Why does it have to be one or the other?!

[mommaU4]

Warning... this might be a bit of a vent for me.

I have seen two threads so far about Christmas and whether you "love it and can't wait" or "dislike it and want to not celebrate".

Why does it have to be one or the other? I posted on both because quite honestly for me it's not that simple. Isn't there a gray area in the middle somewhere? Why does it have to be divided into two camps? That seems like it has the potential to get ugly which would be a real shame.

For the record I do not hate Christmas. But there are things about it that I definately could do without. I posted them on the one of the threads so I won't go into alot of detail but it basically has to do with the commercialism and materialism surrounding the weeks leading up to it. (you know every week-end it's the biggest sale of the season, year, month, etc. And everything is re-packaged to make it "cutesy" but doubled in price) That's all. Nothing against Christmas itself.

So for me I just wanted to say it's not a black or white matter and maybe we need a thread titled "Who's on the fence about Christmas"!!

 

[gigglesnort]

I think there are lots' of reasons for people to love/hate the holidays.

I used to love them, now there was a loss in the family and I can't wait for them to be over. Maybe next year I'll love them again, who knows?

I love them when I have enough money to get thru it, I pretty much hate them when I am broke and can't eat to pay for stupid gifts!!

I guess I don't see the big deal if people love them or hate them.
it's just like sports, politics, relgion......

The highest suicide rates are during the holidays. The holidays have a way of making people who don't have the ideal family situation feel very alone. They can be brutal.

 

[Disney Doll]

You know, the year my in-laws died (one in March & one in December of 2001) Christmas came anyway, even though I didn't have time to:
1. Send cards
2. Buy a million gifts
3. Bake a million cookies
4. Have a holiday party
5. Buy 5 new outfits to wear to umpteen holiday parties
6. Go to umpteen holiday parties

I didn't have time to do those things that "have to" be done for Christmas because my and my extended family's time was being spent caring for first one then another terminally ill loved one.

I did have time to:
1. Make sure my in-laws knew until their last breath that they were loved
2. Put up the holiday decorations that I enjoy...those that make it "Christmas" for me
3. Reflect on the true meaning of the season...love
4. Get the important people in my life some meaningful gifts
5. Partcipate in the meaningful holiday traditions

I guess my point is that if Christmas isn't what you think it should be for you, then decide what stays and what goes and recreate it. In 2001 I learned that all the pressure I put on myself to have the "Hallmark" Christmas was unnecessary.

It was a revelation!!!!!!!!

 

[mommaU4]

Disney Doll, that is good advice and exactly what we do.
It's just frustrating to see these threads where people proclaim the holidays to be either all good or all bad, when in reality I imagine for most folks it's a little of both.

 

[gigglesnort]

Disney Doll, that is good advice and exactly what we do.
It's just frustrating to see these threads where people proclaim the holidays to be either all good or all bad, when in reality I imagine for most folks it's a little of both.

why is it frustrating for you? Some people hate the holidays. What's the big deal?

If someone says they don't like them, then I'm not going to assume that it's just a "little of both" for them.

Try not let other people's feelings ruin it for you. Enjoy yourself!

 

[mommaU4]

why is it frustrating for you? Some people hate the holidays. What's the big deal?

If someone says they don't like them, then I'm not going to assume that it's just a "little of both" for them.

Try not let other people's feelings ruin it for you. Enjoy yourself!

They don't ruin it for me. I guess I was just responding to the two threads here and how already it seems to be causing problems. Of course everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and whether they love it or not is really none of my business. I was just saying that for me it's not that simple.
BTW, gigglesnort, I responded to another post of yours. Just basically said that I hope things get better for you.

 

[bicker]

Why does it have to be one or the other?

It's really not unusual: Folks who don't care much, one way or the other, about something, tend to discuss it less than those who are passionate about it.