I Dread Christmas, 2012

I had one on 13th December 30 years ago and when i left hospital I felt as though all the decorations were there just for us. I still decorate the tree on or just after his birthday (it always used to depend on when he had his party). I agree that it helps to make the season more special.

I had DD2 on 17th December, 1974. The whole family came for Christmas and I remember soaking nappies in Napisan while everyone roared with laughter at Morecambe and Wise.

On the actual Christmas day 38 years ago while I was in UCH with our newborn, my elder daughter (2 yrs) had to go to my parents' house as my policeman husband was on duty. When he got home all the family came to our house and his sister (no kids) fed our 2 yr old with choc mints which made her sick all over her cot in the middle of the night.DH was not best pleased. Had our next baby on Halloween.I like to pick an occasion!

If you were in UCH 38 years ago, chances are that my sister could have been your midwife!

If I found myself alone at Christmas time I think I would go and volunteer somewhere where there are loads of people and it's noisy and warm, like one of those places which serve a good meal to the homeless in London. I'm told the camaraderie is wonderful. After my ex left, ten years ago, my grown up children rallied round. Now one daughter is in Oz and the other has my lovely granddaughters in deepest Wales, but I'll be going there after Boxing Day. My son thinks he may come over but I suspect he'd like to be elsewhere with friends.
I'm very lucky though and met a super man seven years ago, moved in with him, happy ever after...very lucky! We've been looking forward to Christmas Day on our own together and are resisting his large family do, at least until Boxing Day!
Get out there girls, there are plenty of lonely men around!

boomer you sound like a very positive upbeat sort of person

OH qualified at UCH in 1969 - so a bit too early to have helped with the birth.

"wisewoman" Snap! My sunny little boy was born a month before Christmas 71 and I refused to do anything about Christmas until after his birthday party thereafter. It was a rush particularly as I always seemed to be the Christmas hostess in the family. But it was great, I loved Christmas. Then as my sons grew into teenagers, we started doing 'the meal' on Christmas Eve, all dressed up in glam clothes with candles on the table and Pictionary afterwards. That was lovely too. Nowadays, we go to the UK and shiver in cold rented cottages and visit the children and grandchildren and 'the meal' mainly comes from Waitrose or Sainsburys because this generation works and doesn't have time for all the preparation. And my offers of help are perceived as interference and the children get overindulged with plastic junk and then get stroppy and we come away saying, 'next year, we'll stay home in France'. So this year we're doing just that and now I'm sad because I won't be with them! Perverse, thats me.

On the way to the shops this afternoon I turned the radio on - for some reason it was tuned to Heart - only for my ears to be assaulted by a burst of 'So here it is, Merr C...' by Slade!
Not just too early, not even true!

Merry, I meant...

Nigh on the same thing happened to me.

In my case however , it was Mariah Carey with All I want for Christmas.

That is my favourite of all time .

Came home put it on UTUBE and listened .

Wonderful !!!!! {Christmas Smile]

Nonu I love that too,especially in "Love Actually" which I've seen a million times!

Is it perhaps time to start an "I love Xmas 2012" thread?

Ella

Yes, get your own thread!

Christmas very low key here this year but well organised as we are going to SIL
..first time ever of not being hostess with mostest,so am feeling a few frissons as long as not in the shops ..well the big ones anyway,have done pressies on internet ,cards written,only wrapping to do now,so quite happy to go along with the silly season ,as long as not over the top and in small doses.
still would love to go and work in a a homeless refuge one Christmas as a volunteer,and think would be great if E could join me to make her thankful for what she does have and enjoy the atmospherexxxx

Oh dear I am going to sound awful to all of those who love christmas. I wish it would just disappear. Just yesterday my DD after a couple of innocent comments from me about xmas told me she "would not have it!" (this refering to her father(my ex H) and his son coming to her on the 23rd and leaving them on the27th). During which time I have been told that on the day "it is just the six of us" this being her my 2 GD's and her partner and every other day is fine. After an invitation to our place on boxing day I was told niether He or his son would feel comfortable with tha ,which I can understand. But where does that leave me and my old man. I will tell you. It leaves us like a lot of other years on our own again or having invites from people to join them as they feel sorry for us. Which I really do not want. I have realised reading back that I should add that she was saying that in relation to feeling like she did as a child when xmas's had to be negotiated between me and her father. I realise she has to try to please both of us but its usually me that is the last one to come into arrangemints. last xmas was awful as she had only just started talking to me after 2 months. Merry Xmas one and all!

I do not particularly care for Christmas but would never fall out with family over who goes where or who eats with who, life is way to short.

I donm't get that janey. If is just her and her partner and their two children at their house on Xmas Day, that's four isn't it? Not six. (you say she is not going to "have it" re your ex and his son staying with them.

I would think it's up to her who she has at her house on the day. She should tell her dad and brother so.

I would think a nice quiet Xmas day on your own with DH would be nice. Especially if they came to you on Boxing Day.

I must admit I didn't quite understand the set-up, but I agree with JO5. What's wrong with spending Christmas day with your husband? Why should people feel sorry for you? If you were on your own, I could understand it...

harrigran I think janey wasn't saying that she would fall out, rather that she is told where and when her Christmas will be. There are so many broken families nowadays that Christmas, which is supposed to epitomise happy family gatherings is a minefield for many and a very unhappy minefield at that...I for one am happy to be off to the sun for a week and avoid it all. Expectation versus reality is the problem for many people.

It's ok to grumble on this thread janey - that's what it's for!

Grumble away Janey. I must admit to being a Christmas loony but I can understand why people don't like it because there are aspects of it that I can't stand either.

Why not plan a Christmas that is just for you and your husband.? What do you want to do? Do you have any traditions...if not start some? Why not start the day with a special breakfast? Treat yourselves to whatever you like for lunch...it doesn't have to be a turkey dinner. Buy in some treats. Do you like walking? Wrap up warm and go and feed some ducks. I love the peace and quiet of Christmas Day. There is hardly any traffic and even walking in towns and cities feels different.

Plan your Christmas around what you and your husband like. If you want to, say you'll pop into to see your daughter on Christmas morning/afternoon but you won't be staying long because you're going to.....whatever you've chosen to do.

Christmas is a time to rest and enjoy. Family hassles spoil it. So forget the hassles and share a special day with your husband.

I'm not crticising janey at all!

Just trying to get the situation clear in my head.

In case I can offer any invaluable words of wisdom.

just wish there was not so much hype and huge expectation each year!! I guess if things were normal in our family and i had my little grand daughters to see I would be different,

But hey ho we are going my to dearest Son and his new partner and step sons, have bookd hol inn for xmas night on Sunday and all sorted!!

got keep smiling somehow!!
We taking a carefully chosen book for my little grand daughters one we knew and adored and one never seen plus Next vouchers for each of them have chosen card, will pop in letter box and not even ring the bell, next Monday please send us positive wishes for that!! we then going to Ipswich park and ride to take minds off it!!