, DS and I are staying here. I know she's old, but she's been old since I was about 12 iyswim. Then of course there is the guilt as she is now very old and I know she won't be around much longer.

Every time I hear someone which me a Happy Christmas, I feel like it's a taunt. Fuck, told you I felt sorry for myself.

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