Anonymous
04/01/2018 07:39
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
I used to LOVE holidays and now after 10 years of doing all holiday-related, kid-magic shit I loathe them 
. Its not my kids' fault, I guess its mine for not setting really low expectations years ago. And DH's, who literally never even thinks about easter eggs or baskets or stockings or what we are having for a meal. He just wakes up and the holiday has somehow happened. He did complain that I woke him up at 5:30 this morning when I got up to hide eggs in the yard, but don't worry about his sleep-he went right back to sleep.
. Its not my kids' fault, I guess its mine for not setting really low expectations years ago. And DH's, who literally never even thinks about easter eggs or baskets or stockings or what we are having for a meal. He just wakes up and the holiday has somehow happened. He did complain that I woke him up at 5:30 this morning when I got up to hide eggs in the yard, but don't worry about his sleep-he went right back to sleep. 
Anonymous
04/01/2018 00:31
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Yes
It took an out of state move to stop it and honestly I don't miss it at all. No matter how much or how little you do the stress to make everyone happy is not worth it.
20 years since we've done any holiday. My husband and I enjoy being together without any obligations to anyone.
It took an out of state move to stop it and honestly I don't miss it at all. No matter how much or how little you do the stress to make everyone happy is not worth it.
20 years since we've done any holiday. My husband and I enjoy being together without any obligations to anyone.
Anonymous
04/01/2018 00:29
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
I mean, so much sh*t is unnecessary. You probably started all this stuff when your kid was a baby because you wanted to be the best, most fun mommy ever, and now it’s a drag and you see how silly it is.
Growing up we had Christmas and our birthday for any kind of gift that cost more than $5. Our Easter baskets were candy and that’s it and the holiday was more about church. We did not do any of this stupid leprechaun nonsense or Pi Day or Halloween gifts or God knows what else. Just stop with it. Don’t even start, as a lesson to the new or soon to be parents out there.
Growing up we had Christmas and our birthday for any kind of gift that cost more than $5. Our Easter baskets were candy and that’s it and the holiday was more about church. We did not do any of this stupid leprechaun nonsense or Pi Day or Halloween gifts or God knows what else. Just stop with it. Don’t even start, as a lesson to the new or soon to be parents out there.
Anonymous
04/01/2018 00:19
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
I usually only get burned out during Hanukkah / Christmas.
I have no expectations that DH will do anything - he does not care & could totally leave all the holiday stuff and not miss it.
I tone down what I do & usually find a few easy, tried & true things & stick to those instead of reinventing the wheel every year.
I have no expectations that DH will do anything - he does not care & could totally leave all the holiday stuff and not miss it.
I tone down what I do & usually find a few easy, tried & true things & stick to those instead of reinventing the wheel every year.
Anonymous
04/01/2018 00:11
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Anonymous wrote:So stop.
I got rid of all but two bins Christmas decorations. I stopped decorating for all of the rest.
Holiday dinners are small, and I hand out assignments to whomever is coming. That includes my husband and teenage kids. Everyone is happier because the stress is gone.
+1. We scaled down the holidays now that our kids are teens and we wish we did it ages ago! Less decorations, less people invited, less worrying about perfection, less worrying about going to all the holiday "events," and it's all good. We have a nice meal and spend time together. That's it. It's wonderful.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 23:55
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
So stop.
I got rid of all but two bins Christmas decorations. I stopped decorating for all of the rest.
Holiday dinners are small, and I hand out assignments to whomever is coming. That includes my husband and teenage kids. Everyone is happier because the stress is gone.
I got rid of all but two bins Christmas decorations. I stopped decorating for all of the rest.
Holiday dinners are small, and I hand out assignments to whomever is coming. That includes my husband and teenage kids. Everyone is happier because the stress is gone.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 23:49
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Anonymous wrote:When I turned 65 (I know you’re younger) I decided I was going to adapt the mental picture of the granny in the rocking chair sipping some wine and watching the kiddies enjoy the day. I stopped inviting people for holidays (which took some time for them to adjust - they all just assumed they were coming over). I have quieter holidays now, but I’m fine with that. I spent decades exhausted and stressed jugging everything and everybody. Works for me, I figure I get some time in my life to do what I want; raised the kids, buried the parents.
How would you do things differently if you were in your 30s?
Anonymous
03/31/2018 23:26
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Anonymous wrote:No. Hang in there OP. Drink some Chablis and smoke through it. The holidays are only a few times a year. Labor Day bar-b-que, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, Easter, Memorial Day bar-b-que, Independence Day. You are building memories. It only lasts awhile, possibly figure out how you can hire holiday help or delegate tasks weeks ahead of time so that you don't have to do all the work. Try to outsource something. Have the kids help clean and decorate. Have DH do the grocery run or at least take the kids out while you cook.
*Hugs to you*
Including birthdays, that's once a month. Not to mention doing everything else during the regular week. But enjoy.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 23:03
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
When I turned 65 (I know you’re younger) I decided I was going to adapt the mental picture of the granny in the rocking chair sipping some wine and watching the kiddies enjoy the day. I stopped inviting people for holidays (which took some time for them to adjust - they all just assumed they were coming over). I have quieter holidays now, but I’m fine with that. I spent decades exhausted and stressed jugging everything and everybody. Works for me, I figure I get some time in my life to do what I want; raised the kids, buried the parents.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:43
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids take over the holidays as they learn the truth about them. Tonight they hid Easter eggs in each others' rooms to find tomorrow morning. On Christmas Eve, the older ones take care of stuffing the stockings from Santa.
It actually makes the transition of learning the truth about these things much easier for them. "The best thing about knowing the truth of Santa is that now you get to BE Santa - and that is so much more fun! You make the magic for other people." But your kids are probably younger than that. And no, I just kept doing the holidays anyway.
Now, don't get me started on hosting Thanksgiving for 16 years straight for my extended family, who never, ever lift a finger to help out. Ready to throw the damn turkey at them.
Um... those aren’t “truths.”
The truth about Christmas and Easter revolves entirely around Jesus.
Thanksgiving truth would mean no turkey.
I'm Catholic. And obviously I am talking about the truth of who gives the baskets and stockings, not the basis for the holidays. Don't be so stupidly literal. Unless at your house, Jesus comes down the chimney to eat cookies and leave gifts, which would be one I hadn't heard before.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:39
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
Anonymous wrote:My kids take over the holidays as they learn the truth about them. Tonight they hid Easter eggs in each others' rooms to find tomorrow morning. On Christmas Eve, the older ones take care of stuffing the stockings from Santa.
It actually makes the transition of learning the truth about these things much easier for them. "The best thing about knowing the truth of Santa is that now you get to BE Santa - and that is so much more fun! You make the magic for other people." But your kids are probably younger than that. And no, I just kept doing the holidays anyway.
Now, don't get me started on hosting Thanksgiving for 16 years straight for my extended family, who never, ever lift a finger to help out. Ready to throw the damn turkey at them.
Um... those aren’t “truths.”
The truth about Christmas and Easter revolves entirely around Jesus.
Thanksgiving truth would mean no turkey.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:36
Subject: Re:Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
I just make it workable. Carried out half our Passover Seder dinner last night. We are having brunch out for Easter. We keep Thanksgiving small, and I like cooking for that. Christmas is more of a production but that’s once a year.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:36
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
OP - I just blew up at my house a bit ago! I host my IL's every Easter and Thanksgiving. I know it is my own fault that I make it way too much in that I want every thing pretty and I am a very good cook so there's an expectation that house will look amazing and food and table fab. BUT - I just wish my DH and now my adult kids would help. This year one said she'd of course help and then called at last minute - oh gee - not coming....The thing is I get great pleasure out of doing or at least I used to. I am beginning to be done with it all. One year the very best thing I did for myself was plan and then announce a trip with a friend for Mother's Day as
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:26
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
My kids take over the holidays as they learn the truth about them. Tonight they hid Easter eggs in each others' rooms to find tomorrow morning. On Christmas Eve, the older ones take care of stuffing the stockings from Santa.
It actually makes the transition of learning the truth about these things much easier for them. "The best thing about knowing the truth of Santa is that now you get to BE Santa - and that is so much more fun! You make the magic for other people." But your kids are probably younger than that. And no, I just kept doing the holidays anyway.
Now, don't get me started on hosting Thanksgiving for 16 years straight for my extended family, who never, ever lift a finger to help out. Ready to throw the damn turkey at them.
It actually makes the transition of learning the truth about these things much easier for them. "The best thing about knowing the truth of Santa is that now you get to BE Santa - and that is so much more fun! You make the magic for other people." But your kids are probably younger than that. And no, I just kept doing the holidays anyway.
Now, don't get me started on hosting Thanksgiving for 16 years straight for my extended family, who never, ever lift a finger to help out. Ready to throw the damn turkey at them.
Anonymous
03/31/2018 22:21
Subject: Anyone ever get so tired of doing everything for every freakin holiday
And feel like your spouse and children are ungrateful and unappreciative ? Has anyone just quit doing holidays because of this?