sleepless nights and stress

soon2bjobless

Delagate delagate delagate!! its something I never seem to be able to do as I want to do everything myself but do ask everyone to much in and help (anything like my family they need to be asked to do specific tasks as it wont occur to them whats to be done!) You could even just do a buffet instead of the normal dinner as you can have it spread in different rooms. I love the marmalade glaze idea - last year I tried to make marmalade with satsumas (yes, thats what the recipe said!) didnt work at all so bunged in loads of sugar and make it Xmas orange sauce to pour over ice cream! nobody noticed at all!

Gingerbiscuit_2

Sorry your feeling so stressed, its easy to get overwhelmed. I know you said you wanted a homemade Christmas but sometimes we can put to much pressue on ourself to get everything perfect when noone else will be bothered.

Try making a list of all those jobs that you have to do, and then mark those that are essential ie food to organize/make for Xmas dinner and then a list of things that would be nice finishing touches if you have time or engery IE making your own tablecloth or deciding to use something you have or get a paperone from the pound shop.

Can you get the older children to help wrap pressies for others in the family? Like the others have said try getting some help maybe your mum nan or anty would appreciate comign over for glass of wine a week before and helping you to get some jobs done might even make them feel bit more Christmasy!

jezebel1

hi i normaly set the table ect on xmas eve also prepare all your veg and have bacon roll ect ready in the fridge to go in the oven.
on the morn you could part boil your veg early i have done this and its fine esspecialy carrotts or even buy now blanche it then freeze it takes very little cooking on the day and tastes fresher somehow lol.
if there are children i sometimes put them on there own little table they seem to like this .
putting everything in bowls on the table and letting people help themselves is easier than plateing up for them.
i have 2 or 3 large cakes which i put out for dessert and everyone gets what they want,this year i have also made pots of gold so they have something to nibble with scratchcards for a bit of fun.
after dinner we usualy veg out in front of the tv taking it in turns to watch xmas dvds untill everybody falls asleep in between i will keep running in and out with nibbles and drinks .
top tip give them lots to eat and drink and turn up the heating everybody will be asleep an hour after dinner lol good luck hope it goes well

McKneff

on another note, it really doesnt matter at all does it, stop stressing,

You are such a lucky person to have the chance to have all your family around you. That is what is going to be special.
I would sit on the floor eating my dinner of my knee if i could have all my family members who I have lost in the last 10 years.

Enjoy.........................

themull1

I wish i had my nan still, i lost all my grandparents by the time i was nine. My granny died on christmas day. Christmas isn't about being perfect, its having a good laugh with your family/friends. You'll be fine, you need to take a step back, calm down and make a do able list, Just enjoy being with your family.!! and buy everything ready if you feel stressed about veg preparation etc.!! it will be fine, don't worry.

[Deleted User]

You just sound ......... normal!!!

So just don't stress about being stressed if you know what I mean - Its perfectly normal and maybe just accept it as part of the whole process - AND enjoy the good bits! xxx

I'm not sleeping well at the moment and I blame Christmas coz I know thats what it is!

But I'm not worrying about it ( ie being stressed ) as I know its just a phase and all part and parcel - And I hope theirs a pun in there somewhere ;-) lol

jane130

McKneff wrote: »

on another note, it really doesnt matter at all does it, stop stressing,

You are such a lucky person to have the chance to have all your family around you. That is what is going to be special.
I would sit on the floor eating my dinner of my knee if i could have all my family members who I have lost in the last 10 years.

Enjoy.........................

Thats what I am trying to focus on - My dad isn't with us I lost him 6 years ago and this year its been my mums new husband and my grandfather so just the fact that we are able to gather as a family is huge to me .


Thanks for all the tips x you are of course all right Its being together that really counts and they are coming to me becuase they want something different so they can just accept it how it is ! ( but to be honest its not them putting on the pressure its me )

I do have a long forgotten electric steamer which will be being put into use , Its part of our christmas to get all the veg ready as a fammily on christmas eve so that will stay the same .

Just getting all my worries out has helped hugely - I have sat and made lists - a timetable for christmas cooking and I know dh will help with that as long as Mum goes to collect nan ( which may not be likely but I am hoping) and if he has to then I will still manage - and it doesn't matter of its not perfect !

the marmalade can stay unset in its jars and I will worry about it after christmas as little suprise gifts just to say I love you and couple sock monkeys have come off the list they are for children we don't see often ( but are very dear to us) and a cheapy something will be just as happily recieved .

I have gotten around to wrapping some gifts - thankfully a lot of it just needs to go in gift bags with tissue paper .

I will get through this stressy bit and it will be a lovely relaxed christmas for all

Thankyou once again xx

Sambucus_Nigra

I think you need to get a list made up with 'to do dates' - otherwise you are never going to fulfil all your promises and use the 7 habits method of allocating importance

urgent and important [do these NOW]
not urgent but important [do these next]
urgent but not important [do you really need to?]
neither urgent nor important [ditch these]

Sock monkeys - sorry they are nice and all but.....just cancel that order or ask if they [some or all] can be 'delivered' at a later date and get them done over the festive season.

And the marmalade; isn't marmalade is it? - it's marmalade drizzle and was designed that way