I am really struggling to get into the Christmas spirit, someone used far too much wrapping paper and sellotape, and I cannot get it unwrapped
.
Seriously though, yes I find it difficult to get into the Christmas "spirit",
In my defence, I could say that as a child I spent many years in India and Saudi Arabia, where Christmas (in the '60s) would not have been celebrated. Then when in this county, my father was either away working (for up to fifteen, yes 15 months at a time) or home but going away two days after Christmas, or arguing with my mother.
Now I find that relatives ABSOLUTELY INSIST I celebrate Christmas according to their traditions.
Never mind all the unwanted presents etc, what I would like from people is the following:
From my two, older, brothers: the realisation that for the last ten years or so, I have helped my parents emotionally and practically as far as humanly possible. Now that my mother is a widow and is 85 years old, could they please help NOW. Phone her more often, visit her more often, and believe me when I say that she is not OK. They see her so infrequently that she is able to put on an act of "OK".
For those that are on this thread, try and enjoy this Christmas as you would like to. We are all different after all. Happy Christmas.