How do people enjoy Christmas?

[Deparfea]

testing

 

[RNMOM]

I'm on the opposite end. We have very little family and the few cousins near don't invite us. Both sets of parents are gone. We are not church attenders and I no longer work. DH's work doesn't do celebrations. It is just the 4 of us and not much to do. We stopped gifting within the families several years ago as it was just exchanging gift cards and most of us couldn't really afford it anyway.

Yeah, I could skip the holidays too.

 

[momrek06]

This year TOTALLY different. VEGAS baby!!! We are all going to Las Vegas for an extra LONG holiday weekend!!! We have shows all booked!!! We are so excited!!!

 

[lukenick1]

IM with you.....
It is much too stressful shopping for family and friends. What do you buy that person that already has everything??? Ugh. I've had it too. I'd rather just buy for my kids, its for them anyway. I stress on Christmas day too when Im supposed to put on a big spread for family while my kids are opening up all their gifts and mixing up pieces, parts, making a mess etc. I just want some peace and quiet. I do enjoy making cookies and candy, but at my own pace. I also love decorating and enjoying the ambiance of the tree. Thats it! Bah HUmbug!

 

[C.Ann]

Maybe if you took control of the holiday you would feel better about it..

There's no "law" that says you "have" to go here; go there; buy this; buy that; exchange gifts with everyone and their brother; cook and bake till your arms fall off; put on a big fancy dinner; etc..

Decide what's the most important to you - and your immediate family - and let the chips fall where they may in terms of everyone and everything else.. It's not humanly possible to please "everyone" - nor is there any such thing as the "perfect" Christmas, because your "perfect" and someone elses "perfect" are entirely different..

Only you can change what you find stressful about Christmas.. Listen to your inner voice that's telling you what you really want to do - what's the most important - and then run with it..

Good luck!

 

[klacey1]

I honestly really love the holidays. Driving home and seeing everyone's houses all decorated just gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. I love exchanging gifts-- and have narrowed it down to ONLY the people that matter. We have a fantastic, busy Christmas Eve bash that is USUALLY fun and drama free. I even love seeing the tree in the city and being in the hustle and bustle of the mall. I guess I try to focus on the positive as much as possible, and try to let go of things that bother me (I.E. why I have cut out buying gifts for certain people).
I understand that it can be a tough, and certainly stressful time of year.

 

[dollydell]

I have a large family, and a lot of obligations at Christmas. But I absolutely love my family and the holiday season. I always feel bad for the people that don't enjoy the season or get really stressed.

 

[cheermom1]

I LOVE the holidays - I love cooking and having everyone at my house - the parties everything

so sorry you find them stressful, maybe like C. ann suggested take out the things you find stressful and have a great holiday.

 

[MariDisney]

My DH I spend Christmas day at my church serving a dinner for people who would otherwise have none. I will have probably 40 volunteers and serve maybe 200 meals. It's a lot of work through the Christmas season getting donations, making sure all things are in place with transportation, volunteers, etc. I forego most of the rest of Christmas obligations. My DD 10 will have an hour or two at home on Christmas day with her gifts, otherwise she's with me doing for others. Sometime after Christmas we will gather with our extended families.

I find this the perfect way to remember the reason for the season and not get caught up in the rest. When we go home after working so hard all day on Christmas and see just how much we do have, and especially that we have each other, it makes the whole Christmas Season worth it.

 

[mhsjax]

Maybe if you took control of the holiday you would feel better about it..

There's no "law" that says you "have" to go here; go there; buy this; buy that; exchange gifts with everyone and their brother; cook and bake till your arms fall off; put on a big fancy dinner; etc..

Decide what's the most important to you - and your immediate family - and let the chips fall where they may in terms of everyone and everything else.. It's not humanly possible to please "everyone" - nor is there any such thing as the "perfect" Christmas, because your "perfect" and someone elses "perfect" are entirely different..

Only you can change what you find stressful about Christmas.. Listen to your inner voice that's telling you what you really want to do - what's the most important - and then run with it..

Good luck!

Exactly, We don't buy for anyone but our kids. We spend Christmas with those that we want to. I don't get why people feel the need to buy everyone presents. WE just like to get together and eat, and then eat some more. I love the holidays, I think people who don't like it are the ones that put too much pressure on themselves. Quit buying gifts unless you really want to, learn to say no, and then relax and enjoy yourself.

 

[Deparfea]

testing

 

[mhsjax]

IM with you.....
It is much too stressful shopping for family and friends. What do you buy that person that already has everything??? Ugh. I've had it too. I'd rather just buy for my kids, its for them anyway. I stress on Christmas day too when Im supposed to put on a big spread for family while my kids are opening up all their gifts and mixing up pieces, parts, making a mess etc. I just want some peace and quiet. I do enjoy making cookies and candy, but at my own pace. I also love decorating and enjoying the ambiance of the tree. Thats it! Bah HUmbug!

See, that isn't Bah Humbug, that sounds like a lovely Christmas, buying for the kids, doing SOME baking and just relaxing and enjoying the tree and your family and whatever food and goodies that you decide to make and not trying to please everyone else.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

DW and I notice every year, that the Idea of going to WDW, on a cruise, or a vacation to Ireland, Scotland, or England at Christmastime dosn't sound so crazy after all!!

 

[tinkerfan1]

I hate that you feel that way. I enjoy Christmas time so much. I love decorating and listening to the music. I don't have all the "obligations" you talk about, though. Sure we have to get together with my parents and we need to travel to see the grandkids but I don't consider those obligations as much as special family time. This year, instead of it taking 7 hours to go see the grandkids, it is going to take us 9.5 - 10 hours of driving to get there only to turn around 2 days later and drive it all over again (rock slide and snow in the mountains). It will be worth it, though, to see their beautiful faces. We don't buy for other family members and only a couple of friends. We also don't have parties or anything to attend. We are not social butterflies by any means. So, our Christmas time consists of strictly family and a couple of close friends. It is a time of thanksgiving and a time of love. And, it is wonderful. All the other craziness and distractions have to take a backseat during this time of the year for me...with the exception of doing what I can to bring happiness to others.

 

[Angelhalo]

I adore Christmas. First and foremost because I am a Christian and I find great joy in celebrating what Christmas is really about.

I also adore Christmas because it is a time of such happiness. I honestly don't ever experience the stress and the nastiness that others seem to find at this time of year. I never feel like I have too much to do, I don't really ever see many mean people in the stores, and I don't have to spend time with people I don't like. We are in control of who we spend the holidays with. We are in control of what we buy, who we buy for, how much we buy, the events we attend, and the obligations that we commit too. I feel like if we remain in control then our holiday season can be however we want it to be. And for me, the way to do that is to always remember why we're celebrating Christmas to begin with.

 

[GeorgeG]

I have come to dislike Christmas very much. For starters, it's gotten very much away from everything it's supposed to be, and that's coming from an atheist! My guess is it would mean a lot more to so many more people if the "season" was more focused on (perhaps) the week leading up to Christmas rather than three months of shopping and hype about all the commercial aspects.

I came from a relatively small family and prefer the more intimate holiday atmosphere to the large, extended families that dominate just about every holiday with a well-developed chaos that produces pounding headaches and signicant hearing loss.

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

I truly enjoy the Christmas holidays. I will be driving 15 hours with my brother and his three boys to visit my parents and two of my sisters and their families.

I am looking forward to the drive, because my nephews crack me up and I absolutely love a good road trip...

I am looking forward to seeing my parents and my sisters. The only thing that makes me sad is that my grandma has moved back to the midwest, and I will not see her this year!!!

I know alot of people dread the holidays because of their family and I am sorry they do. It will be difficult this year with my mother, my sisters say that she has changed much over the past year. But, yet, I know that she will still be glad to see me.

I just hope my dad leaves the tv off while we open presents!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was severely sick with morning sickness in the fall, my DH lost his job and then started a new one out of state.

Can't say it is the best season ever, but I do find it more relaxing b/c our budget for Christmas went down---just our kids this year (and a token gift for nieces and nephews). I have almost zero obligations outside of our regular schedule--woohoo.....

So it's kind of relaxing. We were a bit harried on Thanksgiving weekend as I had my DH help us with decorating before we left...but it has been fine otherwise.


Purposing to do more in December than you ordinarily would in any other month is sure to drive any person crazy. This includes lots of parties, lots of gift buying, lots of volunteering....

I think you are trying to do too much and the month has become a burden and it is completely normal to feel that way.

I'd cut back and then go from there.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I love Christmas, especially now that I have kids. Over the years, I have become tired of some things so I'm making some changes this year. First, I decided not to send out cards this year. I end up doing all the work myself and, with my husband looking for a job, I didn't want the extra expense. It's been nice to have one less thing to do. Second, I did almost all of my shopping on-line and bought fewer gifts. With older kids (14 and 11), we don't need to stuff the tree with toys and junk. They're each getting a few well-chosen things that they can use. My family will give them plenty so they certainly won't feel deprived. My husband and I set a $50 limit on gifts for each other. We don't need a lot of things and, again, my family always takes good care of us.

The biggest thing I'm changing is Christmas dinner. Everyone comes to our house for dinner and last year it got out of hand. My mom absolutely insists on having turkey. My brother and sister don't eat turkey so they bring their own salmon. My kids are picky and don't eat much of what's on the table. So I would end up making a huge turkey dinner that only four people will eat (my mom, dad, husband and me). My sister cooks the salmon after the turkey is done so we have to wait another 20 minutes for that to come out plus it's another smelly pan to wash. I feel like I'm cooking all day while my husband and kids are enjoying their day. This year, I'm buying a pre-cooked, sliced turkey dinner from a restaurant for my parents. My sister and I are making a few fun appetizers that can be done ahead of time. My brother and son want pizza which we can pick up from a place that will be open that day. I'm expecting to have a much easier and nicer day without the huge mess in the kitchen that I'm cleaning up until midnight.

 

[C.Ann]

I love Christmas, especially now that I have kids. Over the years, I have become tired of some things so I'm making some changes this year. First, I decided not to send out cards this year. I end up doing all the work myself and, with my husband looking for a job, I didn't want the extra expense. It's been nice to have one less thing to do. Second, I did almost all of my shopping on-line and bought fewer gifts. With older kids (14 and 11), we don't need to stuff the tree with toys and junk. They're each getting a few well-chosen things that they can use. My family will give them plenty so they certainly won't feel deprived. My husband and I set a $50 limit on gifts for each other. We don't need a lot of things and, again, my family always takes good care of us.

The biggest thing I'm changing is Christmas dinner. Everyone comes to our house for dinner and last year it got out of hand. My mom absolutely insists on having turkey. My brother and sister don't eat turkey so they bring their own salmon. My kids are picky and don't eat much of what's on the table. So I would end up making a huge turkey dinner that only four people will eat (my mom, dad, husband and me). My sister cooks the salmon after the turkey is done so we have to wait another 20 minutes for that to come out plus it's another smelly pan to wash. I feel like I'm cooking all day while my husband and kids are enjoying their day. This year, I'm buying a pre-cooked, sliced turkey dinner from a restaurant for my parents. My sister and I are making a few fun appetizers that can be done ahead of time. My brother and son want pizza which we can pick up from a place that will be open that day. I'm expecting to have a much easier and nicer day without the huge mess in the kitchen that I'm cleaning up until midnight.

Yep.. When you come to dread the holidays, it's time to make some changes.. Sounds like you've made some excellent choices..