If you have uttered these words I have a bone to pick with you:
“let’s plan it for the first week of December so we won’t interfere with people’s holiday plans.”
I have to say that I am tired–SICK AND TIRED–of every holiday event being planned for the first week of December.
Between December 1st and December 7th we have two choir concerts, one band concert, one recital, two school parties, two church parties and Mister is turning 45 so I’m supposed to plan some sort of fun getaway.
Between the 8th and the 24th we have one grown-up Christmas party. That’s all.
Doesn’t this seem a little unbalanced to you? Shouldn’t Christmas things be a little spread out? Am I the only one this is happening to?
It’s taken me twenty years to figure this out, but if I decorate before December, it makes the holidays much less stressful. I am one of those crazy people who doesn’t like to squeeze every drop out of Christmas. I prefer it short and sweet. Usually I put off decorating til December, but then it interferes with all the “fun” activities and I start getting really stressed out. So this year I skipped all Black Friday shopping and got out all the Christmas Decor. The tree is done.
I’m also getting really stressed out by all the people who are constantly advising me to “simplify” Christmas. Great idea! Which one of my children’s programs should I skip? When you have a bunch of kids it’s not really possible to simplify very much.
(Last year I got rid of all the Christmas decorations I don’t absolutely love and now I have almost nothing to put around the house. That’s what I call simplifying.)
I’ve already given up neighbor gifts (sorry folks, no more personalized gingerbread people!) and I try to skimp on teacher gifts as much as possible (nothing personal, teachers. I love you all.) Mister and I decided to forego the fancy party with people he knows through his old job (Not that I don’t love watching usually dignified people getting super drunk).
I don’t know what more I can do to make things easier this December. (Probably getting everyone’s presents a long time ago would have been helpful.)
Babysteps.
Maybe in another 20 years I’ll have this whole Holiday thing under control so that I don’t pass out from exhaustion every December 25th at 6 p.m.
I think the presents thing is key. I am very sure, though I cannot speak from any kind of experience, that if you buy all you presents in October or November, you'll have loads of fun enjoying the parties, concerts, and even decorating in December. But I have yet to remember to start shopping before Thanksgiving. I just don't think of it. One holiday at a time, you know? So I, like you, and destined to feel completely panicked all December. DANGIT.
yep, I feel the same way– this week is crazy!
HAHAHAHA, so glad my kids are still little. I think everyone schedules for the first week "hoping" to get it over with and allow other things to take place the rest of the month…it totally backfires though. I think you can only do/simplify so much. So this week is hectic, when it's over it's over and it sounds like it will be quieter…no more practices, concerts or other crap. LOL As for shopping, I'm sure you keep it fairly simple anyway, there is only so much you can accomplish early on, and only so much money. I've noticed if I start shopping early I then find awesome deals all through december, spend to much, but too much and then it sucks too! Christmas is never going to be easy, just face it Jennie, embrace the caos. 🙂 I had my hubby pull Chrsitmas stuff out last night, I opened a few totes, sighed and said, I don't want to decorate this year. hahahaha
I'm toying with the idea of putting a couple of the kids in storage for a season. We'll rotate them in for a while and put others on ice. Some families do it with toys, but I'm thinking upping the ante would really simplify things around here.
I kind of like the craziness. I think that's why I like shopping at midnight on Black Friday so much. But my kids are young and we don't have a lot of "engagements" so I'm sure things will change in a few years.
Super crazy week. I do not decorate until the 15th and then take it all down on the 26th. The 15th is always a quieter part of the month.
xoxo,t
Me too. Three parties just on this coming Saturday alone!! 2 Christmas piano recitals, band concert, even a gymnastics performance! Huh?! COuldn't that wait till January?! Super crazy. The good news is that after this next week things should actually slow down a bit. Fingers crossed!
I don't even want to think about all the activities we have going on the first week of Dec. It is out of control! Good thing we don't have a birthday to contend with too. That would simply put me over the edge.
Hang in there missy.