What I mean is does anyone ever feel like just staying home without feeling the need to go to relatives’ and friends’ houses? I mean, I, along with my dad and brother, have been invited to a neighbor’s house tomorrow but I think I’d rather spend a quiet time at home. Anyone feel like this or am I just odd?
I wish I didn’t have to. But, I feel obligated. I have to drive 2 hours in some crappy ass weather tomorrow morning to go to my Dad’s house. Where I will be bored out of my mind.
Atleast the Kings play tomorrow.
Ever since my parents died, my aunt has invited me and my kids over for Christmas day. So every year I’d drag my little boys to this showplace of a house where they were the only kids. They didn’t want to play with each other and usually got bored with whatever we’d brought along. My uncle would sit in front of the t.v. all afternoon, pounding back one drink after another. My aunt would be busy in the kitchen with her daughters to help and we would sit there.
Last year I finally asked myself why I put all of us through this. When I couldn’t come up with a decent reason I decided it was time to stay home. So we stayed home, cooked together, played with the new toys, and watched Buffy DVDs–and had a hell of a lot more fun than we’d ever had before on Christmas Day!
Me. I’m stuck going to the inlaws’ house both tonight and tomorrow, plus they wanted me to go to Mass with them but I’m going to refuse. I’d much rather just stay home with my husband for all of it.
I don’t have any family anymore to visit. Well, I have a brother but he does the Christmas thing with his wife’s family.
Growing up I had a big loving family that got together every Sunday for dinner. It was optional, but you tried not to miss my grandmother’s sweet tea and cornbread.
Holidays were not optional, however, and it got to be a drag at times. There were holidays I reallllly did not want to go, and I even played sick more than once.
I sure miss it now.
I have one of those families that celebrated but it fell apart over the years so… I know nothing else. so i wish I could go to relitives and such… ahh to have a family.
Nup. I’ve had a fairly cool day at home, alone, escaping the Chrissy Madness.
New Year’s is always way better, in my opinion …
I was just talking with Mr. Beckwall about this exact subject. I said something like, “we’ll never have a normal Christmas with a big perfect tree and cookies baking in the oven”, and he said “so, what’s the big deal?”. My only living relative (sister) is up in the Bay Area, so we don’t get together. Mr. Beckwall’s family is on the weird-o planet known as Utah, so he rarely sees them for Christmas. No kids at home. Just the two of us, and I’m gonna give him $20 so he can go to a movie tonight (or a strip club, whichever he decides) - then I can get some of this paperwork done in peace and quiet.
On the other hand, New Year’s Eve rocks!!!
We’ve decided to ignore secular Christmas this year. Mr. Ruby has received his deployment orders for the end of February and neither of us were in the mood. He’ll be gone next year for the holidays so I’m guessing this may be a trend.
I really don’t care about it - I’m in my parent’s house at the moment, and honestly, I wish I could have stayed home and just done my own thing for a change.
Instead, I’m doing what’s expected, and that’s how it is and will be, at least until such time as I move far enough away that coming here for each holiday isn’t possible. I’d love to be able to come every other year instead of doing the same things each year.
My husband’s and my family are coming tomorrow. (I wish I had a screaming smiley to insert here). I feel like I just did this a month ago… hey, wait a minute, I did! It was called Thanksgiving. IT’s the same cast of characters showing up for Christmas dinner, so we’re just referring to it as Thanksging redux. Fourteen people. I will be so glad when the chaos is over, even if I love each and every one of them.
At least I don’t have to leave the house. 
I’d love if holidays such as Christmas just disappeared. I resent the notion of having to go see family and play nice, I am unfond of the consumeristic aspect of it (this ain’t the Pit, and I really don’t feel like pitting Christmas). And instead of doing what I want or getting what I want, I’m driving to the DC area tomorrow to spend a few days with my immediate family while fizzy is off on the other side of the country. So while what I’d love to do is just continue on as any other normal weekend, this ain’t that.
Started going downhill when my grandmother died, and the family went their separate ways. No more holidays together, no strife, no hurt feelings, no “Omigod, never again”. Would be nice to have the option. It’s one thing to decide to be alone at home, it’s another if that’s all there is. Even if you don’t wanna’ go to the dance, it’s still nice to be asked. You stressed-out, over-familied dopers, count your blessings as the song goes.
The best Christmas holidays ever:
- My mom and I decided to boycott the whole thing. Not like a scroogy-grinch “we hate Christmas” boycott, rather, we decided to make it a non-stress DO NOTHING kind of holiday.
We wallowed in slothfulness and quietude. No running around feeling we had to buy presents, rush around in overstuffed malls full of grumpy/desperate shoppers. No obligation go go visiting family and friends. We just loafed shamelessly.
- Last Christmas, Sniff_Markers and I did the same thing - we just secluded ourselves in a five star hotel. Sat and read books by the fire, lounged in the jacuzzi, watched pay-per-view movies and ordered room service. Again, we DID NOTHING. I have never been more relaxed. Truly blissful!
The turkey dinner was in the hotel’s gourmet restaurent with excellent wine… then back for more gratuitous loafing. We didn’t have to lift a finger. The only thing missing was someone to fan us with palm leaves and feed us grapes as we lounged like gods on a pedestal… Come to think of it, there was no pedestal either. But with the fireplace, who cares?
This year my mom and I are staying in again. Limited gift exchange. Fatcat and Littlecat got toys and were rioting in wrapping paper. Not much else. I love it!
good afternoon, and merry christmas.
my sister (who hosted the annual gathering) always wanted to move the celebration to eithetr the sunday before or teh sunday after christmas. my mom (who retired and lived at my sister’s house) wouldn’t hear of it. chistmas is christmas! she would insist.
i sided with mom, the widowed lady who sometimes worked three jobs to see that i had food, clothes and an education. as far as i was concerned, whatever mom wanted was fine with me. i offered to host the event, but my sister always gave in.
mom died in october of 2000. this is the third christmas in a row with the family celebration taking place on the sunday afterwards.
my wife, two adult daught6ers and i decided to institute a new tradition. this is the third christmas in a row spent lounging around, doing as little as possible. we have turned the frantic hustle and bustle of christmas into a day dedicated to relaxation.
merry christmas again, my friends
I love the opportunity to spend time with family members at Christmas. It is what the season is truly about to me. My immediate family is very close and since all of us kids (almost) have moved out of the house, it is nice to get back together for a nice big meal. Dinner was always a big deal around our house.
Often my grandparents and my uncle (paternal) will join us for dinner on occasions such as Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
This year things were different though. My grandfather was rushed to the hospital one year ago today, and is still there. My mother was rushed to the hospital early early Monday morning and is still there.
With Mom in the hospital, who would make dinner? Who would orchestrate the whole gift giving process?
We managed. I baked a couple pies. I cooked the turkey and stuffing and potatoes. Everything turned out quite well, but I am utterly exhausted. And I will be going back to the hospital later tonight to visit with Mom again.
So yes, I would have preferred the usual Christmas Day thing.
I’m married to a Dallas fireman, and Christmas fits around his schedule - and he’s working today! We opened many toys (for my 6 & 8 yr old boys) last night. Tomorrow, we’ll have a Christmas dinner when my sister and brother-in-law get back in town.
Today, I’m cleaning/reading a new Stephen King paperback/chilling with wine! The kiddos have zillions of new toys to play with, and the house looks like an explosion at ToysRUs.
That’s my explanation for being on-line on Christmas night, and I’m sticking to it! I didn’t have Christmas as a child, and really miss my father, who died one year before my first son was born.
Harli - best wishes to your grandfather.
Merry Christmas to All!
I haven’t celebrated christmas since I was 11. For the last several years Ive just watched movies while friends/girlfriends went about their routine.
My husband and I don’t celebrate (or even think much about) Christmas. We’re not religious, we have no family here, and no close friends who do up the h’day. We both stopped caring about the holidays when our mothers died. I always think of Christmas as being for kids anyway (not that it’s childish, just that children are the ones who really enjoy it). I do love Christmas lights though.
We slept late, puttered around, went out to eat (good Thai food), then saw a movie (Return of the King for the 3rd time). A good day, but no different from a normal weekend day.
We’d like to stop making a big (and expensive) deal over Christmas too, and we keep hinting to the kids (they’re all grown) that if they’d like to stay home, make their own traditions, whatever, that’s fine with us.
These are hubby’s kids – mine are on the other side of the country, so it isn’t an issue.
But they won’t take the hint. They feel an obligation that isn’t there, and I don’t know how to tell them to just stay home without seeming rude.
On the other hand, maybe they’re just coming for the gifts.
Maybe if I tell them there won’t be gifts. 