Do the holidays suck for you?

[Jim Richards]

We enjoy the holidays, and have not let the commercialization get out of hand for us.

[motion]

I've learned to not get worked up by this stuff. Mrs. Motion likes the parties, trees, lights, smells, etc, so I am more than happy to be happy just watching her enjoy it all. We don't go for expensive gifts and don't stress about gifts. I'll be really happy just to get a bad tie out of the deal

[strupgolf]

No, my holiday is just fine. A tree, a few lights outside, a few gifts inside under the tree, some snow to make things as they were in the past. Holidays are what you make them. To each his own.

[Instrument 41]

I still like the holidays ..overall. What I don't like is the disruption it cause's with work, customers, and suppliers. I can relate to n earlier post about large family gatherings that were such fun, but now most have passed on. I enjoy buying for others and thinking about how much it will make them happy.

[dan88911]

I see my adult children regularly.
If not for my mother wanting us all over for the holidays.
I have no desire to spend time with my sisters their screw up husbands and stupid adult children.

So yeah, I guess it kinda sucks.

how does it go you can choose your friends?

[Danimal16]

Funny, my first wife who was not religious was at her best during Christmas.

My second wife, who claimed to be religious, was just all show. Yep that was the one who cheated on me and had my dog killed.

BUUUUT, I appreciate my first wife and I tell her so. (my mistake)

And my 5 brothers and sisters and my extended family enjoy each others company more and more as the years roll on.

[Rusty Heap]

I gladly frequently support Alaska Airlines, by blowing off the family and going to Hawaii or the Caribbean for Christmas under a Palm Tree Scuba Diving off a white sand beach.

Been gone I think the last 8-9 years in a row.

Friends often ask "how do you get out of the "family packaged" standard fill in the blank here obligation?"

I simply say NO, I'm not doing that.

Would rather have happy tropical memories swaying in a hammock, than watch Aunt Martha or Uncle Fred bickering for 15 minutes unwrapping a scarf or tie that they won't wear or don't want and the kids fighting over a video game controller.

[Rick Lee]

I don't buy into the commercialism. I don't set foot in a retail store other than for booze or groceries between about this week and mid-January. I buy everything online. My gift to my folks last year was a desert tour on horseback and dinner at Morton's in Scottsdale. This year Mrs. Lee and I have to fly to NJ to see them. If any of you guys are within a reasonable distance of LBI, I might be able to escape for a beer one night.

[ckelly78z]

I really enjoy Thanksgiving because it is just one day that I still have my 70 year old parents over for a turkey and all the trimmings along with a nap in my recliner during the football game. The weather is usually half decent, so I go throw the football around with my 13 year old son, 19 year old daughter and her boy friend, and just try to sieze the moment before the moment is gone.

Christmas, however, I don't enjoy much about it, the money spent, the expectations, the ugly traffic for a month, and the commercialism, the hustle/bustle.

[Rick Lee]

Oh, I spent last Thanksgiving at the most amazing hot pot place in Chengdu with some friends. This week Mrs. Lee and I are driving to Vegas and our big feast will be at our favorite Chinese place there. Then we see Rush at MGM on Friday. We drive home Sat. and I see Rush again here in Phoenix on Sunday. I do love this kind of holiday season.

[Por_sha911]

When you take the Christ out of Christmas, all you have left is a big commercial X-mess.

[wdfifteen]

Paul Thorn said it best re. relatives. "God knows they're all dear to me, but if the truth be told, I like it when they come, but I love it when they go."

I Don't Like Half the Folks I Love.
Paul Thorn ( I don't like half the folks I love ) - YouTube

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

When you take the Christ out of Christmas, all you have left is a big commercial X-mess.

Amen!

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

We stick to basics; family unit of me, wife, kids, that's it. We are thankful at Thanksgiving and for Christmas we give each other three gifts just like Jesus received. No extended family, no commercialism, no credit card bills. Simple, relaxing, excellent quiet family unit time.

That's about the way it is for us. Every few years features a 600 mile trip to my wife's big family xmas; haven't done xmas with any of mine since the '70's (not to imply there's been any blow-up, we've just made our own separate ways).
Jim

[tweezers74]

I am into the holidays because of my boys and all my nieces and nephews. We look forward to the holidays because my father lives in Europe and its the only time he sees most of us and his grandkids. The adults never exchange presents. It's just for the kids. And I love that because my boys still believe in Santa. We have the "elf on the shelf" where this little elf sits somewhere and "watches" them. Every night he flies back to the North Pole and gives a report to Santa. His name is Jingle and I have to move him to a new place every morning. It's so fun to see the boys having conversations with the elf.

We make cookies for Santa every year. We have a cookie making party with all my nieces and nephews and everybody brings some home for when Santa comes to their house. We go to Phoenix Zoo lights every year. Again with all of the nieces and nephews. The adults drag the kids around in wagons with their blankets am we bring hot cocoa in thermoses with marshmallows and drink it in the parking lot after.

We do a lot of family things during the holidays because that's the time we all have off and are in one place. I have three sisters so when I say the family, it's a full house. I love it. Even if I am sitting in a corner by myself watching the kids running around in my own quiet world. This is the time I take a time out and remind myself what's important.

It sucks this year because I am unemployed but the kids will still get Christmas. My sisters and their grandparents will make sure of it. Again, reminds me of what I have and how far my family has come. The first Christmas I remember in this country was when I was four. I got one of those Barbie heads that you do her makeup and hair. It was from the local church and was the only present I got that year. I loved that thing. And I took care of that thing like it was gold. I remember it until this day. The holidays are for kids and family.

[Drdogface]

Bah F'ing Humbug.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

Bah F'ing Humbug.

He he.

[mikesride]

Thanksgiving is not the big deal up here as it is in the USA, good I like it that way! Christmas is great! Its only a couple days of commotion and the energy young kids bring into your life is just amazing!!! BTW I am not religious and treat Christmas as a celebration of family and loved ones.....but I always call it Christmas, sing Christmas songs and put up a Christmas tree!!! I hate the P.C. crap that means my school aged step son has a SEASONAL CONCERT at school......BS.

[Bill Douglas]

I'm an orphan so I do exactly what I want to do over the holidays. Plus it's SUMMER here now - yay.

BBQ'ed ham BBQ'ed lobster, pinot noir, too much sun. Ah, the list goes on.

[look 171]

I grew up in a small family with a younger sister. We would go to family functions sometime. I am glad we grew up that way. For years, after we were adults, we went home to hang with my folks and have informal dinners for the holidays. Usually just us four together, no girl / boy friends. I had to train my wife to do that. Now, the kids and us just go to grandparents. In the back of my wife's mind, I know mt dear wife wants to do this big Christmas thing with a bunch of friends and families. I never question what she does with her time, but that is one thing I really dislike and she knows it. No Christmas gifts unless its for the kids. 10 + years ago, I would get my girlfriend (now wife) something, because I was hoping to get some. I am getting soft in my old age, I am thinking about getting something small for her this year just so she knows that I appreciate her sacrifice taking care of our little kids 24/7