What was the most stressful part of christmas this year?

[Spinneret]

Making sure the kitchen was ready in time

 

[tvguy]

Getting a text from our daughter saying she was at the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany and a car had just driven into a group of people. 20 minutes later, she texted that she was safely back at her apartment. But that was a long 20 minutes. And it was hours before the scope of what happened became known.

 

[TippyThomas]

I usually have some help at the shelter to clean up and feed. I told everyone I would cover it today so they could stay home with their families. I guess the most stress is that it takes a bit longer to get things done, but really not an issue for me at all.

 

[lynxstch]

I usually have some help at the shelter to clean up and feed. I told everyone I would cover it today so they could stay home with their families. I guess the most stress is that it takes a bit longer to get things done, but really not an issue for me at all.

Thank you for what you do at the shelter every year. That's a very nice gesture.

 

[JLTraveling]

Money. I'm self employed, and for some reason, my biggest client came screeching to a halt pay-wise in the middle of November. Huge stack of already completed work just waiting to be approved and paid. It wouldn't have been a huge deal, except that all my clients dried up back in August and I was unemployed for 2.5 months, which killed my savings. Fortunately it all got straightened out about a week before Christmas, but it put me way behind on everything.

 

[ronandannette]

Christmas is time of (almost) pure joy for us. It's one of the major celebrations of our faith and we jump in head-long to church services, community volunteering and activities, decorating, shopping, baking, going to parties, hosting parties...whew! It's a whirlwind month, for sure, but all done at our own pace and all so fulfilling! The stress comes from my work at this time of year. All the seasonal festivities there (in house and with clients/suppliers, ect.) coincide with major projects of management and annual planning, and both of those take valuable time away from accomplishing our daily tasks, and those expectations still must be met - come what may. I end up putting in TONS of extra hours in a race towards our annual holiday shut-down (Dec. 23 - Dec. 30 and another couple of days for the New Year). All told, I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is my long-anticipated day to do nothing.

 

[citruscurtis]

Four dinners ...dec 22-25...3 at our place...we have the largest patio and youngest in our Yuma winter visitor family

 

[leebee]

Christmas is always stressful for me. I realized today that I don't enjoy it very much. I always feel the stress of not doing enough, not making it a real holiday or having a bunch of traditions, as so many other families have; did I cheat DD out of holidays, am I short-changing the resident 8 year old? It's also the hardest time at work, as grading lab reports, written assignments, and exams sort of pile-up as there is a hard deadline on submitting grades, so lots of extra work. It's just a lot. I wish Christmas was simpler, more home-and-family focused, a brief respite from out crazy lives, instead of a time that makes lives more hectic and crazier.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Getting a text from our daughter saying she was at the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany and a car had just driven into a group of people. 20 minutes later, she texted that she was safely back at her apartment. But that was a long 20 minutes. And it was hours before the scope of what happened became known.

I can not fathom how you must have felt then and later ( after realizing the scope of terror caused by one driver). I am happy you had a blessed outcome.

 

[tvguy]

I can not fathom how you must have felt then and later ( after realizing the scope of terror caused by one driver). I am happy you had a blessed outcome.

Thank you. She had the distraction of being in the middle of moving from one apartment to another, and traveling out of town for the holidays with friends. Today is the first day we were able to do more than exchange texts and do a video chat. I think it may hit her harder when she gets back to Magdeburg and her University's Christmas break is over and they are back in class. I had not seen news coverage, but she says there have been a number of protests (for lack of a better word) as a result of this incident focused on political issues. Nobody in her program at her University is from Germany, so everyone is there on a Visa, and Visa policies are at the center of the protests.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Thank you. She had the distraction of being in the middle of moving from one apartment to another, and traveling out of town for the holidays with friends. Today is the first day we were able to do more than exchange texts and do a video chat. I think it may hit her harder when she gets back to Magdeburg and her University's Christmas break is over and they are back in class. I had not seen news coverage, but she says there have been a number of protests (for lack of a better word) as a result of this incident focused on political issues. Nobody in her program at her University is from Germany, so everyone is there on a Visa, and Visa policies are at the center of the protests

I understand!! My son did a study abroad semester in Beijing, after graduating with his BA/BS went back to China for 6 years teaching. It (Anything political in the news) was a constant concern.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

There were really no stressful parts to our christmas this year! We baked and decorated so much, celebrated winter solstice, Saturnalia, and Sir Isaac Newton's bday, and are looking forward to an awesome New Years celebration!

 

[TCRAIG]

Most stressful for me was first Christmas completely alone (lost my mom in ‘22, husband in’23 and dad earlier this year) - so much to do and feeling that I’m not young or strong enough to do it all and I really want to keep all our traditions going… but then there’s the positive note - I found out I could get an 8’ live tree into the house, use a mini chain saw to cut 3” off the bottom, put it in the stand, level it out and then decorate it…all by my little old lonesome!

 

[tvguy]

I understand!! My son did a study abroad semester in Beijing, after graduating with his BA/BS went back to China for 6 years teaching. It (Anything political in the news) was a constant concern.

This is her second trip through college. Got her BA 10 years ago, including a year studying abroad in the U.K. This commitment is for 3 years for a second degree, a BS..

 

[A Squared]

Not telling anyone I may lose my job early next year as place I work isn't taking enough money. I really want to scream "I might lose my job, what do I do?" but won't as will really put a dampener on things.

 

[CynBeth]

Not telling anyone I may lose my job early next year as place I work isn't taking enough money. I really want to scream "I might lose my job, what do I do?" but won't as will really put a dampener on things.

I know exactly how you feel. Right before Thanksgiving 2023 the company I had been with for almost 17 years told us they were letting almost everyone go and the awful offshore people were taking our positions and most of us had until the end of February. Some would be gone end of December and some the end of January. We rushed to work on our resumes and sign up with Linked In and Indeed. Most people did not want to be there after what they did to us and did minimal work and would not help each other. Even though we were remote since Covid hit it was miserable to be there. I am not close to DH’s family since they do not like that I am a different religion but we do see them on Christmas and I did not want to say anything about my situation and feel like I was ruining their holiday. Luckily I found out about an opening at a similar company and got the job. It took time for the onboarding process and then I still wanted to give 2 weeks notice so started the beginning of February.

 

[Meriweather]

Hosting and having 5 extra people spend the night. Getting dinner prepped.
I would have liked some quiet time, but it didn't happen.....and I was so tired....that makes me grouchy.
Having my house a giant mess......I am a neat freak and that stresses me out the most.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Nothing too big really. I think Christmas Eve was the most stressful. It was hard trying to adhere to a schedule and all. It also did not help that everybody was off and I had to work a half day (from home) with everybody here. I think at some point everybody gave up on getting anything done and we all just ended up chatting in Teams until clock finally ran out.

My mother in-law did cause some stress on Christmas day, but really I am thankful we did not have the problems that other people have and we are truly blessed despite some of the minor annoyances.

 

[RUDisney]

I hosted 18 of us at my Dad's house. Mom passed away in April and Dad is scattered without her. I've taken over his finances and he calls me for everything. He wanted to do Christmas Eve at his house, so we agreed. I had my list of things to remember to box up to take to his house, and I still forgot some things. Luckily, my kids followed me and they were able to bring the things that I'd forgotten.

Everyone brought items for the dinner, but I did the heavy lifting. Everything went very well and my siblings and BIL helped to clean up.

I hosted my Dad at my house last night for dinner. He is usually critical of me for making "fancy" dinners, but for Christmas, I guess it was ok. Prime rib, scalloped potatoes, and roasted carrots on a bed of whipped ricotta and pasta verde. For my vegan, I left the carrots off of the ricotta, made cold sesame noodles and a chickpea/tomato salad with cilantro and lime. Dad kept raving about how good everything was, which was very nice to hear. He was also grateful that he got to visit with everyone while I managed his kitchen.

Everything was good on Christmas Eve until my brother raised a glass to our mother and said how much he missed her. It brings tears to my eyes just typing it. We all miss her so much, but we did her proud keeping all of the Christmas traditions alive in her house.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I hosted 18 of us at my Dad's house. Mom passed away in April and Dad is scattered without her. I've taken over his finances and he calls me for everything. He wanted to do Christmas Eve at his house, so we agreed. I had my list of things to remember to box up to take to his house, and I still forgot some things. Luckily, my kids followed me and they were able to bring the things that I'd forgotten.

Everyone brought items for the dinner, but I did the heavy lifting. Everything went very well and my siblings and BIL helped to clean up.

I hosted my Dad at my house last night for dinner. He is usually critical of me for making "fancy" dinners, but for Christmas, I guess it was ok. Prime rib, scalloped potatoes, and roasted carrots on a bed of whipped ricotta and pasta verde. For my vegan, I left the carrots off of the ricotta, made cold sesame noodles and a chickpea/tomato salad with cilantro and lime. Dad kept raving about how good everything was, which was very nice to hear. He was also grateful that he got to visit with everyone while I managed his kitchen.

Everything was good on Christmas Eve until my brother raised a glass to our mother and said how much he missed her. It brings tears to my eyes just typing it. We all miss her so much, but we did her proud keeping all of the Christmas traditions alive in her house.

I have a tear in my eye too! I AM someone who might have done the same because I believe all of our beloved departed are still with us and should be mentioned, remembered and honored! You gave your dad the greatest gift- your time!!