Christmas is making me angry!!!

[christy]

We have an oxfam shop in our Westfield as well where you can get the cards.

[widdly]

SJ, I totally agree with you, both sides of our family wanted to do kris kringle, but this year we dont even really want to spend money on that, so I asked around and it turned out that everyone was more than happy not to do presents anyway, so we are just doing pressies for kids from now on. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that your family are as understanding. Sorry this is stressing you out, hope you can still relax for xmas day x

[Bathsheba]

I highly recommend kinda "eloping" one Christmas Just go on a holiday instead. For a while we were feeling a bit overwhelmed by our gift giving "commitments" so just said "stuff it" lets just get away and enjoy ourselves. it was when our DD was a baby... we were expected to cart her around to everyone's places... which was highly unsettling for her... and tricky for us for numerous reasons... so to avoid offending anyone the next Christmes we just took a holiday. It was the best solution for us at the time. Sad it had to come to that... but when you have adults putting themselves before the needs of a baby and sleep deprived parents then there was little choice... unless we were ok to continue being martyrs

[tiggerandpooh]

funny isn't how this time of year tends to bring out the worst in people. I'm with you Bathsheba - go the holiday next year!!

[Charlyfrog]

I must admit I'm a sucker for buying gifties and even if I don't like the person (lol) I can't bring myself just to buy anything - I have to have a 'moment' where I think that that is the best present ever for them!!! See? Suuuuccckkkkkeeeerrrrrrrrr!

I am a big makerer (?? lol) of things......all the kids have pitched in to buy mum a huge gift but still, I can't bear the thought of her not unwrapping something.....so I've made a family portrait! All kids and their kids etc are drawn and coloured in and all framed in a $5 frame!! Hehehehe

I love what some friends gave us though.......they bought a chicken for cambodia and my friend made me a little chicken out of clay, it was so tiny, so cute, so cheap but one of the best presents I've ever received!

It is weird though as I have a sibling who is so obviously buying us gifts out of obligation as we barely have contact and its just another long story....... seriously though, I'd prefer nothing from this particular person as there is no spirit behind it. I hate the unsaid competition too......well we spent $x so you should spend just as much, aiy yai yai!

funny isn't how this time of year tends to bring out the worst in people.

with you on that one TiggerandPooh Hmmm, New York at Christmas looking soooo good right now!!

[Heaven]

Thankyou everyone for your replies!!!!!!

Now, what do I put the shortbread in to give it to them that will keep it fresh?

Going to check out Oxfam too and maybe put that in aswell.

[Heaven]

My shortbread turned out good!! Yes, I sampled some, lol. So I bought some of those little noodle boxes to put it in to give to ppl. Do I have to wrap it in something else first? Will it go stale? Any ideas?

[Bathsheba]

You could pop the shortbread into clear celophane bags with a twist tie before you put them into the noodle boxes... this will keep them fresh, stop the from being shaken around a bit and stop crumbs from escaping through the bottom of the box.

[Heaven]

Ok, now I'm back I will let you all know what happened.

So, I got to my Mums on Christmas eve when she was already in bed so just put the presents under the tree and went to bed. I hadn't put the shortbread in the present coz I didn't want it to be stale by morning so when I woke up I put it in little boxes and went to put it in the bag and find another present in there too, no name on it. So I just chucked it out and put the shortbread in. Then I see it gets back in there somehow. Then mum tells me she has bought a present for her husband from us to put in there aswell!!!! My present had both their names on it so was obvioulsy to both of them but no, not good enough. RUDENESS!!!!!!!!!!! So I was supposed to pretend we bought it!!!!! wtf!!!!! I just didn't say anything when he opened it and all he said anyway was 'these won't fit, I hope you kept the receipt', so grateful. Should have said 'I'm sure Mum has it' but I just ignored him.

Anyway, we weren't there for long. All they did was invite their friends around and drink anyway so me and DH and my brothers went to Dads where he actually wanted to spend christmas with us. Much more fun!

So glad it's all over!!

[~breeze~]

OMG cant believe that... how incredibly rude!!!

So glad that you ended up at your Dads & had a nice evening

[Toomanytoomany]

My sister did the most beautiful thing for us this year - they are really struggling at the moment with money, so she got some gift boxes, and put in a couple of things she'd grown in the garden, some home made bikkies her kids had baked, a notebook that her kids had covered with pretty coloured paper, and a nice calendar. They were a real labour of love and so thoughtful, and I appreciated them so much. It really *is* the thought that counts! If other people can't appreciate that, that is their problem.

My brother and sister in law always give us a card that tells about their donation to Oxfam, which makes me feel really happy, too.

Too late for this y ear, but next year perhaps you could pre-empt it all by saying well before gift giving season, "This year we aren't purchasing gifts - we can't stop you doing it but please don't be offended if you receive something home made or alternative."