I give up on Christmas this year

[AlleyKat]

I don't think husbands should get a "get out of jail free" card for Christmas. It's their family too. They should help as much as possible.

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[samshane]

I am feeling the same way, sad to say... my DH is in Iraq this year and the Christmas spirit is just not there, no matter how hard I try. All of our family lives in other areas of the country - and the kids (he's been gone over 6 months now)... well, everything is just getting to me at this point.

I will be happy when we hit January and the holiday is over for this year... I told him next year HE is doing ALL of the Christmas stuff.

 

[pandora174]

I know how you feel. DH is a sweetie but totally gift/holiday impaired. So I do 99 & of the shopping online to save my stress. I have 90 % presents wrapped. I keep a calendar with all activities for home/work/school holiday events including today's DS family b-day party. BUT & a big BUT DH has agreed to do ALL the cleaning before & after. Bath for DS everyday, all the laundry & his usual dad stuff like lawn, garbage etc. & if I am wrapping & it's dinner time he will throw something together. SO I have enjoyed all the wrapping, decorating, shopping for good deals, getting reward points & he is happy right now getting DS ready for the party while I DIS, he hates to do all te stuff I lov but get really stressed if added to my regular routine !

 

[wenrob]

I don't think husbands should get a "get out of jail free" card for Christmas. It's their family too. They should help as much as possible.

I agree but we also need to tell them what we want done. Just because they've seen us do it a million times over the years doesn't mean they know what we want done. AND we have to accept the fact that they will not do it the way we would and that's okay.

 

[Planogirl]

I kind of felt this recently. I wanted to drive over and look at a new display (a house with lights that move to music) and didn't want to go alone. DS protested and DH is always too busy.

I thought that they could do something little like this and not just for me but actually enjoy it. I feel jealous of those families I see out there at the festivals and malls together. But then I think that maybe they're tired of schlepping around and I just don't see it. And DS is a teen (and what teen boy likes decorations and such things) and DH works hard and is tired. But still...

Eh, we do what we have to. Let's treat ourselves to a little Christmas cheer and maybe they'll join in sometime. OK, vent over.

 

[Ratpack]

Wow! I needed this post and thread after this morning! I have had a major meltdown this morning! I simply have had it with my family! I've asked nicely, I've offered to go do something fun when we got finished with a house chore, I joined in to help them- allowing them to participate in dances, sleepovers, playdates, etc....and NOONE begins to move until you lose your cool!

I usually am the one that does all of the shopping for both sides of the family, sending cards (which I love to do), wrapping gifts, organizing the parties and schedule, cleaning the house, etc. I am also a full time teacher, so I have to take on my own students, staff, etc for holidays too. Not to mention the holiday events for my own children, programs at school, teacher gifts, etc.

I have no Christmas Spirit left in me at all right now. Not even "It's a Wonderful Life" could bring back my spirit last night.
I will try to take a moment and reflect, read your posts again, and step out for a while. I hope that this does help...if not, I am going to head to the North Pole and BEG for Santa to put something in my stocking that will help with my poor spirit!

 

[marsha123]

i can not wait till christmas is over.

 

[mickeyboat]

I made a lot of progress this weekend, and feel much better. I hope to have some fun (maybe baking) next weekend!

 

[Snowysmom]

I can definitely understand not being the Christmas spirit this year. I just don't feel it at all right now. Luckily, my DH does alot of the Christmas prep and we buy and wrap the kids' gifts together. I just feel overwhelmed this year in not having enough time to do it all. Between the kids' schedule and DH's work, there is not alot of time to do decorating together. Plus, my father passed away a year ago and I am still dealing with administrative junk from that that should have been done a long time ago (not my fault.) We just sold his house too and that was kind of sad. I have had to just decide that it is OK not to have my card tree on the door or everything just so. As long as the tree is up and the mantel is decorated, I will take it. Maybe listening to some Christmas music and watching a couple of Christmas shows will help.

 

[donac]

I was doing okay with everything until this past week. Dh had hernia surgery on Wed and then wouldn't sit still on Thursday and really paid for it with a lot of paIN on Friday.

then throw in the panic ds2 threw at us. He was asked to go Africa over winter break to work on a project his chapter of Engineers without Borders. We never thought he would be asked since he is only a sophomore so we never got his passport. We have spent a lot of time this week working on getting his passport and hopefully thing will goo well tomorrow to correct a mistake that happened Thurday (please cross your fingers and toes that everything goes well tomorrow) It is an opportunity of a lifetime but it is taking a lot of our time just now.

I did get out yesterday and shopped. I think I am just about done but dh never thinks we are. that is always the hardest part of the holidays. I still have a lot to do but I feel better today than I did yesterday morning.

Good luck everyone.

 

[Planogirl]

I just wanted to say that it really helped me to read through this thread and I recommend it for everyone struggling with the Christmas blahs. Maybe it's good to know that you're not alone.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

If it's the same Delilah from Atlantic City's 96.9 then yes. Love songs, etc from 7 to midnight?

what the heck? its the same except different radio stations and cities! does she have a soft voice? Im starting to think there are many delilahs around the country.....ive been noticing a lot of delilah radio hosts that do the same thing all over the US

 

[mickeyboat]

Double post.

 

[mickeyboat]

I am pretty sure Delilah has a nationally syndicated program. We used to have her here in New England, too. Now the station plays John Tesh - and I am pretty sure he is not sitting in the radio station in Lebanon, NH every night.

http://www.radiodelilah.com/affiliates/affiliates.html
Here's a list of all the stations.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

Oh so both john tesh and delilah have their radio shows broadcasted across the country? That makes much more sense

 

[a1tinkfans]

I really don't mean to bring anyone down but I have just reached my limit this year. I do 99% of the Christmas shopping, planning, wrapping, ect and it has just exhausted me this year. I love my family but realized I live with two of the biggest ingrates ever put on this earth.

DH just thinks everything is done magically and all DD does is gripe about the smallest details.

With work being crazy and moving house just weeks away everything is just nuts right now anyway.

So I have thrown in the towel and refuse to do one more thing this year. I have passed the torch to DH who just gave me this stunned look as I told him as much.

I think I'll relax with a good book and cocktail tonight...after all my Christmas work is done.

Its tough being a SUPER MOM!!!!
You are NOT alone!!!

 

[Lucky4me]

I know the feeling well. Over the last few years, I've had my bah humbug moments, for many of the same reasons stated on this thread.

Then last Christmas for the first time ever, I didn't put up a light or pull out one decoration. I didn't go Christmas shopping or wrap one present. I didn't have to do one thing concerning Christmas.
My husband had cancer and we spent the holidays in the hospital, 400 miles from home.
The experience made me realize what was important on Christmas. It wasn't the decorations. It wasn't the perfect tree, the perfect meal or the perfect gift.
It was spending time with those we love and feeling grateful for being together.
Despite all we were going through, it was a very special Christmas.
We sort of felt like the Who's in Whoville from the Grinch Stole Christmas. As corny as it was, they had it right. You can take all the 'things' away, but you can't take the spirit out of your heart.

This year, dh's cancer is in remission and things are getting back to normal. The house is decorated, lights are up, gifts are bought and wrapped and the Christmas menu is being planned. All mostly done by me. The difference is this year, for the first time in many years, I loved every minute of the preparation.
You truly don't know how special it all is, until it's not there.

I hope everyone who is feeling less than enthused about the upcoming holiday knows they are not alone. I don't think there are any magic words to make you feel better, it's different for everyone. My advice is, do what you want to make yourself feel better. You may be surprised how life goes on just fine even if you don't do exactly what you did in previous years, or what you think is expected.