I hate Christmas!

[Gromit]

I hate how it messes all the normal stuff up. I hate being guilt tripped into spending xmas with my mum in stead of with my boyfriend because she might die in the next year or two.

I hate being told what to do especially by my younger sister, who is bitter because she has remained attached to my mums apron strings because she needs her for baby sitting etc. Its her fault she has no life.

I could have been like her, but there was no way I was going to go and work, give all my money to my mum so she could sit on her arse get drunk and do nothing.

I hate how my sister and her husband can buy the latest in everything on there benefit money, when I work hard and still cant buy the stuff i want..

 

[tdr1nka]

My sympathies Gromit, family stuff aside, I hate the way the UK grinds to a semi p*ssed halt for a week and can't get moving again for another month.

 

[catwoman]

I used to feel similarly about my family but I moved away and have lived independently of them all since the age of 17. I've mellowed over the years and many of them are now dead. At first Christmas was hard but I have now got to the stage where I use the time positively to reflect on the year gone by and people past and present. I make the most of the break from work. I shall see friends on some days but my major project this year is to redecorate my kitchen!
Strike out and go your own way if you need to. It's your life.
Things will get better for you. Believe me.

 

[Speicher]

I agree Gromit, it is a difficult time of year for lots of reasons. I was feeling similarly angry, and as if my brain was about to explode, when I started the thread about "how do you persuade people". Lots of people wrote very thought-provoking replies, you might like to read it.

I do not want to detail the reasons why I was getting so angry, but it certainly was getting to exposion point, and I did not want that to happen.

 

[Mr Pig]

I hate spending xmas with my mum because she might die in the next year or two.

Any luck she might be right soon.

 

[Mr Pig]

I've mellowed over the years and many of them are now dead.

Yes, much easier to get on with people once they're dead! ;0)

 

[Night Train]

I hate how it messes all the normal stuff up.
I hate being guilt tripped...

I hate being told what to do...

I hate how my sister and her husband...

It's not really Christmas that you hate is it? Is it what it has become in your life that is really upsetting you?

I gave up celebrating Christmas many years ago in the sense of not pandering to the spending, the one up manship of present giving, the visiting people I wouldn't visit any other time of the year, the entertaining of people I wouldn't invite in my house anyother time.

I now have a good Christmas period with family and close friends and we give love and good wishes from our hearts.

Also not being a Christian I choose to celebrate the Winter Solstice throughout the period and then the new year and so don't have this intense build up to one day of feasting and bad TV.

 

[catwoman]

Yes, much easier to get on with people once they're dead! ;0)

That's one way of looking at it I suppose. Sad thing is I didn't have anything to say to them when they were alive but a lot was left unsaid and it should have been.

 

[fossyant]

All a delicate management business it is......we are both from big families, so keeping everyone 100% isn't always possible, but we all seem to work on compromise....

My MIL has been pretty ill, so we've had her and FIL over last two years, but my folks are fine as that's how it works... We've got us, my in-laws and my sister in law and her kids Xmas day (dad F'ed off a few years back) - so it's a bit of normailty for them.

Boxing day is my folks - and delayed pressie exchange - but it's nice for those giving to see the kids reactions - we'd rather delay, and my sisters would.... you put the effort in, you'd like to see folk's expressions...far better.... my kids will have two Xmas days.....

Negotiation is the way - it's difficult, but all have too - look after the most needy in the family.... (in our case my wife's mother has had a stroke and is limited in movement - she was recovering from a heart op last year..so it's the same again) with the added sister in law and kids, but we'll enjoy it as we've got some good present's for the niece and nephew - not expensive, but something the'll go mad with (aged 14-16)......

It will be fun both days......

 

[marinyork]

I used to go and see my grandparents for most Christmasses. It was not an enjoyable experience drunk aunties and uncles arguing cheek by cheek with shallow, greedy cousins and victorian grandparents. Endless gossip and judging of other people (I sometimes think the comparison of wealth and gossip is the only function of families). I've now not seen my grandparents since the 1990s and only spoke to them twice I think. They were quite interested that I'd learnt to drive and passed my test last year and were somehow convinced that I'd become some good gas guzzling driving moton and driving around in a car would make me a better person! These are not the sort of people I want to share time with. My mother knows in her heart of hearts that they are not really suited to us but tends to offer up explanations as to their behaviour out of a lifetime of loyalty. My mum has never been one to argue with them, other aunties have had temporarily similar treatment and told them to get stuffed.

Since then I've spent christmas with a smaller unit of famliy and on boxing day sometimes had a christmas meal with friends which has been absolutely fantastic. Also when not working I've seen another set of family friends between christmas and new year and had a similar sort of thing running. Sadly this year it looks like one of those new traditions running the last few years will be taking a year off.

 

[postman]

I am beginning to think the same way. A lot of trouble for just a couple of days. Was thinking last night,if i was suddenly left on my own. I don't think i would bother. But with children it makes all the difference. So no matter how you celebrate the next few days all the best to each and everyone of you.

 

[mr_hippo]

25th is a normal day in sunny Bangkok and Mrs Hippo is working. Looking back, I think I've had more bad Christmasses than good ones! The only thing I had off my ex for many years was "I didn't know what to buy you so I didn't get you anything!" So I looked forward with dread to the holiday season.
Mrs Hippo & I decided years ago not to buy each other gifts for birthdays and Christmas but if we see something that the other would like then any day is a good day for gift-giving!
We do get into the spirit of Christmas when we are in the UK with the kids and the grandkids but with just the two of us in Bangkok, we don't bother.

 

[Mr Pig]

I didn't have anything to say to them when they were alive but a lot was left unsaid and it should have been.

Don't sweat it, that's always how it is. We're not very good at figuring out how short life is.

I am a Christian but I don't bother about the 'Christian' part of Christmas, it's just a fun time with the family as far as I'm concerned. It was a pagan festival, it has nothing to do with Christianity. Jesus wasn't born then.

 

[Dave5N]

I love Christmas.

I get to eat lots of nice food. I get to drink lots of nice drinks.

Oh, and people give me presents.

What's not to like?

 

[Abitrary]

I agree, I also get to eat lots of nice food and drink lots of nice drinks and get lots of presents.