Why is it that we are suppose to like Christmas. Frankly, it's my least favorite holiday of the year. Sure, there are good things that happen like kindness and gift-giving, but why can't that stuff happen in April or August. Christmas is just too much stress and pressure for me and I just don't like it. I'm the one who has to buy the presents for everyone: the kids; my family; his family. I'm the one who has to take care of the bills and the money. I'm the one who feels bad when I can only afford to get someone a $10 gift instead of a $20 one and I have to see their reaction of "Oh, how nice." I'm the one who has to wrap all of those dumb presents. I'm the one who has to write all of those blasted Christmas cards, address them, lick the nasty glue, and then mail them. I'm the one who has to come up with cute ideas to give to neighbors and then bake all that crap, which I really hate doing. It makes my kitchen messy and stresses me out. I just don't like any of it.
Why isn't it okay to not like Christmas? There are people who don't like Halloween and they don't get called names or looked down on. So what's the difference with Christmas? Why am I suppose to like doing all of this stuff when all I see it is as is a hassle and stressful? The only part I really like about Christmas is decorating the tree and seeing the kid's excitement when they open their few presents. Everything else is just a pain in my side that I just wish I could skip. I think I just might skip the cards and neighbor gifts this year. And I probably won't care one bit. Maybe, just maybe, my heart is 3 sizes too small.
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4 comments:
Man, I was JUST thinking this stuff today! I wouldn't say I hate Christmas just yet, but once you're all grown up it is way more work than fun, in my opinion. At least for women. Ahem. And my husband seems to think I LOVE putting up the tree and the decorations by myself and that if he helped, he would only "mess things up." What a line!
You're right: people who aren't crazy over Christmas are judged and looked down, and it's NOT RIGHT. You can be a nice, loving person and still not love dragging out mountains of decorations, mailing dozens of cards, feeling compelled to bake, and dragging toddlers around to shop in the cold and snow.
I think the magic word is "simplify." That's what people say when they don't want as much Christmas hubbub but don't want to seem like Scrooges. Not only does it sound good, it makes other people look like materialistic grabbers who aren't experiencing Real Christmas.
I agree with Connie I. If you are doing things that you don't want to do out of obligation, then of course you won't find any joy in it. There is no shame in not doing something that brings you no joy or fun at all. Christmas cards are not required, nor is a gift for anyone (except maybe your kids, 'cause you know, they're kids). And if you like decorating, then pour your energy there and enjoy it.
Obviously, you can't escape everything, like dinner with the family, but if you are less annoyed by other things, then you might be able to enjoy it more. Or at least hate it less.
We are "simplifying" like crazy and it's grand. We're even skipping about 4 of the extended-family dinners. I've been drinking much less heavily this year. Bah humbug, but I'm not going to have the same hangover on Jan 1st.
You are SO not alone.
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