1. To have to think of gifts for people that really don't need them. In the old days, you didn't just buy new shoes when you needed them (or a new bike, phone or whatever). You scrimped and saved and if you were really lucky, you got it for xmas. Nowadays, I'm struggling to think what to get my partner that he hasn't already just purchased for himself...
2.The stress of bearing witness to family arguments. Even if I'm not directly involved, I find it stressful waiting for the inevitable blow up at both Christmas Day functions.
3.The feeling of agitation and anxiety I'm experiencing as I realise I'm fast running out of time to (a) decorate (b) send cards (c) buy gifts.
4. Stuff. I really don't need anything. I don't know how to say I love that you're thinking of me but don't waste your money (I love all the lovely gifts I get but everyone could spend their money more wisely on themselves or someone who does need something.)
5. To listen to really awful Mariah Carey and Wham xmas songs from 20 years ago on the radio. What gives?! They were hideously crap then, and still are. Of course, I grew up with Col. Saunders Christmas Album, and it's still my favourite (seriously and yes, I believe we got it free with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the early '70's) so I understand it's a high standard to compete with...
Not sure what gives this Christmas but I've truly hit the wall. Here's hoping next year I get my elf mojo back and am full of the festive cheer late November...
Have a wonderful day with your family and friends and enjoy all the Christmas magic that hopefully abounds...
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!
Linking with #XmasLinky
You've nailed what the problem with Christmas is - excess. Our family has made a concerted effort to keep the gift giving among adults to a minimum. The kids still get showered with way to much stuff. Also it goes on for far too long. Its supposed to be 12 days of Christmas - more like 12 weeks. No wonder people are collapsing over the finish line on Boxing Day. All the best for a happy and safe break.
ReplyDeleteJust saw your post - we could start a Maraih free xmas movement in the interest of goodwill towards all men...
DeleteI feel the same this year! It feels so overwhelming. I'm also trying to finish a book contract, raise a baby and a toddler, clean the house before my mother in law arrives, and organise a 3 year old's party. It's too much! That's on top of the annual pre Christmas emails that circulate in my family, trying to ward off Christmas disaster, but just add to the stress.
ReplyDeleteoh, I have a Jan birthday party I have to finalise before school breaks up...is rsvping so hard??!! I think all birthdays should be banned in Dec/Jan. (and yay to you on a book contract!)
ReplyDeleteI hear you! My husband has accused me of being a grinch several times this year, but I just feel like all the organisation of Christmas falls to me. I will have to disagree about Wham though - I have a secret love for that song "Last Christmas" :)
ReplyDeleteI just went to your page but couldn't find the comment button?? Have to tell you the sparkly reindeer is very impressive - it looks great!
DeleteI hope you find your mojo soon and have a lovely Christmas. Rachel x
ReplyDeleteI understand so much of this! It's really hard when you see so many other struggling, and we are so blessed. I've been looking at all my kids stuff and thinking that they really don't need anything.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lovely Christmas anyway, and the family drama is kept to a minimum xx
I love your list, made a nice change from all the I want lists. Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely I hope things ease for you
ReplyDeleteIs it me or does Col Sanders look like Rolf Harris? I hear you! This is our first Christmas as a family of 3 here in Australia as we moved a few months ago, and although I will obviously miss my family and the whole big Christmas thing in the UK, it is nice not to get caught up in all the stress and buy for buyings sake which I always used to do. This year it is nice and small and less stressful and we will enjoy it for what it should be about.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lovely stress free Christmas!
Found you from IBOT.
Great list!
ReplyDeleteWe so far to many i Wants.. don't we.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. xx
I think there's a lot of us suffering from the same feelings you are - so very well said! Our family has scaled it back a lot this year. And next year my sisters will both have kids, too, so it will purely be about them.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the Mariah carol - makes my ears bleed. But I'm totally up for a bit of for Wham's "Last Christmas".
ReplyDeleteI know, it's wrong.
Have a great bloggy break and wonderful Christmas :)
Ahhh yes, it appears you have Christmas burn out! We have simplified Christmas year and I am loving that we are having frozen prawn cutlet things and ham sandwiches for lunch! Bring it on!
ReplyDeleteIt does get overwhelming, especially if you try to do too much. Take it easy this Christmas, I hope you find your inner elfness next year.
ReplyDeleteI am not going crazy, and never really do with the gift giving. We have only bought for the kids in the family and haven't gone overboard. Love that you still have that album, I haven't been listening to the radio, so I am haven't heard too many carols.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same. Going shopping this time of year is like going to war.
ReplyDeleteJust too much stuff that we don't want during Christmas. Every year since I've been married, we've been getting more and more low-key. I love it.
I genuinely don't want anyone to buy gifts for me this year. I really struggled to put a list together for hubby to pick from and I felt as though it really was just stuff for the sake of it. We're definitely becoming less frivolous each year.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is so hard to buy for people who just go and get themselves what they want, I absolutely was nodding when I read this
ReplyDeleteWe are having our first big christmas this year and I am so anxious about it. I told my family that if they really think they must get me something then a gift card will do, so that I can do the buy something as I need it.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry, but I am a huge fan of 80s Christmas music - of Slade, Shakin Stevens, Wham, Bandaid and most importantly the Pogues and Kirsty McColl. It makes my day if I hear one of those songs - ha ha. :)
ReplyDeleteOur budget is really quite tight all year round. We have quite a few things we 'need' but I'm not buying anything until I see what the grandparents get the kids. My daughter has outgrown all her clothes so I'm hoping someone buys her some to save me going Boxing Day shopping, coz in my opinion that is so much worse.
ReplyDeleteUh huh. My mum thinks that she can show us how much she loves us by how many presents she buys. I really don't want my 2.5 year old getting 20 odd presents from just one grandmother - especially when I'm trying to teach her not to be greedy. Sigh, it's a fight I'm not going to win.
ReplyDeleteGreat list... I can't handle Mariah either. We opt for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Christmas album here.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with a mother who went (and still does) hugely overboard at Christmas. Every year she would spend well over her means to make xmas super special for us, which I appreciated, but looking back now, it was too much! We were spoilt rotten.
I've tried to keep it much simpler with my kids. Even if they only get a couple of quality presents they still think it's magical.
I agree with you, the excess of Christmas has gotten silly. Only kids get presents for Christmas in our family now. Nobody knew what to buy the other and it ended up being an exchange of cash or gift cards of equal value! Stooopid. We are atheists so Christmas hasn't got a religious meaning for us. It is about spending time with our family, eating way too much and watching the kids have fun.
ReplyDeleteI know that Mariah song is annoying but I still love it. I just love the movie Love Actually because it reminds me of my time in London (it was released while I was living there - and I lived near Wandsworth!).
V.
I've lost my Christmas spirit, or perhaps I never really had any. Either way.... all I want for Christmas is... for it to be over.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, sister!!
DeleteXmas is certainly the last thing on my mind at the moment. I hope the rest of the year is good to you and your family. Thanks so much for linking up this year Lydia!
ReplyDeleteI know! I am terribly in that if I want something I just buy it so when my family ask me what I want I draw blank....no idea, and then I end up with random crap that I don't need/want! I know I am terrible to buy for!
ReplyDeleteThis year I made a list for everyone and stuck to it, except Trent. Hes always so dam hard to buy for because he buys everything he wants or needs as soon as he thinks of it.
ReplyDeleteChristmas really feels like it's snuck up on me this year. I'm trying to come to grips with the fact that it's just over a week away!
ReplyDeleteThis list it spot on!
ReplyDeleteStuff! That's on my list of things I don't want too (as I pile more STUFF into the garage for the garage sale tomorrow).
ReplyDeleteYou've absolutely described what grown up Christmases are like. I wish we could all get back to the true meaning of Christmas of being kind and peaceful! #XmasLinky
ReplyDeleteChristmas can definitely get a bit overwhelming!! I have to disagree on the music though - I LOVE a bit of cheesy Xmas music! :) #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of this. It seems like everybody else is in a huge rush to get to Christmas over the past few months but I'm burned out enough even without all the extra hassle. Humbug #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteChristmas can feel a bit overwhelming, so much pressure to have fun and so much to get done. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do find a bit of Elf Mojo in the next week. I totally agree on the first point we are all spending money unnecessarily. #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteI have a small family - one bro who has one child and my mum and we're spending it with them, my SIL and her parents. So no children. I'm buying my niece a present and maybe my mum but usually we donate money as gifts to others - usually the Smith Family, World Vision or Heart Foundation.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love getting together my Share the Dignity Bags and I used to do Assisted Living presents....I took so much care with those. Everything else is just stuff for people that don't need stuff.
ReplyDelete