Skipping Christmas?

[mommaU4]

Anyone read that book? My mom gave it to me one year and I've read and re-read it so many times I practically have it memorized. There's been times I would love to skip Christmas. I have such a love/hate feeling towards it anyways.

What about you? Have you ever had a "can we just skip all this" moment during the holidays?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

You know if I had read this thread a couple of years ago I would say you were crazy. How could anyone ever want to skip Christmas. Now that my kids are grown, my parents are older it is no fun anymore. I do not even feel like putting up a tree to me it is work. I am a person who had 5 trees in various themes . I had friends beg to come over with their relatives to see my house. I used to be a florist. WEll, I would skip it this year in a minute.

 

[mom2boys]

Yep. We actually did manage to skip Christmas one year. It was before we had kids. Both of my parents & DH's mother had been deceased for several years. WE took a two week Carribean Cruise. It was great. We spent Christmas day cruising into the locks of the Panama Canal. (We didn't go through - just up three locks and back out.)

 

[jennyl772003]

The year my BF (now DH) and me first celebrated together. It was a nightmare trying to make every one happy.

My mom was upset that we weren't going to her house, My BF didn't want to have to wake up at the crack of dawn in order to see everyone. I didn't want to play favorites over my family and BF's.

I just cried and wanted the whole holiday to just go away.

Now things are better, but toward the end of our Christmas marathon, I wish it was over!

 

[C.Ann]

If you find the holidays too stressful - because you're trying to do everything yourself and trying to please everyone - there's an excellent little book out there you might want to read.. It's called - "Be Your Own Santa Claus" by Sandra Gordon Stoltz..

Not sure if it's still in print, but it's a real eye opener and was a lifesaver for me more than once..

 

[Hercules10]

We kinda did last year when we went on the 10 day Disney cruise. Only put up a nativity scene. No decorations, no presents except for the really young nieces and nephews. No busting of keisters to get into the holiday mood. Ended up being the best Christmas ever.

 

[Lyn5]

This year we are skipping Thanksgiving....we were planning a trip to WDW and it just worked out that we would be gone from home during Thanksgiving. My family and DH's family were completely understanding about it and I think it will be fine....besides, I will be with my DH and kids having fun, what better way to celebrate being thankful for my greatest blessings than to enjoy time with my greatest blessings.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I would love to skip Christmas. I am part of a blended family, so the holidays are really stressful. I hate having to cooridnate my schedule with my stepsister's, and deal with the madness. The last several years (since my mom got married) I've pretty much begged to go to sleep the beginning of September and not wake up until January. The stress is just too much.

 

[minkydog]

Yup. when DS19 was about 2yo I was in a period of deep depression. I couldn't stand anything about Christmas, not the music, shopping. I refused to have a tree put up(you can imagine how taht went over!) DH finally put up a tree OUTSIDE and decorated it I have never felt so lethargic about Christmas. I told DH I wished we could just run away up to the mountains--and he made it happen

We drove up to NC on Dec21, with me crying all the way, and spent 4 glorious days at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. The owners found out we had a 2yo with us and asked a local Santa to drive up from the valley to see him. It was really special. We returned hom on Dec 24 and enjoyed what was left of our quiet holiday and eventually my depression departed. I will always be grateful that my DH put my needs ahead of his desire to have a perfect Christmas. He's a keeper

 

[Stitchfans]

It is my favorite time of the year. Even if I am missing someone that has passed away I would remember the fun times with them. I would hope my DDs always would look forward to Christmas and think of me of how much I loved the music, lights, and family gatherings.

 

[EthansMom]

I've had better Christmases and I've had worse. I like having the ability to "enjoy" the holidays and hate holidays that feel "stressed". Over the years, I've come up with a few loose rules that help me enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Rule Number 1: I don't travel long distances for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We made this rule for DH's and my first Christmas. Anyone was more than welcome to visit us, but we weren't driving or flying long distances. Guess what, no one in our families wanted to travel any more than we did!

Rule Number 2: I try very hard to have as much Christmas shopping done as possible before the month of December. I get to avoid the crowds, the lack of parking, and the stress of finding last minute gifts.

Rule Number 3: If I can purchase a gift on the internet for a good price, I do. I save a lot of time and stress by purchasing items and having them shipped to my home, or in the case of distant family, having gifts shipped directly to their home.

Rule Number 4: I use all of my time and energy in December to do things I really, truly enjoy: baking Christmas cookies and pies, decorating the tree, playing in snow, singing Christmas songs, and talking to the kids about Baby Jesus.

I just purchased my last big gift today. I only need to pick up scratch lottery tix for stockings and a few boxes of chocolates for unexpected guests and I'll be completely done with the gift purchases! Yay!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I read this book when it first came out and loved it. I would never skip Christmas though.

 

[disneygals]

I would never want to skip Christmas , but I'd love to skip Thanksgiving. I sort of am...going to a restaurant even though my kids and dh don't want to.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Great book. Movie was even better.

 

[mommaU4]

Great book. Movie was even better.

I never got to see the movie! Darn. "Christmas with the Kranks" was the name wasn't it? I believe someone said it's being released on DVD this month. I'll have to rent it!