Very balanced advice - grateful to read it. December is a painful month for me and my family but we do the best we can. Your elf on the shelf comment made me laugh out loud.
Annoying little sods, whoever came up with them anyway? They were not even a thing 20 years ago when my kids were small. And if they were, I'd have fed them to the dog 🤣
Someone asked me this week, “Do you think ANYONE is genuinely happy on Christmas?” I almost said, “I am!” But actually Christmas is emotional and stressful and I love it but it makes me sad and guilty and it lights up my winter but also I feel like I’m in panic mode all month and I feel the heavy absence of the people I’ve lost….so yeah. It’s complicated. It does feel like the whole season is sort of a mass gaslighting experiment sometimes.
It does! All the added pressure of present shopping, festive foods, travelling to see people, and all the forced jollity can be really hard.
Of course, sometimes it’s great too.
I think we are conditioned as children to expect Christmas to be a certain way, through tv and now internet, and that anything that falls flat of that is a let-down. This then carries through into adulthood and we then feel the effects of it most years. Even the years where I’ve done really well, and got awesome presents for my kids, I still manage to feel like I’ve forgotten something or done something less-than.
Then there are those who are missing from the Christmas cards, as people age and get sick and pass.
When its over, after Christmas dinner is eaten, and everyone is falling asleep in front of the tv, it’s such a relief. The pressure is a lot.
Yes, holidays are a hugely mixed bag of emotions. I never felt completely comfortable with them (that's for my memoir!). Whenever I read one of your posts, I want to adopt another dog, to give and get that unlimited love.
Going into the holidays can be so stressful. Great note for us all. And I'm sorry for you and your stepmum and family. The first one is tough, not that it ever gets easy.
Very balanced advice - grateful to read it. December is a painful month for me and my family but we do the best we can. Your elf on the shelf comment made me laugh out loud.
To you all - have the best holiday you can 💖
Annoying little sods, whoever came up with them anyway? They were not even a thing 20 years ago when my kids were small. And if they were, I'd have fed them to the dog 🤣
🤣😂
Someone asked me this week, “Do you think ANYONE is genuinely happy on Christmas?” I almost said, “I am!” But actually Christmas is emotional and stressful and I love it but it makes me sad and guilty and it lights up my winter but also I feel like I’m in panic mode all month and I feel the heavy absence of the people I’ve lost….so yeah. It’s complicated. It does feel like the whole season is sort of a mass gaslighting experiment sometimes.
It does! All the added pressure of present shopping, festive foods, travelling to see people, and all the forced jollity can be really hard.
Of course, sometimes it’s great too.
I think we are conditioned as children to expect Christmas to be a certain way, through tv and now internet, and that anything that falls flat of that is a let-down. This then carries through into adulthood and we then feel the effects of it most years. Even the years where I’ve done really well, and got awesome presents for my kids, I still manage to feel like I’ve forgotten something or done something less-than.
Then there are those who are missing from the Christmas cards, as people age and get sick and pass.
When its over, after Christmas dinner is eaten, and everyone is falling asleep in front of the tv, it’s such a relief. The pressure is a lot.
Yes, holidays are a hugely mixed bag of emotions. I never felt completely comfortable with them (that's for my memoir!). Whenever I read one of your posts, I want to adopt another dog, to give and get that unlimited love.
Apologies for my ineptness with Substack commenting.
You are far from inept!
Yes, you should go and adopt all the dogs, immediately xx
Sending peace and strength and condolences at your loss.
Going into the holidays can be so stressful. Great note for us all. And I'm sorry for you and your stepmum and family. The first one is tough, not that it ever gets easy.
It can! my son develops a tic every year through all the changes, and it is exhausting to put Christmas all together sometimes!