The holidays

Expensive no matter how you try to keep it down. This thanksgiving, I have spent over $400 alone. But then I have grandchildren, children, and friends coming over... House full.

Sometimes. But not this year. I have no big plans and my children and grandchildren are out of town with the other grandparents this year.

Lämmchen said:

Do you look forward to the holidays or are they stressful?

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Stressful as I look at holidays as family time and I don't really see Jordan's family as mine. I really miss mine during this time. Makes me sad that he gets his family and I don't.

I sort of look forward to the holidays. I already bought 2 of my brothers things. I have to make a list soon and start shopping for everyone else.

I never liked them all that much but now I've taken more of a shine to them. I found myself disliking them as a matter of that's what I'd told myself 'I did' and in many ways became quite bitter. But now I just enjoy them

I think I'm learning to just be more concise with my celebrating as I get older. I used to get excited about Christmas wayyy early in the fall, I'd have my tree up the first of December, etc. Now, I feel like I'd rather save my time, energy, and festive emotions for the day itself. I enjoyed Thanksgiving immensely this year, but I wasn't stringing paper turkeys all over the house weeks beforehand like I might've done when I was younger. Likewise, I used to be a Christmas madwoman, but now I feel like I'd rather reign myself in a bit, reserve my emotional energy, and save it for maybe the week of Christmas instead of the entire month of December lol.

Oh, and I don't have much in the way of family, so shopping and traveling aren't an issue for me.

One of the reasons I like the holidays is that I like to do a thorough spring cleaning just before Christmas decorating. Unfortunately, I have not gotten around to cleaning yet, so decorations are not up and I am behind. This, of course, stresses me. I'm going to be diligent this week in getting my cleaning done so we can erect the tree and decorate next weekend. Tomorrow I am making sock snowmen to give out for gifts, and I'm so excited to try this! I've had the supplies since summer!

I'm not going all out this year. My mom will be coming Christmas day and spending a few days here. I've also invited a close friend who has stage 4 breast cancer (her husband is in a care facility for advanced MS). She will likely come for dinner, although she may make the trip to the next town over for a visit with her family. We will be just laying low. I have a few days of vacation time the week of Dec. 21-24, so hopefully we will be able to go to some events about the area and get into a more festive spirit.

I am a little down, depressed and stressed over other things this year, so I guess Christmas seems mild and non-stressful in comparison.

We lost a family member near Christmas many years ago so it is still a sad time, too. My sister died who was only 21 on Dec 23, 1986.

We lost one of our neighbors just before Thanksgiving and that was very sad.

It is always tough, but the converse would be taking that event to celebrate their life as well

I don't really celebrate Christmas in any practical sense so it is not stressful to me. No tree, lights, or exchange of gifts. Call to my family on or around the day, sometimes spend time with friends. I worked this last Christmas but otherwise it's just a day to relax and spend time with people you care about. The commercial side of it is for others to endure, been there, done that and don't wish to anymore.