I bloody hate this time of year. Loved it when I was a kid and when my kids were little. People get so stressed out and anxious with it all and go bloody mad. Yesterday we went to the shops and saw people with enormous amounts of food, huge trolley loads. I would'nt mind but they're only closed for 1 day.
I shudder to think of all the additional packaging and junk (mainly from cheap Chinese made presents) thats going to end up in landfill. This truly is silly season.
I agree; some people get out of control. I did a bit myself this year. I'm savoring each holiday now because I know that soon my girls will be not as willing to travel all over to see their parents and soon-to-be (I hope) in-laws. My older daughter and her boyfriend in particular are chasing all over the state in an attempt to be fair. I'm sure they'll get to the point that a lot of couples do, when they put their foot down and choose one family to visit, in an effort to maintain their sanity. (I know we faced this battle each year back East: Delaware or New York?)
So I went a bit out of my way this year to decorate, in particular, because when I mentioned cutting back on that they seemed upset.
I was thinking of you today, nimrod, because I spent a good part of the day trying to track down an author in Melbourne, even though I know it's Christmas Eve there already. You and your wife are in Melbourne, correct? I spent a decent chunk of time emailing back and forth with production staff and her university colleagues.
Oh, and agreed, Christmas is so much fun with little kids! When I have grandchildren I am going to delight in spoiling them rotten in all sorts of ways.
I've already jokingly warned my kids.