.......................

[Magic Mom]

I have been sick recently, and with my burn it has been hard to do things. Thankfully my burn is healing, and I will stop shopping Monday. Maybe when I start wrapping and actually seeing a gift under my tree I will fell more spirited

I hope yop start feeling better soon.

 

[mommasita]

I hope yop start feeling better soon.

Thank you very much!!

 

[Val]

My DH, a diabetic who refused to take his meds, got his blood surgars really, really out of whack and then ended up with a MRSA infection 3 weeks ago- they removed an 8x4x2 inch DEEP section of his back and he spent a week in intensive care. He is a college prof, and my graduate student/assistant also works as his lab assistant. She was pegged to take over his classes, leaving me without her help in MY lab. His mother is in the advanced stages of Alzheimers, and has been in/out of the hospital as well for the last three weeks...and guess who has been taking care of her? Oh, and did I mention I still have three kids at home (DD16, DD13, DD11) and one away at college- who got stranded at OHare the Sunday after Thanksgiving?....I was barely holding on. Now my DD11 has to have more surgery on Dec 23rd- new eardrums and new tubes AGAIN (surgery #13- hope that doesn't mean anything). My mom has been ill out West and right after Christmas I have to fly out and deal with those issues.....and tonight my DH's car blew it's engine- and we really don't have the money for a new car given the economy. At least he is off work until January so we can get through Christmas....

....I really cannot get into the Christmas spirit. None of the kids are willing to help, DH just complains because he is sick, and I am trying to work fulltime, play dad and mom, and make sure Santa is setting aside all the right things. Tomorrow night my DS13 is having his birthday party- 20 teenybobbers in my basement, and I am just trying to put one foot in front of the other.

All I can say is BAH HUMBUG! and Calgon, take me away!!!!!

And the end of the vent.....................

 

[Kitty 34]

After being very very sick last Christmas, thanks to a tooth gone bad, I'm very happy that I'm in fairly good health this year so the Christmas season has been pretty good so far!

 

[DisneyMomOK]

My DH, a diabetic who refused to take his meds, got his blood surgars really, really out of whack and then ended up with a MRSA infection 3 weeks ago- they removed an 8x4x2 inch DEEP section of his back and he spent a week in intensive care. He is a college prof, and my graduate student/assistant also works as his lab assistant. She was pegged to take over his classes, leaving me without her help in MY lab. His mother is in the advanced stages of Alzheimers, and has been in/out of the hospital as well for the last three weeks...and guess who has been taking care of her? Oh, and did I mention I still have three kids at home (DD16, DD13, DD11) and one away at college- who got stranded at OHare the Sunday after Thanksgiving?....I was barely holding on. Now my DD11 has to have more surgery on Dec 23rd- new eardrums and new tubes AGAIN (surgery #13- hope that doesn't mean anything). My mom has been ill out West and right after Christmas I have to fly out and deal with those issues.....and tonight my DH's car blew it's engine- and we really don't have the money for a new car given the economy. At least he is off work until January so we can get through Christmas....

....I really cannot get into the Christmas spirit. None of the kids are willing to help, DH just complains because he is sick, and I am trying to work fulltime, play dad and mom, and make sure Santa is setting aside all the right things. Tomorrow night my DS13 is having his birthday party- 20 teenybobbers in my basement, and I am just trying to put one foot in front of the other.

All I can say is BAH HUMBUG! and Calgon, take me away!!!!!

And the end of the vent.....................

I am so sorry for all the tribulations you are facing. I have faced the problems of dementia and I understand all the patience and strength it takes to help your MIL. I hope your teens will realize Mom really needs their help and give you a hand until your husband is up and around. Best wishes to you and, hopefully, a New Year will bring better days.

My Dad died in August and my daughter is in China (although she is going to be home on Christmas Eve) and there just seems to be so little happiness right now for so many folks.

 

[NoeyLane]

-I just can't get into the holiday spirit. May of last year my stepmom died of lung cancer, & then sept 29th last year my darling and dearest grandmother (who was my rock and my very best friend) passed away so unexpectedly.

We then had to put my grandfather (who suffers from dementia) into an assisted living facility. Sadly, he passed away on sept. 19th this year, nearly a year to the day that my gran passed.

I lost near my entire family in the past year & a half, and if it weren't for my little boy, I probably wouldn't even bother with Christmas trees, decorations or anything, I hurt so bad. I miss everyone so darn much. Christmas Eve was the night I would help my grandmother make this tremendous dinner & we would open our presents and do all the traditional things our family did.

This year I feel so empty and alone - I still have my DH and my DS, and my dad, but it's like without my gran, I'm lost. She was like my mom in every sense of the word.

Sorry for the long ramble, but it kinda feels good to let it out. I don't know why but this year (instead of last year) it hurts worse, kwim?

I am hoping that somehow I can shake these doldrums the closer the holiday gets, but I just don't know.

 

[luvflorida]

add me to the group also.. i feel like such a grinch. I put up my fake tree well half of it went up last night, the other half this am... but no lights or anything just the bare tree. I am really thinking about taking it down tomorrow and just not doing it this year at all my husband doesnt care, he has never been into christmas.. in fact all the years past i would take the tree down on christmas night

Awww...I think you should finish the tree. Something about taking it down seems really sad.

This Christmas is difficult for me because it'll be the first one without my mom. She passed away a few months ago. I know she is now free of pain and in a much happer place, but I wish she was still here so I could tell her again how much I loved her and appreciated her.

I put our Christmas tree up last night, and it did lift my spirits. There is something calming about having it up and seeing the lights on. The last ornament I hung on the tree was a new one I bought in memory of my mother.

For some reason, I'm enjoying decorating the house, but I can't listen to Christmas music without crying.

 

[MoniqueU]

My dear son died 12 years 4 months ago on Monday. Of course the first year was the absolute worst, I had his little sister 4 months to the day he died. So we just celebrated hers and my mom and my mils birthdays last night and tonight.
Truthfully since my son has died I am either so grief stricken or numb or both to enjoy any holiday. I have had years and years of unlimited christmas budgets due to big holiday bonuses, I had a gut feeling it wouldnt be that way this year so bought all my presents in the summer so we are set that way. The trees are up, the lights are up, the decorations are up blah bla blah. I always just go through the motions for my kids every year so this year isn't all that much different.
My grandma is on hospice and though I love her dearly I am just numb to that too. I think about losing other members of my family including my mom and my husband and I know it sounds awful but as long as it is't one of my kids, I know I could get through it.
Another thing going on is I got diagnosed with an incurable retina disease either 4 or 5 years ago just after Halloween and my vision has taken another turn for the worse, as soon as you get used to coping with it one way it gets worse. I am now needing more and more help just tackling everyday tasks. And the total panic and anxiety that comes to me in certain situations is starting to impact all my kids. Trust me I know how to suck it up and just solier on but they can tell. My oldest daughter didn't want me going black friday shopping with her because I freak out. I held it together even though I had to have my family paged at Macys to come get me. It is really starting to impact us all and my family is closing ranks on me and trying to get me to do less and I also have friends that say do more. It's a tough spot to be in. I want to go to disneyland so bad but my husband keeps hedging on taking me I think because he is not sure how I will do. I might try in January. Until then I read all the joy and trip countdowns here.

The bright spot for me is that my kids will be off for 2 weeks from school. I am at my happiest when my family is all home and safe and sound. Also my son was diagnosed with a 50 percent hearing loss and he is taking to his hearing aids very well and got the biggest smile on his face when we were in the doctors and he discovered how well they worked. I will treasure that smile forever.

So all in all there is good and bad but this holiday isn't all that differerent then most for me. I know some people that eventually get through their grief and on to the happy memories but I have never been able to do that. A huge part of me is missing forever and it is so hard to cope, even though I am doing it for my other children.

 

[Aimeedyan]

With DH laid off, and no signs of any job opportunities in the future, I sorta fell into that slump too. I get excited about decorating, and then realize that I really wanted to buy ____ for the house and we can't justify spending the money on it so the "decor" I have designed in my head isn't quite right. Or having to tell family we need to cut back on gifts. I enjoy that part of the holidays - the hustle and bustle of the malls, giving gifts to my colleagues, etc. And I know the gift giving come Christmas may be uncomfortable for us, so I dread it.

So, I decided to focus on the real reason for the season. Advent is an important time in our church and in our family so I am focusing on that instead. Not sitting through a Christmas program at church because I have to but really focusing on the words of the music, the text of the meditation, and enjoying the silence and wonder of it. Being intentional about doing something each day just because it's Advent. Looking forward to the next worship service. Enjoying the laughter of the children at church when they talk about Christmas. Working on my attitude towards the crazy people I encounter during the holidays.

It's not easy, and I still wish we were more stable right now, but I can find peace, joy, hope, and love when I focus on the birth of Christ and the ultimate gift that was given.

Yes, I am struggling to work up my Christmas spirit this year but that's what I'm trying to focus on instead. Obviously, this is coming from someone with a deeply rooted spiritual life but I figured I'd share anyways

 

[4nana]

and prayers to those facing trials and tribulations or missing dear loved ones.

I believe the economy makes us all feel anxious. The 24/7 news is so full of gloom and doom and many are suffering in some form of fashion. It's hard to think positive and feel the spirit when you are unsure what tomorrow will bring. Like many, we have lost much of our savings we were counting on in our golden yrs, but also realize many are worse off. We know we'll make it and come out stronger.

For us, C'mas is time to reflect, to be with those we love and who love us. Count our many blessings and remember the reason for the season, and trust in our faith we won't be given more than we can bare.
Godspeed

 

[luvflorida]

and prayers to those facing trials and tribulations or missing dear loved ones.

I believe the economy makes us all feel anxious. The 24/7 news is so full of gloom and doom and many are suffering in some form of fashion. It's hard to think positive and feel the spirit when you are unsure what tomorrow will bring. Like many, we have lost much of our savings we were counting on in our golden yrs, but also realize many are worse off. We know we'll make it and come out stronger.

For us, C'mas is time to reflect, to be with those we love and who love us. Count our many blessings and remember the reason for the season, and trust in our faith we won't be given more than we can bare.
Godspeed

Nice post and so true.

Off topic, but I love the pics of your family. The one with the grandkids all linked together is really cute!

 

[HunnyPots]

Yes! As much as I want to make this Christmas extra special, I just keep falling short in the spirit department.

We've never been a big gift family but this year, since we've had a 20% pay cut and DH's job is precarious at best (his company makes parts for the auto industry so there ya go), its just a constant reminder of how we can't buy much even if we wanted to. Plus I'm constantly trying to cut back everywhere I can and feeling very stressed at the moment.

My daughter is getting married in July so this will be our last Christmas with all of us at home together. More pressure to make things just right plus stressing over wedding expense = not a happy mom!

Plus, I can't believe its less than three weeks away and I've done nothing other than put the tree up!

OK - I think I've rambled enough. Maybe I need to go bake cookies!

 

[moon]

Wow, please let me give everyone in this thread a big Christmas is my favorite holiday, but ever since my grandfather died (who was the only father I knew), something seems to happen either in our family or the world to dampen the joy of the season.

I was actually feeling upbeat this year, but I'm having issues with someone this year. I'm trying to keep upbeat, for my mom mostly, but I'm almost starting to wish it was over. I HATE too feel this way, and I want to fight it. DARN, I WANT to feel good and happy this Christmas, and not let other people affect me SO much!

But I can see that some of you have it worse. Please let me give you another BIG , and I hope with all my heart that each an everyone of you, of us, has a good Christmas!

 

[Val]

What is nice is knowing that I am not the only one feeling this way.....I send hugs to all of you experiencing struggles, grief and loss.....and pray for a better year in 2009.

MoniqueU- there is a nice group of moms of kids with hearing loss over at http://www.listen-up.org/index.htm that is really great at sharing success stories, helpful hints and just general support- as empathetic as the DIS (and they NEVER allow political threads- hallelujah!).

God Bless all of you....maybe the Christmas Angel will come in the night and take us to a spa......of course, given my life, it's more likely to be the Grinch and to the garbage dump- but hey, it would be away!

 

[Ppufi]

-raises hand-

I don't want any material items this year. I just want to have fun again. Everyone in my life, me included, just always have so many awful problems to worry about. It's disheartening. I feel like crying, not caroling.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

No problems getting into the spirit of the season, just issues kicking me in gear to put up the decorations and that's finally done...ok mostly done.
I think if we were affected the same way a lot of other people have been affected we would try our best to be into the festive spirits just for the kids sakes. We would have a very toned down Christmas but would have it anyways.

 

[doxdogy]

I am trying really hard to get into the spirit. This we will be the first Christmas without my dad. He passed away at the end of August. I am still struggling with not being able to pick up the phone and call him, have my DH take him something for dinner. Hugs to all of those who are struggling with the loss of a loved one.

 

[Planogirl]

-raises hand-

I don't want any material items this year. I just want to have fun again. Everyone in my life, me included, just always have so many awful problems to worry about. It's disheartening. I feel like crying, not caroling.

Your post touches me and I can relate. It gets hard to deal with things sometimes and I worry a lot about what other people are going through.

 

[C.Ann]

I will do the baking with my DGD - just less of it - and probably much closer to Christmas..

Anyhow - I just wanted to offer all of you lots of

 

[Snowysmom]

This year I am definitely finding it hard to get into the Christmas spirit. At first I think it was because of the economy and the layoffs at work. I managed to keep my job, for now but it is still a worry. Then my father passed away. Even though he was 90 and had a good life, and it was not entirely unexpected, it is still hard. I just take things day by day now and hope that maybe by the time it gets close to Christmas, I will be able to get into the holiday spirit. Best wishes to all who have lost dear ones and to those who are struggling with other issues.