movingforward
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 15, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
Posts: 8,386
|
Post by movingforward on Dec 6, 2016 15:54:50 GMT -5
I visited family over Thanksgiving and I am not going over Christmas. I am hosting my annual holiday party for friends the weekend before Christmas (17th). My BFF and I will do our annual spa day on the 26th. DBF and I broke up a few weeks back (had been coming for a while) so no having to visit his family on Christmas. So I have zero plans on the 24th or 25th and I am freaking thrilled!! I have a book I have been wanting to read but haven't had time, I am way behind on The Walking Dead and overall just excited not to have to do the whole family thing. I am looking forward to sleeping in, baking some cookies, reading and catching up on my shows.
I am not a religious person so, in general, Christmas is just another day to me. I have always enjoyed the holiday season (decorations, holiday movies, the social events, etc.) but Christmas Day itself holds no particular meaning to me.
At any rate, when people ask me what my plans are for Christmas and I tell them nothing I get looked at with pity and then get invited to spend Christmas Day with their family. Uh, no thanks... I am really looking forward to having this time to myself! I have been invited to 3 different homes so far. I try to explain my feelings to people but get looked at like I have two heads.
Is there anyone else who is a complete weirdo like me who either doesn't have plans this year and/or who would be completely thrilled, like I am, to have the day to themselves?
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,622
|
Post by swamp on Dec 6, 2016 15:57:23 GMT -5
I have children who still believe in santa, and it's probably the last year or two for it. I have lots to do for Christmas.
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Dec 6, 2016 16:01:45 GMT -5
I visited family over Thanksgiving and I am not going over Christmas. I am hosting my annual holiday party for friends the weekend before Christmas (17th). My BFF and I will do our annual spa day on the 26th. DBF and I broke up a few weeks back (had been coming for a while) so no having to visit his family on Christmas. So I have zero plans on the 24th or 25th and I am freaking thrilled!! I have a book I have been wanting to read but haven't had time, I am way behind on The Walking Dead and overall just excited not to have to do the whole family thing. I am looking forward to sleeping in, baking some cookies, reading and catching up on my shows. I am not a religious person so, in general, Christmas is just another day to me. I have always enjoyed the holiday season (decorations, holiday movies, the social events, etc.) but Christmas Day itself holds no particular meaning to me. At any rate, when people ask me what my plans are for Christmas and I tell them nothing I get looked at with pity and then get invited to spend Christmas Day with their family. Uh, no thanks... I am really looking forward to having this time to myself! I have been invited to 3 different homes so far. I try to explain my feelings to people but get looked at like I have two heads. Is there anyone else who is a complete weirdo like me who either doesn't have plans this year and/or who would be completely thrilled, like I am, to have the day to themselves? I am a weirdo like you too and so is my DH. When his family wanted to get together on Christmas day this year I simply said "We already have plans." The fact that it means we are doing our own thing is nobody's business but ours. Where you screwed up is you said you had nothing planned when, in fact, you do. It just didn't include anybody else.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 14, 2024 15:26:01 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 16:02:50 GMT -5
Christmas Day there is very little planned for us. The kids will open gifts in the morning and that may be it. Just lounging around playing with their new stuff I guess. In the past there was always a big Christmas dinner at my Aunt's in the afternoon, but she passed away in 2014 and nobody else wanted to take over hosting for that huge of a gathering, so now everyone is trying to find their new normal. I am however hosting a big Packer/Viking party on Christmas Eve day and family is traveling to me. In the past, I would go to my parents on Christmas Eve. This year, they come or they don't see us. It's only about 30 miles, so it's not putting them out too much.
|
|
hoops902
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 13:21:29 GMT -5
Posts: 11,978
|
Post by hoops902 on Dec 6, 2016 16:09:45 GMT -5
There are 5 NBA games on Christmas Day as well as a couple of NFL games, so I've got a full schedule.
|
|
grumpyhermit
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jul 12, 2012 12:04:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,445
|
Post by grumpyhermit on Dec 6, 2016 16:12:44 GMT -5
I visited family over Thanksgiving and I am not going over Christmas. I am hosting my annual holiday party for friends the weekend before Christmas (17th). My BFF and I will do our annual spa day on the 26th. DBF and I broke up a few weeks back (had been coming for a while) so no having to visit his family on Christmas. So I have zero plans on the 24th or 25th and I am freaking thrilled!! I have a book I have been wanting to read but haven't had time, I am way behind on The Walking Dead and overall just excited not to have to do the whole family thing. I am looking forward to sleeping in, baking some cookies, reading and catching up on my shows. I am not a religious person so, in general, Christmas is just another day to me. I have always enjoyed the holiday season (decorations, holiday movies, the social events, etc.) but Christmas Day itself holds no particular meaning to me. At any rate, when people ask me what my plans are for Christmas and I tell them nothing I get looked at with pity and then get invited to spend Christmas Day with their family. Uh, no thanks... I am really looking forward to having this time to myself! I have been invited to 3 different homes so far. I try to explain my feelings to people but get looked at like I have two heads. Is there anyone else who is a complete weirdo like me who either doesn't have plans this year and/or who would be completely thrilled, like I am, to have the day to themselves? Me! People (coworkers) sometimes feel badly when I tell them my "plans" are to stay home alone and try not to budge from my couch. I assure them that I like it that way. I do get together with my family around the holidays (but both my mother, and SIL are in healthcare, so it is inevitable that at least one of them is working on the actual holiday). So Thanksgiving will either be on the day, or won't happen, and Christmas is almost always after the fact. It bothers my family far more than me - I prefer to just use the days to relax. He has tried in the past to invite me to his wife's parent's house - um, no thank you. I am not going to crash someone else's family holiday.
|
|
flamingo
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 17, 2012 10:38:09 GMT -5
Posts: 1,963
Mini-Profile Name Color: 7c65d4
|
Post by flamingo on Dec 6, 2016 16:16:46 GMT -5
It will just be my DH and I for Xmas. Partly b/c we are moving next week to a new state and partly b/c even though neither of us will be working, we don't want to go see my family (his bro lives in New England and his parents have both passed away, so it's just my family to worry about). We have literally no plans other than to eat a home cooked meal, cooked our way. My grandparents will be about 2.5 hours away from us once we move and they want us to come for Xmas. They always want us to come. We usually decline. It ends up with like 30 people in their small apartment and it's over crowded, chaotic, and annoying. But now that we will be so much closer, I plan to just go see them either the weekend after or the weekend before holidays now, when it's less chaotic. I am forever grateful that my family has lived more than 5 hours away from me for the past 15 years. It makes it so much easier to say, Oh sorry can't come home, the drive/distance/logistics just don't work! This living closer thing is going to suck
|
|
greeniis10
Well-Known Member
Joined: May 9, 2012 12:27:09 GMT -5
Posts: 1,834
Member is Online
|
Post by greeniis10 on Dec 6, 2016 16:20:06 GMT -5
YES! Me too! I did the whole cook food, drive 2 hours each way transporting food, long exhausting day thing for Thanksgiving with DH's family but DH, oldest son, oldest grandson and a friend are all driving 9 hours out of town on Christmas Day to go to an out-of-town NFL game for our home team. Too long of a drive for me so I get the WHOLE day to myself! I'm sure DH's family will "feel sorry" for me and invite me (again, out of town) to all of their multiple Christmas gatherings, but I will politely decline.
|
|
andi9899
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 6, 2011 10:22:29 GMT -5
Posts: 31,344
|
Post by andi9899 on Dec 6, 2016 16:21:02 GMT -5
I don't have plans yet, so I guess I am a weirdo.
|
|
naughtybear
Familiar Member
Joined: Aug 10, 2016 17:03:08 GMT -5
Posts: 996
|
Post by naughtybear on Dec 6, 2016 16:55:52 GMT -5
I don't have plans but will probably be alone.
|
|
engineerdoe
Established Member
Joined: May 22, 2013 17:10:26 GMT -5
Posts: 498
Member is Online
|
Post by engineerdoe on Dec 6, 2016 16:56:52 GMT -5
I visited family over Thanksgiving and I am not going over Christmas. I am hosting my annual holiday party for friends the weekend before Christmas (17th). My BFF and I will do our annual spa day on the 26th. DBF and I broke up a few weeks back (had been coming for a while) so no having to visit his family on Christmas. So I have zero plans on the 24th or 25th and I am freaking thrilled!! I have a book I have been wanting to read but haven't had time, I am way behind on The Walking Dead and overall just excited not to have to do the whole family thing. I am looking forward to sleeping in, baking some cookies, reading and catching up on my shows. I am not a religious person so, in general, Christmas is just another day to me. I have always enjoyed the holiday season (decorations, holiday movies, the social events, etc.) but Christmas Day itself holds no particular meaning to me. At any rate, when people ask me what my plans are for Christmas and I tell them nothing I get looked at with pity and then get invited to spend Christmas Day with their family. Uh, no thanks... I am really looking forward to having this time to myself! I have been invited to 3 different homes so far. I try to explain my feelings to people but get looked at like I have two heads. Is there anyone else who is a complete weirdo like me who either doesn't have plans this year and/or who would be completely thrilled, like I am, to have the day to themselves? Your plans are to spend time on the couch (or in bed) with some of your favorite people like Rick and Darryl. (in case someone wasn't paying attention NO SPOILERS)
|
|
engineerdoe
Established Member
Joined: May 22, 2013 17:10:26 GMT -5
Posts: 498
Member is Online
|
Post by engineerdoe on Dec 6, 2016 17:01:43 GMT -5
When I would make the trek to my cousin's house in Montana, I would tell people I was going there for the traditional christmas burrito! I got some strange looks. Christmas morning after breakfast and presents we would go sledding down a hill that was an access road to the river that was closed in the winter. And then back to the house to eat on the taco meat and fixin's for the rest of the day.
|
|
movingforward
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 15, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
Posts: 8,386
|
Post by movingforward on Dec 6, 2016 17:15:05 GMT -5
When I would make the trek to my cousin's house in Montana, I would tell people I was going there for the traditional christmas burrito! I got some strange looks. Christmas morning after breakfast and presents we would go sledding down a hill that was an access road to the river that was closed in the winter. And then back to the house to eat on the taco meat and fixin's for the rest of the day. That sounds like my kind of Christmas!!
|
|
dee27
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 28, 2016 21:08:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,211
|
Post by dee27 on Dec 6, 2016 17:20:46 GMT -5
We stay home because I was tired of chasing the weather or getting stuck in the airport plus none of our kids live in close proximity to each other. One year we were stuck in the NYC airport for 6 hours after checking in for our flight, and the crew timed out and a replacement crew was called. Add in the requirement of being there 2 hours early to check in and the 90 minute commute to the airport and the total hours are close to the drive home.
Another year an unpredicted, huge storm was pending and since we were driving, we left Christmas morning to beat the storm. When we stopped for gas, there was no place to eat and we broke into one of our gifts and ate chocolate and crackers. Our friend's daughter was stuck in NE for three more days because of the snowfall and an ice storm; her normal drive home was 14 hours, but it took her 26 hours to get home because of sleet covered roads.
The year we stayed with our daughter, the weather changed quickly and we left before Christmas to beat another big storm. We missed our son who was due in later that day so that we could celebrate Christmas with two of our children. The travel gods urged me to stay home in future years, and we wait until spring to see the kids. We spend Christmas alone and I cook a nice meal; I even dress for dinner!
|
|
alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,148
|
Post by alabamagal on Dec 6, 2016 17:29:03 GMT -5
My parents used to live 9 hours from us and in-laws were 3 hours. When our kids were young and we did the Santa thing, we said "No traveling for Christmas". We always enjoyed Christmas with just immediate family. We would cook a ton of food and deserts and eat for several days. When kids were in college, they were home. Last 2 years we only had the youngest at home as other 2 kids were unable to travel home due to work. This year we will have DD and DSIL and DS in college. My one complaint about Christmas is that the TV shows usually suck. This year we will have NFL games on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day .
|
|
giramomma
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
Posts: 22,160
|
Post by giramomma on Dec 6, 2016 17:32:48 GMT -5
I think your Christmas sounds heavenly.
|
|
Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT -5
Posts: 14,659
|
Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 6, 2016 17:42:33 GMT -5
I started to lose the Christmas spirit about 15 years ago when my aunt and cousins decided they'd rather celebrate with their other 1st cousin's family instead. It went downhill from there. Now, I'd be just fine chilling at home. Sounds pretty nice, actually.
|
|
suesinfl
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 9, 2011 18:02:27 GMT -5
Posts: 2,765
|
Post by suesinfl on Dec 6, 2016 18:20:33 GMT -5
No plans here. Oldest DD will be with her in-laws, DD2 will be working and DS will be just hanging out with his friends if they are around or chilling in his room.
|
|
mroped
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 17, 2014 17:36:56 GMT -5
Posts: 3,453
|
Post by mroped on Dec 6, 2016 18:58:48 GMT -5
We don't realy do Thanksgiving! The day before or the day ofwe cook a chicken or just have dinner together and maybe go see a movie and just relax. No gluttony, no sports watching, nothing! It's just awesome! Christmas on the other hand...lucky for me that my wife keeps track of the places we have to go. If it were by me, it would just be another day! I grew up in a culture where Christmas was just the time when people were butchering a pig and getting drunk while slinging big knives around. The knives were necessary for the butchering ofcourse but many a times finger tips would get in the mix! The time to get gifts for the children was 6th of December(today) when acording to the Romanian Christian Orthodox religion is St. Nicholas.
|
|
MarleyKeezy78
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 22, 2011 13:20:34 GMT -5
Posts: 3,226
Location: Sittin in the mitten
|
Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Dec 6, 2016 19:23:15 GMT -5
Christmas Eve is our busy day, we go to both of my grandparents homes. My moms mom from about noon to 5:30/6ish and to my dads parents from that time till about midnight. We celebrate with DH family on a different day(used to be Christmas Day with his parents for brunch). SIL decided to hold a big gathering on Christmas Eve this year and was surprised we couldn't make it(we have had the same CE tradition for like 14 years), so that was on purpose to exclude us I'm sure Whatever. This Christmas day we will be staying home and enjoying ourselves, we started doing that last year because it's hard to drag the kiddo away from Christmas morning festivities and we don't enjoy having to get ready and drive 40 minutes in the cold at like 9:30/10 in the morning. I'm looking forward to Christmas morning this year, Santa, coffee, baileys and a happy hubby and kiddo
|
|
dee27
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 28, 2016 21:08:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,211
|
Post by dee27 on Dec 6, 2016 19:56:15 GMT -5
When our children were small, the whole family celebration was on Christmas Eve. My siblings and I were all local and it was a short drive to the host family. Since all of our children are close in age, the kids loved it. We brought their pj's and if they became tired, they could take a nap. We all contributed to the meal so that the host did not have to prepare the entire meal. After dinner, the kids opened the presents from their grandparents and cousins. As they got older, we would all go to Midnight Mass. Christmas Day was spent relaxing at home with our own children.
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,587
|
Post by Tennesseer on Dec 6, 2016 20:26:50 GMT -5
movingforward-nothing, absolutely nothing, puts me more in the holiday spirit than binge watching The Walking Dead on Christmas Day other than watching all of the Night Of The Living Dead movies. .
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 14, 2024 15:26:01 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 20:28:28 GMT -5
DH and I always traveled to visit my family in the Carolinas over Christmas and quit putting up a tree and decorations years ago. We drove, which meant no issues with the airlines and if the weather got bad we could find a hotel someplace although we never had to do that. We always went to church Christmas morning but didn't exchange gifts.
So- this year without him probably won't be that traumatic. I'm still visiting the family and making the same road trip. I still enjoy everyone's decorations. It will be a little weird to have Christmas without DH and my mother but there will be plenty of other wonderful family members around me.
I've never spent Christmas alone; probably never will since DS and DDIL are 3 hours away.
|
|
NastyWoman
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 20:50:37 GMT -5
Posts: 14,889
|
Post by NastyWoman on Dec 6, 2016 20:53:11 GMT -5
We don't realy do Thanksgiving! The day before or the day ofwe cook a chicken or just have dinner together and maybe go see a movie and just relax. No gluttony, no sports watching, nothing! It's just awesome! Christmas on the other hand...lucky for me that my wife keeps track of the places we have to go. If it were by me, it would just be another day! I grew up in a culture where Christmas was just the time when people were butchering a pig and getting drunk while slinging big knives around. The knives were necessary for the butchering ofcourse but many a times finger tips would get in the mix! The time to get gifts for the children was 6th of December(today) when acording to the Romanian Christian Orthodox religion is St. Nicholas. Hey in my home country we do the same thing and it is (mostly) catholic and protestant. However, when our kids were little we had to embroider this a bit since we lived in countries where either Santa Claus or St. Nicholas would bring gifts. My, not so inventive, expanation was that both were real and since they were very old they had decided to divy up the kids. So when you received presents depended on where you happened to live → no kid got left out and no kid got double presents. what can I say --- it worked
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 64,587
|
Post by Tennesseer on Dec 6, 2016 21:00:42 GMT -5
We don't realy do Thanksgiving! The day before or the day ofwe cook a chicken or just have dinner together and maybe go see a movie and just relax. No gluttony, no sports watching, nothing! It's just awesome! Christmas on the other hand...lucky for me that my wife keeps track of the places we have to go. If it were by me, it would just be another day! I grew up in a culture where Christmas was just the time when people were butchering a pig and getting drunk while slinging big knives around. The knives were necessary for the butchering ofcourse but many a times finger tips would get in the mix! The time to get gifts for the children was 6th of December(today) when acording to the Romanian Christian Orthodox religion is St. Nicholas. That must be the reason red is associated with Christmas!
|
|
msventoux
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2011 22:32:37 GMT -5
Posts: 3,037
|
Post by msventoux on Dec 6, 2016 21:07:56 GMT -5
One bonus of not having much family anymore is that I no longer have to participate in holidays. They were never, ever fun as a kid. They were slightly more tolerable as an adult, only because I could leave when I wanted. Plus, due to work schedules we often didn't have the celebration on the actual day. I enjoy the quiet days alone.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 14, 2024 15:26:01 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 21:29:54 GMT -5
Christmases and other holidays are usually fraught with angst. We stopped that this year. We didn't cook a Thankgiving dinner for anyone other than ourselves. My kids do that with my ex's family. Last year was just another notch in a series of hurts. I'm not doing it any more.
However, I am going to try one more time for Christmas. We don't care about a particular day other than it must be between the 23-26. I have to have time to clean, etc. And then the week after Christmas I have a dentist, gynecologist, and eye doctor appointment. I have to do it all while I am off from school or burn a whole day of sick leave. What a waste!
I honestly don't know how it will go. My daughter invited us to their home after Thanksgiving. Then she said they were all sick. The next day they posted pictures of them at a Christmas parade. I commented that I was glad they were feeling better. My daughter took that as a passive/aggressive remark. It wasn't, but then that really confused me.
Anyway, I am willing to try yet again to see how it goes. I am not willing to cook dinner. I am going to provide snacks. The purpose is for the grandkids to see their stockings and presents. Eating is completely in the way in their minds!
|
|
Cookies Galore
Senior Associate
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,892
|
Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 6, 2016 22:01:42 GMT -5
Skipping out on the holidays is a dream of mine! One day... sigh... Currently, we go to my Dad's on Christmas Eve (since I was 5, really), my Mom's Christmas Day, and my MIL's the day after Christmas. It seems like a lot, but I much prefer this than trying to visit my mom and hubs' mom on the same day. That sucks!
|
|
TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 28,128
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
|
Post by TheOtherMe on Dec 6, 2016 22:24:36 GMT -5
When I lived in Colorado I didn't have to participate in Christmas or any other holiday. I learned to embrace the day and time to myself.
Now, I am expected to appear at my sister's at whatever time she designates. I really don't enjoy it. I don't enjoy it at all. I didn't go for Thanksgiving this year because I was just out of hospital for intestinal issues. I may say (and it's true), I'm trying out a new diet and don't yet trust my body to handle the food and skip out on Christmas also.
I have no desire to go. No little kids any more and my sister spends an egregious amount of money on Christmas presents for her adult children and grand children. She knows I don't approve so doesn't invite me for the gift opening. That takes 6 or 7 hours. When it starts, there is barely room in the living room to walk around or sit down.
Last year, she called when that was over and said I could come now. She also wants me to be a taxi for dad.
I don't know what I will decide. This is the second Christmas without mom, but I'm only going through the motions now.
|
|
Apple
Junior Associate
Always travel with a sense of humor
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:51:04 GMT -5
Posts: 9,938
Mini-Profile Name Color: dc0e29
|
Post by Apple on Dec 7, 2016 5:21:48 GMT -5
I work night shift Christmas Eve, but have Christmas off. I plan on sleeping. Not sure yet if DS will be working a day shift or a night shift (he's been getting moved to nights for holidays so that his counterpart can cover a shift at another project). I know my dad will call and invite me up, but I just want to stay in pjs and not have to leave the house. We'll do presents whenever DS and I are home at the same time.
We usually do the big dinner on Christmas Eve at my parent's house, so will probably do that this year as well. Doubt any other family will be there, my sister might go to her MIL's instead, she's the only local sibling.
|
|