Are your Christmas holidays stressful, due to family obligations and pleasing everyone, or can you really enjoy them?

Similar questions: Christmas holidays stressful due family obligations pleasing enjoy.

Both Christmas is a roller coaster ride of stress, emotion, and fun for me. It truly is the holiday I love best - from the tree and ornaments to the cookies and carols. So I revel in every bit of holiday spirit I can soak up.

But then the family phone calls start. And the pressure of who's traveling to who's house. And who won't eat turkey.

And who's buying whom a present this year out of the blue. And why aren't your Christmas cards out yet? Did you write thank you cards for the plate of cookies?

Why can't you wear a dress just one year? And then I have a little spiked hot cider, stare at my glowing tree lights, and relax. Then the calls start again.

Dad needs to know what you're getting mom now, now, now. The in-laws thought it was their turn for Christmas. What about Christmas Eve?

My brother-in-law is flying in from Florida when? And he's staying on our couch? Through New Year's Day?

And I'm pregnant? (ok, that was just last year) And then I eat a plate of Christmas cookies, light a fire in the fireplace, curl up in a Christmas quilt, and watch my favorite heart-warming Christmas movies with the lights out. Ahhh.Better....and that's how it goes every year.

Up and down. And up and down. I enjoy and loathe the holidays all at the same time.

PenguinSage's Recommendations A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies Amazon List Price: $17.95 Used from: $0.61 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 7 reviews) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) Amazon List Price: $19.98 Used from: $4.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 305 reviews) A Christmas Story (Two-Disc Special Edition) Amazon List Price: $26.98 Used from: $7.89 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 438 reviews) Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!(50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition) Amazon List Price: $19.98 Used from: $15.20 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 124 reviews) .

We have lots of flexibility (good) because we have very little family (not so good! ). My husband and I, both transplanted NYers, now live in Southern California.

We have no kids, and our families (what's left of them) are still on the east coast. My family was very small, all the branches having dwindled, and now that my parents are gone, there's only my sister, her husband and daughter left. I love them dearly and we're very close but we don't get to get together every Christmas.

Same with my husband. S mother is elderly and his sister's children are grown and gone, so there's really only his sister and mom left. Same thing, we're really close, but finances don't always permit us to get together for the holidays.

Even after all this time, Christmas is sometimes difficult because I miss my parents so much. Probably because we were such a small unit, we were exceptionally close and I have many good memories, and very few relative-based Christmas horror stories. Despite our lack of blood relations, we are blessed to have a wonderful circle of friends.

They have been an incredible source of love and inspiration and comfort over the years. I was watching this program one day--wish I could remember what it was watching so I could credit it (maybe someone else will know! ), but they put it beautifully.As a group of friends was sitting down to dinner for a holiday feast, the host said to them, "Friends are families of the heart.

" I'm so fortunate to have them. Umbalia's Recommendations The Divine Miss M Amazon List Price: $11.98 Used from: $4.39 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 18 reviews) Santaland Diaries Used from: $9.97 Track 11 on this totally terrific collection is the song, "Friends." David Sedaris can always be counted on to bring a wry perspective to the season!

.

After creating my own "Christmas rituals", I can really enjoy the celebration Irishsoul's Recommendations Christmas Makes Me Crazy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Enjoying the Holidays Amazon List Price: $9.95 Used from: $0.49 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) DON'T SWEAT GUIDE TO HOLIDAYS, THE: ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES AND LETTING GO OF THE TENSION (Don't Sweat Guides) Amazon List Price: $10.95 Used from: $0.01 Miller's Traditional English Christmas/an Inspirational & Practical Guide to Enjoying the Christmas Season Amazon List Price: $19.95 Used from: $12.26 To Drive the Cold Winter Away Amazon List Price: $18.98 Used from: $10.25 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 3 reviews) An Irish Christmas Amazon List Price: $19.953 Used from: $12.26 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Celtic Christmas: A Windham ll Sampler Amazon List Price: $8.98 Used from: $0.98 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 11 reviews) "Gingerbread" Home Fragrance Oil - Great Christmas Scent for the Holiday Season Claire Burke Christmas Memories Festive Simmering Oil Christmas Tree Scented Simmering Liquid Potpourri The CDs are some of my favourite Christmas listening and I always light some candles or my oil burner and have them playing while I'm baking, wrapping presents or doing my Christmas decorating.

A little bit of both honestly. My husband's family has a couple of relatives with very angry divorces so sometimes it can be difficult dealing with those issues around holidays. Other than those concerns, though, I really enjoy the Christmas season.

We tend to keep the present mania to a reasonable level and mostly just enjoy each other. I love baking with my kids at Christmas. We make your standard cookies and fudge, but we also make my grandma's Cherry Walnut cake, which is a Christmas tradition in our family.

We always have parties to go to, but I actually enjoy them. The one for my husband's company is pretty fancy, so I get to dress up for one. My school party is more laid back.

Then I always have a party for my yearbook kids. My own children love the yearbook party. For me, I just really love doing Christmas things with my husband and my kids.

BarbieM's Recommendations Holidays on Ice: Stories Amazon List Price: $8.99 Used from: $3.39 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 145 reviews) I've Seen Santa! Amazon List Price: $15.95 Used from: $3.76 If You Take a Mouse to the Movies Amazon List Price: $15.99 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 36 reviews) Olive, the Other Reindeer Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 28 reviews) Christmas reading for mom and some for the kids.

1 Umbalia, regarding your answer "We have lots of flexibility (good) because we have very little family (not so good! ). ": We both picked different David Sedaris Christmas collections!

I love him. I've gotten to here him read twice.

Umbalia, regarding your answer "We have lots of flexibility (good) because we have very little family (not so good! ). ": We both picked different David Sedaris Christmas collections!

I love him. I've gotten to here him read twice.

The holidays are getting near. What are your plans to have a great Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, etc? " "Do you actually KNOW anyone who gets upset with either "happy holidays" or "merry christmas"?" "For many years, I did the Christmas holidays to the max. Then I did it very simply. Now, I don't do it at all." "When you get together with your family on holidays do you keep away from discussing Politics and Religion?

" "So, how is everyone spending the holidays? Cooking, travelling, with family?" "Ok the holidays are over, where is everyone at? " "What do you want most for Christmas/ the holidays?

" "What is the craziest thing a family member has done to you during the holidays?" "Do you feel we need more humor on the discussion boards now that the stressful yet wonderful holidays are coming around? " "What percentage of the shopping you do for the holidays, Christmas, Hannukah, etc. Do you actually do for you?

The holidays are getting near. What are your plans to have a great Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, etc?

For many years, I did the Christmas holidays to the max. Then I did it very simply. Now, I don't do it at all.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.