Tis the season to have a nervous breakdown. Seriously. There is no more stressful time of year and what makes it worse, I think, is how we’re all meant to be so ho bloody ho and filled with cheer. So without going all bah-humbug on you (I do love Christmas, mostly), I thought I’d take a moment to acknowledge some of un-jolly aspects of the silly season……
1. EXPECTING TOO MUCH
Here’s the thing: Christmas peaks around age 4-6. The excitement, the magic, the presents. The lack of responsibility. All you have to do is show up and open gifts. The rest of your life will be spent eating, drinking and incurring vast credit card debt to try and re-capture that elusive magic. You never will. I’m just saying.
2. PLAYING HAPPY FAMILIES
Blended families can be a wonderful thing. So can in-laws. No so much on December 25. The collision of geography, logistics and family politics is ugly. In many households, complex negotiations begin months out. ‘We went to your parents last year,” it goes. “This year we have to have lunch with my Mum and then drop in to see my Dad even though I can’t stand my step-mother’s son and his brats who never say thankyou.” Etc.
So much time in the car. So much turkey and beer in the stomach. So much reverting to dysfunctional childhood roles.
The only thing worse is having lost someone you love and feeling their loss even more acutely at Christmas. Are we having fun yet?
3. KEEPING SANTA ALIVE
Once your children reach a certain age, you have to work the Santa thing so much harder. Annoyingly, kids today are smarter than we were and begin questioning the viability of flying reindeer earlier than we did. However, there is a crucial grey zone between unflinching belief and knowing for sure Santa is bollocks.
Top Comments
The number 1 most stressful part of Christmas is hosting. If you think the cost of presents is bad add on the cost of food and then the credit card will really take a hit.
If the only thing you have to worry about is whose house you are going to drag yourselves to and having to spend time in the car on Christmas Day then you are one lucky lady. I'll be busy doing the dishes after everyone leaves . . .
I love Christmas. My husband's family does the big European XMAS Eve celebaration, complete with about 25 people and lots of Eurpopean sweets/cake, which is magical. My family does the traditional XMAS morning exchange of gifts, and, when we celebrate with them, I love to see the excitement on my children's faces when they see all the presents waiting for them under the tree. With both families, there is always a deliciouis Christmas lunch. For me, Christmas stress usually arises because I am off work for the year and the biggest thing I have to stress out about is not having completed my Christmas shopping. This year, I haven't had time to stress out yet. My husband has been overseas working for 3.5 months (and will be away until Mar), so I have had to juggle XMAS shopping with work, child wrangling, organising a holiday to see my husband in Jan, pregnancy and my 6 y.o daughter having surgery today. Thankfully, my daughter is now in the recovery room after a successful sugery, my XMAS shopping is complete, work is finished for the year and the holiday is booked. Though I have just remembered my family are coming to my place this year and I will have to start thinking about the Christmas food!
Merry Christmas to all.