Things you don’t have to do this Christmas
We all love Christmas – but of course it’s stressful. The clue is in the fact that it has a countdown. The only other countdown events are weddings, and the apocalypse.
When we were fully in the throes of family festivities – with three children at home – we’d often host extended family for Christmas Day. What would they make of our crumbling house? Our chaotic approach to domestic matters? The wildness of our children?
Looking back, those were wonderful days – but in the interim years I’ve learned that most of those stress-inducers were firmly in my head. These days, I take a far more relaxed approach. The difference being – who knew! – that I don’t have to do everything myself! Corners can be cut and no one notices or cares. So, if tensions are rising, do remember that there’s a whole raft of things you don’t have to do… leaving way more time for relaxation and fun. Let’s drink to that!
10 things you don’t have to do this Christmas..
- Be in sole charge of present wrapping. Others might not do it to your standards – but they are capable of operating a roll of Sellotape.
- Take on gift responsibilities for a partner’s parent, or indeed any other rellies on ‘their side’. Remind yourself of this when you find yourself panic-buying a cardigan for his auntie.
- Have a drawer of ‘emergency presents’ for people who might show up bearing gifts. You know it’ll have that dusty gift-drawer vibe, so offer them a glass of fizz instead.
- Bake your own mince pies. My family still sniggers over the memory of my charred offerings leaking toxic waste (i.e., incinerated mincemeat). Never forget how good shop-bought ones taste!
- Offer starters on Christmas Day. A bridge too far, IMO. How can it be right that, while you’re grappling with pans, cursing and burning yourself, your guests are tucking into cute retro prawn cocktails? It’s a sure route to resentment and pain.
- Create an extensive pudding buffet. Or even offer dessert at all. When your home is awash with sweet treats, who needs a hefty pudding? (Ours from last year still sits unopened and teetering towards its use-by date in a cupboard).
- Wash up every item over the festive period, and gather up every torn scrap of wrapping paper. If your home is full, delegate!
- Spend weeks racking your brain for a movie that’ll delight everyone. At least, if your kids are grown up. Because don’t forget that no one wants to sit around watching a full-length movie with their parents.
- Get in a stew about your adult kids’ phones. Okay – say you do manage to corral everyone to sit down and watch a film together. Yep, your kids will be on their phones. No, they can’t possibly be focussing fully on the film – but does it matter? It’s not the time for squabbles over devices.
- Fall out about anything, in fact. Instead, take a deep breath and a slug of your favourite tipple and tell yourself it’s not worth it. That is, unless you’re presented with a frying pan as your main gift.