I am seriously thinking of opting out of Christmas next year.............?

Question

I am begining to get fed up with the hassle of Christmas I would still give my family the cash for presents and drag my husband away for the festive season has anyone else tried it ................does it feel strange and do you miss your family.

Answer 1

Frances you are not alone, my hubby and I have said today that we are not going to spend one more Christmas at home, instead were going to go away somewhere nice and warm and do the things we want to do without the hassle, can't wait, hope you stick with your plans too, have a fantastic new year.

Answer 2

My first reaction to your post was "Amen sister! I second that!" However, the Christmas season is not about the hassle, getting the perfect gift for people, cooking the best food, having the cleanest house. If presents are a source of stress for you, then maybe only get the children gifts and tell all the adults - no gifts.

I don't know what religion you are or anything, but since you celebrate Christmas, I assume you believe in Christ. And really, that is what we are celabrating...Christ coming down to earth and dying for us. Why did He come down and do that? Because He loved us more than anything else. He put us above everything else and made the ultimate sacrifice even though we are sinners.
Putting up with our families is kind of like that - of course less extreme. We have to make sacrifices for them even when we aren't getting along or don't like them at the moment. Why? Because deep down, we love them and are willing to put up with the hassle of what has become the "Christmas season" in order to make them happy. It sometimes is really hard to get past our own feelings. A lot of times, the hurt we have aquired over the years from our family runs deep and family get togethers become a source of added stress. But, at the same time, Christmas give us the opportunity to see the very people/family members we may not like and gives us the chance to grow emotionally.
We all get so caught up in our own emotions, we may not realize why the other person responds or behaves the way they do, much to our disliking. The holidays are a stressful time for us all. However, it also gives us the chance to confront that stress and grow from it, and essentially, become better people because of it.

Answer 3

I volunteered to work at the Christmas Shelter run by Crisis a few years back - and it was one of my best Christmases ever. Didn't feel strange, and no time to miss my family. The more experienced volunteers are lovely people and you are not given tasks beyond your capabilities. I served tea, gave out free cigarettes (one by one), ran an appointment system for the optician who was fitting the homeless with new specs, and just sat talking/listening to homeless people. Many of them ex-servicemen - which was an eye opener. Lots of people want to do it, so register with them now, if you're interested. I only stopped because I don't drive and no public transport in Christmas Day.

If you do something like this, it is hard for the family to put pressure on you to do the traditional thing, and they can't really call you selfish either. One or two might even join you.

Answer 4

Well it's up to you. I have heard of ppl visiting countries where Christmas isn't celebrated much (Thailand has been mentioned). But I find the idea strange because I always feel that I really didn't celebrate Christmas enough and that it's gone before I know it. One of these days, I am going to get a REAL Christmas tree, chop it down, pull it into the house on a sled, bake some homemade Christmas cookies (all kinds-- Italian cookies, fudge, gingerbread men, snow ball cookies), put up a mini-Christmas village with a train running through it, put up a whole lot of lights on the house, go caroling with a church group, etc.

Answer 5

Funnily enough my husband is just enquiring about Christmas at a hotel next year, away from home, hassle and stress. I love my family, and love Christmas too, but this year I have been lumbered with all the stress, all the work and no time to myself, or with my husband. I think after bringing up two kids who are now 20 and 24, my husband and I deserve to be pampered. Am i selfish? Do i care?

Answer 6

I like the idea of opting out, but I'm sure I would miss my family as I think that's the best bit of Christmas. If I could take the kids, my parents and my brother and his family away with me then there'd be no stopping me! I certainly wouldn't miss all the shopping, cooking and hassle that goes with Christmas!

Answer 7

Christmas is about sharing and giving and caring and family and friends. If that means nothing to you or you get stressed by it, well you should probably go away. But it is not Christmas that did this to you. It is how you choose to celebrate it. Cash for presents means you either don't have the time or the concern for whomever the gift is for, so forget about it. It means nothing to you. As for me personally, I would never leave my family and friends at Christmas time. It's not just about the presents. Not at all.

Answer 8

I have been away for Christmas. It was the worse Holiday I ever had. To get up Christmas morning with nothing to look forward to except going to the "clubhouse" to have Christmas dinner with a hundred other souls who looked as unhappy as me.
I miss the excitement of the children, the squeals of delight . I miss the electricity in the air., the smell of food cooking
and Most Of All
Leftovers!!!
I will admit my husband had us try it twice and second time was
horrid. Never Ever Again. It is a season to be with loved ones.

Answer 9

I haven't spend a Christmas with family in years...we are close but that time of the year I travel and visit friends or just travel to new places. Christmas is in my heart so having family near isn't needed for me to feel the meaning of Christmas.

Answer 10

Wow,I actually have a similar situation happening with my Niece & Nephew too! My Niece is nineteen and hasn't been to our kinfolk Christmas in 2 years now so i've got desperate to not purchase her from now on presents and letting her comprehend i don't want something the two....(I never get something from her besides inspite of the shown fact that)...My Nephew on occasion shows up on the occasion so I shop a speedy nutrition present card available for him; he's 14...My Bro in regulation divorced their mom 2 yrs in the past... i think of the ideal determination is finally as much as you as to what to do,yet once I have been you i could decide out extremely than positioned your self by that humiliation...Its unhappy that youngsters immediately may well be so materialistic besides.... >=)