I dont completely hate Christmas but...

is it just me... the older i get the more frustrating Christmas gets...


More regular expenses means less money around xmas....

as years go on more friends and family require presents....

presents keep getting more expensive....

people become less grateful... especially the kids...

putting up lights becomes a chore...

and i can keep going.. but am i the only one?

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I used to feel the same way, but mostly because of the shopping part & because I felt I "had" to write out holiday cards. I've made it easier this year by 1) ordering pre-printed cards & 2) eliminating everyone from our gift list except for my parents/ILs, my son & my niece (all of whom are always grateful). These 2 things have brought the joy back into the holiday for me

Message edited 12/16/2010 11:01:13 AM.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Honestly I have limited who we give presents to.

Friends--we all do a dinner and drinks and that is it.

brother &sil- we do a trip for new yrs and the flights are so the four of us do not exchange-we count the trip and the fancy dinners while were away as the gift.

SO really all that is left are my cousins kids, cple aunts/uncles, and both sets of parents. Oh and DH.

Honestly....I love Christmas and I refuse to let to the stress of the "right gift" ruin that. I am just happy when I get a gift and others should be too!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Its completely lost the meaning. Its a celebration of family, reflection of the past and to those who claim to be religious a celebration of ones religion (depending on which one you practice.) All i see are credit cards flying out of people's wallets, people yelling in the stores, frustration, anger, kids getting everything and anything and no thank you or god bless you.

I see many people who i loved die around this "holiday" and keep remembering how things were and how precious life is. When reflecting I get a email saying "oh now he doesn't want this game he wants the game system, or she wants a touch because the shuffle is for babies (when i own the same shuffle for four years)" etc. I also remember the time when i was starving and eating a can of cold beans because I couldn't afford the gas bill one year and my husband remembers the time he was homeless living in his bands studio (when 18) and cold since there was no heat and living on potatoes. You see when you lived like that you realize what the real holiday is about not the superficial one that its become. I remember as a child getting two toys and clothing and shoes and thinking how lucky i was and now watch my nieces and nephews fight over who got the most or the biggest present. I see how some of my wealthier family members abandon the ones who aren't fairings so well - no christmas cards, no phone calls just silence.

So yea this holiday sucks in my book. But I pick myself up and get all dolled up and smile and just suck it up to make it appear that this is the bestest thing in the world because even though many are poor, suffering, can't seem to make ends meet you gotta keep giving all those fancy gifts to your family members because god forbid you can't.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I think once you have children it becomes special again because you see it thru their eyes

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I still love Christmas - decorating, jolly music, family, etc.

I just hate gift-giving now - the only one I love to buy for is DH.

I used to love shop for gifts - paying attention throughout the year - selecting that special something. Now everyone is SO specific there's no more fun. So I don't care for that anymore.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

you need a visit from a few ghosts, I think.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Christmas is what you let it become.

I get every adult in my life a small $10 present, and one per couple. This year I got everyone calendars (all different ones depending on their interests). They know what kind of gifts I give each year so if someone chooses to get me something over the top, I just accept it graciously with no guilt.

I asked the kids for their Santa Christmas lists and got one average priced gift for each.

I did not step foot into a store, all online shopping.

I sent out preprinted cards and printed out address labels for them.

I let myself enjoy the decorating, the music and the season to the fullest! I am sipping egg nog at work (non-alcoholic of coures) listening to Christmas music at my decorated cubicle while working!

I bought a special Advent prayer book that I read every day and reflect on the true meaning of the holy day.

Never let Christmas become something that you don't want it to be!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Posted by Tilde

Christmas is what you let it become.

I get every adult in my life a small $10 present, and one per couple. This year I got everyone calendars (all different ones depending on their interests). They know what kind of gifts I give each year so if someone chooses to get me something over the top, I just accept it graciously with no guilt.

I asked the kids for their Santa Christmas lists and got one average priced gift for each.

I did not step foot into a store, all online shopping.

I sent out preprinted cards and printed out address labels for them.

I let myself enjoy the decorating, the music and the season to the fullest! I am sipping egg nog at work (non-alcoholic of coures) listening to Christmas music at my decorated cubicle while working!

I bought a special Advent prayer book that I read every day and reflect on the true meaning of the holy day.

Never let Christmas become something that you don't want it to be!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Christmas this year-one thing on my mind.

holding my beautiful baby girl on Christmas Eve while singing next to my sweet little boy who is trying to read the words to the song-while we sit in a pew.

Saturday night after my boy's birthday party we are going to our little country main street and watching a live nativity scene, then getting ice cream.

Everything else...whatever.
My upset parents that i will not leave my working dh home alone to go be with them...whatever. we are going up on the 27th.

presents? over it.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Posted by Tilde

Christmas is what you let it become.

I get every adult in my life a small $10 present, and one per couple. This year I got everyone calendars (all different ones depending on their interests). They know what kind of gifts I give each year so if someone chooses to get me something over the top, I just accept it graciously with no guilt.

I asked the kids for their Santa Christmas lists and got one average priced gift for each.

I did not step foot into a store, all online shopping.

I sent out preprinted cards and printed out address labels for them.

I let myself enjoy the decorating, the music and the season to the fullest! I am sipping egg nog at work (non-alcoholic of coures) listening to Christmas music at my decorated cubicle while working!

I bought a special Advent prayer book that I read every day and reflect on the true meaning of the holy day.

Never let Christmas become something that you don't want it to be!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I love the holidays and yes, there is a lot of work involved, but I enjoy it.

All in all, Christmas to me means that our small family comes together yet once again.
We miss my mom and my BIL's dad who passed away, we worry that Tio Luis is not doing so well.
We enjoy each others company, enjoy the two children who are growing up so fast and are not babies anymore.
We enjoy what we have.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Tilde

Christmas is what you let it become.

I get every adult in my life a small $10 present, and one per couple. This year I got everyone calendars (all different ones depending on their interests). They know what kind of gifts I give each year so if someone chooses to get me something over the top, I just accept it graciously with no guilt.

I asked the kids for their Santa Christmas lists and got one average priced gift for each.

I did not step foot into a store, all online shopping.

I sent out preprinted cards and printed out address labels for them.

I let myself enjoy the decorating, the music and the season to the fullest! I am sipping egg nog at work (non-alcoholic of coures) listening to Christmas music at my decorated cubicle while working!

I bought a special Advent prayer book that I read every day and reflect on the true meaning of the holy day.

Never let Christmas become something that you don't want it to be!

I love you.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

This year I feel exactly like you!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

As Tilde said and I agreed - CHristmas is what you make it. For the past few years I have adopted Salvation Army Angels, and it is the highlight of the Christmas season for me. It fills my heart with joy.

We started changing some of the "gift giving" in my family a few years ago...the amount of gifts going around was getting crazy. In my father's family, all the women (there are a lot of us) - make Christmas ornaments for each other and we also do a recipe swap..and no duplicating. After all these years it's getting interesting to keep it different, but it's part of the fun, we laugh alot. My one cousin doesn't cook so much, but every year she has a new cocktail recipe for us! It's fun how we've all come to count on some of those recipes now!

With my siblings - we stopped exchanging years ago. Instead we wait until January and we all go out to dinner together.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I love this time of year. DH hates it. I have no idea why, he just does.
I love spending time with family. I love decorating. I love buying gifts. I love cooking and baking this time of year.

Sorry you're feeling this way

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

It definitely is what you make it. And if your gonna go about it in a negative way then its gonna turn out negative.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

it is what you make it!

tilde said it beautifully!!

i know that i have lost a bit of the love of the season/holiday along the way. my hope is to gather some of it back, before i passes me. i have a house full of children, the love of my life, my son is happy and healthy and is enjoying the added chaos. i will spend the few weeks (they'll be here until jan 5) taking in every second.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

This is why Christmas is not about gifts in our house. Most things given are handmade, our kids get toys but we don't spend an obscene amount of money.

Gift giving should make the giver just as happy as the recipient.

As for lights, my DH would love to be Clark Griswald lights aren't a problem here

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

I think, like everything else, It is what you make it!

I LOVE IT!

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...

Posted by IrishLass

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Tilde

Christmas is what you let it become.

I get every adult in my life a small $10 present, and one per couple. This year I got everyone calendars (all different ones depending on their interests). They know what kind of gifts I give each year so if someone chooses to get me something over the top, I just accept it graciously with no guilt.

I asked the kids for their Santa Christmas lists and got one average priced gift for each.

I did not step foot into a store, all online shopping.

I sent out preprinted cards and printed out address labels for them.

I let myself enjoy the decorating, the music and the season to the fullest! I am sipping egg nog at work (non-alcoholic of coures) listening to Christmas music at my decorated cubicle while working!

I bought a special Advent prayer book that I read every day and reflect on the true meaning of the holy day.

Never let Christmas become something that you don't want it to be!

I love you.

Ditto.

Re: I dont completely hate Christmas but...