The Grinch thread

[llama64]

The thing that drives me nuts about Christmas is that family EXPECTS you to be there on Christmas morning. Originally, that wasn't a problem, because you only had one. But now that I'm married, I have 3 families that all live in the City. And all of them EXPECT my Wife and I to be there on the 25th. If we can't make it, it's guilt trip hell.

By the end of the 26th, I'm so damn tired of travelling around the city trying to make a meaningful appearances that I'm resentful of all of them. We're around all year long, but it's of prime importance that we be there on one specific day.

/rant

[Kipper is King]

Is it actually Christmas you guys all dislike?

Or just the commercialization/secular aspect of Christmas?

Just saying that one can celebrate and enjoy Christmas without worrying about a lot of that.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by llama64

The thing that drives me nuts about Christmas is that family EXPECTS you to be there on Christmas morning. Originally, that wasn't a problem, because you only had one. But now that I'm married, I have 3 families that all live in the City. And all of them EXPECT my Wife and I to be there on the 25th. If we can't make it, it's guilt trip hell.

By the end of the 26th, I'm so damn tired of travelling around the city trying to make a meaningful appearances that I'm resentful of all of them. We're around all year long, but it's of prime importance that we be there on one specific day.

/rant

My mother-in-law doesn't understand the concept that I have parents too. Meanwhile my parents are probably used to being second fiddle now. I feel really bad about it, and I try to push to spend more time with my parents (even though it is more fun to spend time with my wife's family). Fortunately my wife's family is growing and her sister moved a little bit farther away, so it isn't as easy to get everybody together as much as my mother-in-law wants.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Is it actually Christmas you guys all dislike?

Or just the commercialization/secular aspect of Christmas?

Just saying that one can celebrate and enjoy Christmas without worrying about a lot of that.

Commercialization all the way. Christmas is not about how much money you can put into to the retail store's cash registers, but the retailers have become overbearing. I worked retail for six years and that is what totally turned me off of Christmas. I actually don't hate Christmas or even dislike it in the least. I hate the commercialization of it. I just can't get into Christmas until December 24.

[CaptainCrunch]

I just love playing the crabby old man character

When people say "Merry Christmas or happy holidays" my reply is to shoot them the look as if they farted and say "SAME TO YOU YA !!" then I stomp on their toes and push over a christmas tree.

[The Goon]

[llama64]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I just love playing the crabby old man character

When people say "Merry Christmas or happy holidays" my reply is to shoot them the look as if they farted and say "SAME TO YOU YA !!" then I stomp on their toes and push over a christmas tree.

And let a room clearing stench go.

AMIRITE?

Grumpy old man for the win!

[The Fonz]

Sounds like everyone's hate for christmas may come from living in the city. It's busy, everyones in a hurry, and it's expensive. I live in a very small town, so for me, christmas holidays is when all your old friends are back home from school and you party it up for a week or 2. My family either lives here, or close to here, so I don't have to spend an extreme amount of time with them.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

Yeah, it sucks being the adult. I used to tell them that I almost wished they had seperated when I was little cause then maybe they would have tried to shield us from all the crap they are slinging back and forth.

Originally, my mom wouldn't refer to him at all. He didn't exist to her and we officially had no father, but then that turned into refering to him as "the cheater," or "the liar," if she felt like mixing it up.

I have given the speech to both parents about them getting their acts together or I won't be seeing them. Hasn't seemed to have made a difference yet.

Anyways, sorry for the thread hijack, it's just all my friends seem to have happily married parents so I rarely vent my broken home stories.



I'm gonna hold you to that! I expect you to be in TO bright and early tomorrow morning, singing your butt off on my doorstep! I hope you know the words to "Here comes Santa Claus," cause that's my favourite!

As a divorced parent I will stick up for your parents to a point. It's only the 2nd year you have had to do this? It will get better. Mind you my kids were young, but that first Christmas I had to spend alone without my kids and wake up Christmas morning by myself, just about killed me. It's really devastating. My 19 year old will wake up at my house this year, but he will make his own arrangements when he spends time at Dad's. The 13 year old will be splitting up his time according to our agreement, but he doesn't care for that as much. There will always be challenges, but hopefully the really hard stuff will get better as time goes by.

[BCReefer]

Christmas is what you make it out to be. No one can make you feel bad unless you allow them too. I can understand the problems about seperated parents or in-laws but don't let that wreck your Christmas.

Have fun spend some time on yourself, sit back and relax a little and just expect somethings to go wrong, then when it does you are not as upset.

Anyways Merry Christmas all.

[Cheese]

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Is it actually Christmas you guys all dislike?

Or just the commercialization/secular aspect of Christmas?

Just saying that one can celebrate and enjoy Christmas without worrying about a lot of that.

Nah I hate the religious aspects of Christmas...
Santa be Gone

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

As a divorced parent I will stick up for your parents to a point. It's only the 2nd year you have had to do this? It will get better. Mind you my kids were young, but that first Christmas I had to spend alone without my kids and wake up Christmas morning by myself, just about killed me. It's really devastating. My 19 year old will wake up at my house this year, but he will make his own arrangements when he spends time at Dad's. The 13 year old will be splitting up his time according to our agreement, but he doesn't care for that as much. There will always be challenges, but hopefully the really hard stuff will get better as time goes by.

No, this will be the third year they have been divorced. And my dad hasn't spent any Christmases alone since they divorced and neither has my mom. My dad had his girlfriend and her family and my mom had us. And I hope you don't assume that it isn't just as devastating for the children to wake up without one of their parents there. I am sure you tried to make the holiday as decent as possible for your kids though, right? My brothers and I tried to make it a good holiday, but neither of my parents are willing to put all the crap aside for a couple days. They just want to argue us about how much time we spend with each parent, down to the friggin' minute. Doesn't make for a fun Christmas.

Anyways.... in an attempt to not be too depressing... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays everyone!! Yay!!

[PYroMaNiaC]

Update. After my colossal blowout last night, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was in an excellent holiday spirits today. Helpful to customers, smiling, laughing with co-workers. I told a few of them about my temper tantrum and they laughed right along with me.

I arrived home tonight. And sitting in my living room was an entirely new tree. My husband and children, my Mom and my Dad and my boss (I think. It's looks like theres a bit of her handiwork in there.) had spent the day buying a new tree, putting new lights on it, decorating it right to the nines. They put my most favorite ornaments on it. It's the most beautiful christmas tree ever! I cried.

They are a good family. They do love me and I love them. Sometimes we just need a reminder of what its actually all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

Update. After my colossal blowout last night, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was in an excellent holiday spirits today. Helpful to customers, smiling, laughing with co-workers. I told a few of them about my temper tantrum and they laughed right along with me.

I arrived home tonight. And sitting in my living room was an entirely new tree. My husband and children, my Mom and my Dad and my boss (I think. It's looks like theres a bit of her handiwork in there.) had spent the day buying a new tree, putting new lights on it, decorating it right to the nines. They put my most favorite ornaments on it. It's the most beautiful christmas tree ever! I cried.

They are a good family. They do love me and I love them. Sometimes we just need a reminder of what its actually all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Did you get a visit from the ghost of Christmas past?

Nice to see you in better mood and in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas to you too

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

No, this will be the third year they have been divorced. And my dad hasn't spent any Christmases alone since they divorced and neither has my mom. My dad had his girlfriend and her family and my mom had us. And I hope you don't assume that it isn't just as devastating for the children to wake up without one of their parents there. I am sure you tried to make the holiday as decent as possible for your kids though, right? My brothers and I tried to make it a good holiday, but neither of my parents are willing to put all the crap aside for a couple days. They just want to argue us about how much time we spend with each parent, down to the friggin' minute. Doesn't make for a fun Christmas.

Anyways.... in an attempt to not be too depressing... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays everyone!! Yay!!

Yes, I did and do try to make it as decent as possible for them. That's a shame, hopefully it will get better eventually.

All the best to you this Christmas, I hope you have a nice time, as much as you can despite everything.

My relationship with their Dad goes up and down, pretty civil most of the time, but if I do get mad over something and express it out loud (usually because I have a hard time getting regular support) they are quick to tell me if to keep it to myself, it's nothing to do with them, and I check myself. I did get older and wiser about the whole situation.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

Update. After my colossal blowout last night, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was in an excellent holiday spirits today. Helpful to customers, smiling, laughing with co-workers. I told a few of them about my temper tantrum and they laughed right along with me.

I arrived home tonight. And sitting in my living room was an entirely new tree. My husband and children, my Mom and my Dad and my boss (I think. It's looks like theres a bit of her handiwork in there.) had spent the day buying a new tree, putting new lights on it, decorating it right to the nines. They put my most favorite ornaments on it. It's the most beautiful christmas tree ever! I cried.

They are a good family. They do love me and I love them. Sometimes we just need a reminder of what its actually all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bah!! Humbug!!

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

Update. After my colossal blowout last night, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was in an excellent holiday spirits today. Helpful to customers, smiling, laughing with co-workers. I told a few of them about my temper tantrum and they laughed right along with me.

I arrived home tonight. And sitting in my living room was an entirely new tree. My husband and children, my Mom and my Dad and my boss (I think. It's looks like theres a bit of her handiwork in there.) had spent the day buying a new tree, putting new lights on it, decorating it right to the nines. They put my most favorite ornaments on it. It's the most beautiful christmas tree ever! I cried.

They are a good family. They do love me and I love them. Sometimes we just need a reminder of what its actually all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

That's my family! Aren't they great?! I would've helped except that I live too far away.

[Got Miikka?]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

Update. After my colossal blowout last night, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was in an excellent holiday spirits today. Helpful to customers, smiling, laughing with co-workers. I told a few of them about my temper tantrum and they laughed right along with me.

I arrived home tonight. And sitting in my living room was an entirely new tree. My husband and children, my Mom and my Dad and my boss (I think. It's looks like theres a bit of her handiwork in there.) had spent the day buying a new tree, putting new lights on it, decorating it right to the nines. They put my most favorite ornaments on it. It's the most beautiful christmas tree ever! I cried.

They are a good family. They do love me and I love them. Sometimes we just need a reminder of what its actually all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

If they made a reality TV series out of A Charlie Brown Christmas (and quite frankly I'm surprised they haven't yet), you could easily have starred.