Burned Out on Celebrating...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
November 11, 2007 8:42am CST
Do you ever feel like you are getting burned out on celebrating holidays? Do you ever dread the whole scene?
I've noticed that over the last couple of years, I have gotten that way. I don't know what's wrong with me but I just don't feel like dealing with it all. I don't mind making the big dinner for Thanksgiving and Christmas since I like to cook, but the decorating, gift buying, gift wrapping, all of that has just become too much like a chore. The same thing applies to birthdays.
My nephew was shocked that I didn't decorate and hand out candy on Halloween. I gave him and his sister candy but that was it.
I kind of feel like after a certain age it shouldn't have to be the one right after another celebrations. I am actually dreading having to go Christmas shopping and although I will put up our little tree b/c I love the lights...that will be the extent of decorating.
I think part of it is the whole commercialism that Christmas has become...buy more, spend more, over-spend more, want more thing. Growing up, it used to be a time to go visit family and spend time together. Now it's all about who buys the most and how expensive everything has to be.
It also irritates me to no end when ppl I don't see all year or that I only see once in a great while show up on my doorstep saying "Merry Christmas, what did you get me?" No matter what I buy for certain ones they are never happy and if I don't get them anything then I feel like a cheapskate.
What to do, What to do? How do you handle the holidays? Do you think at a certain age ppl should just quietly enjoy the holidays or should you force yourself to be in the holiday spirit?
"COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS"
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
12 people like this
32 responses
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I'm with you! A lot of people get so caught up in the external stuff...buying presents, going to parties, etc, that it becomes really commercial. And the stores don't help since they start promoting even before thanksgiving! I have to really work hard to even care also. I work in a cake shop, and in the month of december, I usually ice and decorate about 1000 DOZEN christmas cookies! By the time Christmas actually gets here, and we have time off, we are so sick of Christmas it is really hard to even care. I read a little book every year to try to help me get in the proper mood. It is call The Birth and tells the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus from the perspective of the angels in heaven. It is a small, easy to read book, and is just awesome. It is by Gene Edwards. That is what helps me the most.
3 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
11 Nov 07
This above comment was actually made by me. Apparently my daughter got on my computer and didn't log out of her mylot account. Then, when I answered this discussion from my email notice, it put it on her page instead of mine. It took me quite awhile to figure out how to log out of her page and back into mine, so I can answer and post some discussions! ARGH! LOL
3 people like this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I put that book on hold at the library, Cha. Thanks for recommending it. Last year I gave out a book that I thought had a great Christmas story. It was called "The Christmas Box" by Richard Paul Evans. It, too, is a small easy to read book with a great message.
2 people like this
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Sorry Mom, I did that when I first got on your computer and answered one with your name.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I usually will get this way at first, but then once I start to go out and shop~ on Black Friday~ my attitude always changes. I guess that I don't like that the stores have the Christmas itemss out along side the Halloween items. This is what gets me out of the mood for the holidays.
I also think as I get older it seems to be more of a chore at first, but as I said, I always get right into the mood once I start shopping.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
11 Nov 07
Once it is all over with, I want to get things cleaned up too. I usually wait a couple of days to get the tree down and then the kids are all mad because they like to leave their presents displayed under the tree. I think it is just because they don't want to put everything away!
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I'm the exact opposite. I try to go into the season with a good attitude. The closer we get, though, the more stressed I get. On Christmas day when it's all over I finally start feeling better. Last year after we got back home from my in-law's house I starting packing up the Christmas tree. My husband thought I was nuts, but I just wanted it to be all done with so we could go back to life as "normal".
2 people like this
@meme0907 (3481)
• United States
18 Nov 07
Hey t68,
I could see how commercialism would dampen your holiday spirit but shrug it off babydoll-I say bring on the good cheer w/ or w/o gifts what I try to focus on is enjoying having the ppl I love in my life & passing on a wave or a smile to the ppl I see in town.You never know what that could do for a person.
+'s |:)
1 person likes this
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
17 Nov 07
I like Thanksgiving and Christmas but I do kinda get burned out by going to so many different houses. My mom and dad are divorced and so is my husband's mom and dad so we have to go to all of their houses. Plus my grandmother's house and my hubby's grandmother's house. And some of them don't understand that when two people have their get togethers at the same time that we can't cut our bodies in half and be at two places at one time. That's what makes me so mad. Last year my mom had to have hers at a certain time because my soon to be stepsister and stepbrother had to be at their real mom's house so my mom had to have lunch instead of dinner like she usually does. Well, my husband's grandmother got a little mad and said well I'm not changing my time and if some people can't be here then they just won't be here. That made me kinda mad because I can't help it and it actually made me not want to go to her house even though we did, we were just a little bit late. I don't mind the buying gifts at Christmas time cause we only buy for our parent's and the kids on my husband's side of the family and we do something called Chinese christmas on my side of the family. It's where we buy $5-$10 gifts and wrap them up and each person gets to choose one not knowing what it is and if they don't want it then they can change with someone else. It's actually kinda fun. And we buy for our son and hubby and I buy a little something for each other. But I love the holidays, I just feel burned out when we have to go so many places.
1 person likes this
@musicman6 (2407)
• United States
11 Nov 07
You know what, I do too, but then I see my kids, and my grandkids get so excited, and they look so forward to the holidays, that I remember how excited we used to get when we were young!
And now I just do it for them because they are so happy, it makes me happy also!
And ;now that they are all grown up, everything I do, I do it for them!
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I totally hear you, twoey! I just don't seem to enjoy the holidays. I feel obligated to do a bunch of stuff that I don't enjoy. I don't like clutter, so I hate decorating. I don't even want a tree this year! The rest of my family does, but I'm always the one that winds up cleaning up. I think buying Christmas gifts is silly- except for my kids. I am doing a small stocking for each of my parents. We don't exchange gifts, but I do like to have a little something for them. It's usually about $10 per stocking that I spend and it's just fun stuff. I love the way Christmas is done with my mom and dad. We spend the day together eating, talking, playing board games, taking the kids to the park, and just enjoying each other. That's what I think Christmas should be. Thanksgiving there is the same. This year is my family's year for the holidays, so I am excited about that. Other years, though, I really dread the celebrations.
3 people like this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
12 Nov 07
I find that Christmas is becoming quite tiring. While I enjoy the time with family, it just seems like there are a lot of expectations and constraints. This year is difficult because I don't have any extra money, so I don't know how I am going to do gifts and things.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
17 Nov 07
I think it should defentily be a personal choice. But I don't think age should have a factor...just your feelings :)
I love the Holidays and I love an excuse to buy people things and to decorate my house differently and just to celebrate. Though I admit I do get burnt out at times too. But Christmas is the one time of year I know I'll be able to see all of my mom's family and that gets me excited. When we go down there we might see some of them once or twice for a little bit but this way I know I'll get to see them all.
Our family is pretty good about being humble with our gift asking and receiving. Of course the kids still say silly things like "I want a computer for Christmas" or silly things they don't really expect from us. Well that holds true for the adults too I suppose LOL. But we're just all joking.
I say you take it easy this year as planned and relax babe! You deserve it :)
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
12 Nov 07
Boy do we think alike, like you have no idea how much we think alike. I am very lucky in the fact that I have a terrific daughter. Since I got sick (heart attack) my daughter has taken over by cooking the turkey and when she shops for gifts for the kids she shops for me too so I have something for the grandchildren. It works out good for my daughter because that way the kids are home where they have their own beds and own home, I only have a 3/4 hour drive each way so no big deal. Every other year she goes to her husbands folks which is about a 7 or 8 hour drive away, I sure miss her and the kids on those years. This year is her year to go away and I know I am always welcome to go but that's just too far for me to go.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
12 Nov 07
I think this is because we as Christians have forgotten what the celebration is really suppose to be all about. I don't really celebrate Christmas any longer. But, when I have children, if I do celebrate it, I will do it the same way that I celebrate everyone else's birthday. It will be about Jesus and only Jesus. We will even buy a birthday cake that says happy birthday to him.
@isaiah12 (416)
• United States
12 Nov 07
For alot of people Christmas has turned into a day of giving and getting gifts, running around to see the relatives, stress, debts.....
The true meaning of Christmas has been lost to alot of people.
I hate going to my sisters and her daughters. Everything is about how many gifts they get. They don't even mention Christ! I end up stressed and depressed by the end of the visit.
I think this year I'd like to just spend the day with my daughters and their children.
1 person likes this
@BlueStarMom1 (931)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I agree. You know when I was a little younger and my boys were home I was the biggest holiday person you would ever see. I decorated for all holidays and we celebrated them all. St. Patrick's, Easter, valentines all of them. But now that it is just the 2 of us it is just more work than I have energy for. I agree that it has all become so commercialized. The spirit of the holidays has been lost in the money. Where are the days when you were thrilled with the sweater someone spent so much of there precious time to make you and the cost of the yarn was cheaper than going to Macy's and buying a new sweater. This generation has lost out on so much of the fun of holidays. When I was growing up it was about family and spending the time with each other. Now it is about I will buy you something but I don't have time for you. So sad.
1 person likes this
@irene_27 (542)
• Philippines
12 Nov 07
I love anticipating every holidays we have most especially birthdays, new year and christmas. The whole family look forward to these days as these are the times we are able to get together and catch up with what's the latest happenings in each other's lives. Come christmas time, the load of all the preparations needed can really take its toll on you so i always start buying gifts as early as September. I came from a big family and since some of my siblings have their own families already so there's now the addition all the nephews and nieces. This is the time to really hold on to dear budget with all the gifts i have to give. I know sometimes it's really hard to cope but i feel satisfied seeing them appreciate what they've got from me. I don't think i'll ever get tired of celebrating this holiday. I believe that by doing so i'm sharing my blessings and at the same time enjoying the spirit of the season. In the end, it's all worth my time and effort.
1 person likes this
@mwala1287 (284)
• Canada
12 Nov 07
every year i feel that because as i get older.... thins like christmas are only becoming fun for the kids and not a waste of time.. but a boring time for the rest of us!
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
12 Nov 07
i have to agree with you. this year i am very tired. i am having constant pain in my knees and dont really feel terribly festive!
while i do love christmas, i just dont feel like all the fuss and bother this year. john grisham wrote a book about people that were going to go away for the holidays, i think i would like to do that too!! lol
1 person likes this
@momoftwingirls (859)
• United States
11 Nov 07
Well, I love decorating for Fall, not Halloween. I am not a fan of this "holiday". But, I do dress my twins up and take them around to see my neighbors and their grandparents.
I love Thanksgiving and love to decorate for that and Christmas too.
Shopping, I could do without. I shop for what I need year round.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Nov 07
When I reached a certain age, far younger than I am, I quit doing anything that I didn't feel like doing except for going to work, lol. Now we are retired, so I got to quit doing that too. I absolutely do not care what anybody else thinks about my habits. They are mine and I do what I want. Of course, if the car is going to run, I need to put gas in it, and once in a while do the laundry, but not on a certain day, if you know what I mean. As for people sending cards once a year, in some cases that is OK, but in others, I just don't bother to reply, and nobody is getting a gift unless they did something to merit one, in which case then it is not work, but rather a joy to buy them something. If people want me to be in the holiday spirit they can buy dinner for everyone at a nice restaurant. If I want them to be in a holiday spirit, I will buy them dinner at a nice place. That is one reason we moved to a resort village. I don't decorate for anyone or cook for anyone but me and hubby. Wheeeee, freeee!
1 person likes this
@Kecia08 (554)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Since I have just gotten married, am only 23, and this is the first year in our own home, I have yet to get tired of the holidays. I cannot wait to decorate!! The tradition at my parent's house is to put up the Christmas tree and decorations the night of Thanksgiving day, usually while there are TV specials going on (think Charlie Brown!). I had planned on bringing that tradition to my own home, but I may break it this once, just so I can get the house decorated sooner!!
I do start to get a lil burned out toward the end...Maybe a couple of days before Christmas. I always forget someone's gift, or the batteries I was going to buy to give with a gift, or a Christmas card, which leaves me trying to make my way through an overcrowded Wal-Mart on Dec. 23. Plus, the Christmas music playing in every single business you enter throughout the month of December does get a little old...
1 person likes this
@xXxMikesWifeyxXx (3072)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I never get burned out.. but somtime i get bummed out.lol if i dont have enough money to do what i wanna do... like if i have the money i am excited about it.but if i have to really stretch my money it gets frustrating and i am like dude.. i dont even wanna do this.lol
1 person likes this
