I hate Christmas. Who's with me?

loobylou2

I hate Christmas too and have done since I was about 12 which is over 30 years ago now and when my parents decided that Christmas day would be a good time to tell my sister and myself that they were separating!!!!. I can still see my gran helping my dad pack his things to move out although he didn't move in the end and they are still together after 48 years of marital misery!!!! I think as an adult that this was an exceptionally cruel thing to do to a child and in truth it is something that has blighted Christmas for me ever since. I just can't seem to forget the memory of what happened that year although I know that I should , each year at Christmas it just resurfaces and I don't enjoy it although I plaster a smile on my face and make a superhuman effort for my own family and friends.

Before I had children of my own I always used to make sure I worked over the holiday period and now that I have my own family I just prefer to spend the time quietly at home with them by ourselves and make the day as enjoyable for them as I possibly can. Strangely enough I have no interest in going to visit my parents over Christmas either they won't and have never made the effort to visit us despite invitations, we always have to visit them which involves a lot of travelling with 3 reluctant children using public transport as I don't drive and I just don't buy into all this Christmas is time for families and relatives to get together thing. For me when I was younger Christmas was always punctuated by rows between my parents and my now deceased grandmother who was widowed and whom my mother hated with a passion. I came to dread and loathe it and the feeling has never really left me unfortunately. I do try really hard though to make sure that my children never have the experience of Christmas that I had.

Primrose

What a cruel and thoughtless act for your parents to inflict on their children on Christmas Day which is usually one of the most important days of the year for them. Similarly I feel for all those who have had to deal with bereavements on Christmas Day. It must really blight the occasion for ever, however much you try and put a cheerful face on things.

absolutereturn

Chri$tma$ i$ a££ about bu$ine$$! The reason it's so heavily promoted is because a lot of money is made over this period when people feel obliged to buy each other presents just because everyone else is doing it. Even I've made a few bob selling stuff on eBay that punters probably wouldn't have bought at any other time of the year.

If things had gone according to plan I'd be boarding an Emirates flight bound for Thailand at this point. Or Sydney, but that's an extra nine hours. Snow, Santa and all that jazz is for kids. :xmastree:

Goldiegirl

I never exactly hated Christmas but it used to be a trying time of year.


My parents lived in Essex, my MIL lived in London, and for many years, Christmas was always about rushing round to spend a couple of days with my mum and dad, another couple of days with MIL, or having both sets to us. But none of them drove, so it was a logistical thing about getting them to us. Coupled with working full time, and normally I had to work at least a few days over the Christmas period. By new year I was normally frazzled and exhausted.


These days, it's just a quiet relaxing time for my husband and myself - at home, good food, and just a token exchange of presents


But, I loved my parents dearly, and now they are no longer with us, the irony is not lost on me that I'd give anything to have one more Christmas with them!

Primrose

Goldiegirl. I think this is the reality of many of our Christmases past. - too much commuting in bad weather on the brink of exhaustion whilst trying to clear an office workload, get in the Christmas shopping, worrying about menus and food whilst knowing there will always be one set of in laws who are unhappy about not being in the loop.

Just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet and treasure your memories of happier family days.

FBaby

The only thing I like about Christmas is spoiling my children and that's because they don't get many material treat during the rest of the year and they are great children who deserve a special day. They never ask for much, don't expect much and are always over the moon with what they get. They are the perfect people to treat. Everything else I could do without!

Lily-Rose_3

FBaby wrote: »

The only thing I like about Christmas is spoiling my children and that's because they don't get many material treat during the rest of the year and they are great children who deserve a special day. They never ask for much, don't expect much and are always over the moon with what they get. They are the perfect people to treat. Everything else I could do without!

Awwww.....what a sweet post. :T

And what lucky children.

FBaby

Thank YOU Lily-Rose, your message went straight to my heart x

Lily-Rose_3

FBaby wrote: »

Thank YOU Lily-Rose, your message went straight to my heart x

:D:D

Sandhy

If anyone wants to know why I hate Christmas you can take the Chris Rea song 'Driving home for Christmas' which does my head in every time I hear it. I used to dread it. The man going home to spend up to 10 days with his family.

Filled me with dread.

Incidents too numerous to mention. In random order: My daughter's cot being thrown out of the upstairs window because she had done something wrong. Seeing it broken and shattered on the ground. Him always saying he will break that child's spirit. My son running upstairs in terror as he was on the receiving end of a rage attack. I had to stand my ground between them or let my son cop it. I took the blame and punishments for things that went missing or were broken by the kid's mishaps rather then let them take the punishments. If I hadn't stocked up on produce properly. If something had run out I would be punished. I went without or went without 'privileges' . My daughter's toys being smashed up because she had done something wrong. Once she bought a little plastic toy from a school fund raising market. He stamped on it and smashed it up yelling about her spending money on tat. Him ripping an electric cable out of the wall and the electrics sparked, and took out the fuse. Frightening. Me having dinner poured over me because it wasn't right. Him having to have the freshest bread in the house and the freshest milk because of who he was. Me and the kids had to use up the old stuff. Him !!!!ing in the sink. Him !!!!ing in the hand basin. That's gross. He used to claim he was being considerate he didn't want to disturb anyone by flushing the loo ...but half the time he forgot to flush when we were awake!

I hated Christmas and the so-called happy family times together.

Nothing but bad memories.

I survived. My kids survived. We are in a much better place now. It was tough but worth it. He is history and a lonely old man.

We have all moved on and are happy now. This time of year and it's cosy image is bitter sweet. Shopping madness and consumerism at it's worst.