Monday, December 21, 2009

Scratch That, I Still Hate Christmas

So, the high of my bargain gift shopping has worn off and I realize that I still hate Christmas after all. I'm pretty Scroogey every year, but I'm finding it especially hard this year to even pretend to be the least bit excited.

Maybe it's the religious undertones, however hidden under the twinkling lights and Spongebob gift wrap and commercialism. Maybe it's the whole bandwagonish-ness of the season; the more excited everyone else gets, the more I want to vomit (While shopping the other day, a woman passed me humming a holiday tune to herself and I was actually surprised to hear myself mutter under my breath "Oh, just shut up..."). Maybe it's the weather; I hate the cold and the snow and the half-hour of bundling I must do to get kids out the door. Maybe I can't get the memory of one horrible Christmas out of my mind. Maybe it's the pain-in-the-ass Christmas tree, the bottom third of which is completely dismantled on an hourly basis by the little one. Maybe it's the two-week break from school, and the added noise and chaos in my house that makes me feel like my face is going to explode sometimes. Maybe it's the overwhelming pressure; one extra obligation and expense after another. Maybe it's the parties to attend or the clothes I can't wear or the desserts I must bake or all the gifts to buy or the all the money I must spend or the all the gifts I must wrap or the guilt I feel for not sending out cards this year.

Maybe it's my impending divorce. Or that my husband seems determined to make me as miserable as he is. Or that I must somehow manage to get two inches of snow shoveled from my driveway and front walk (which probably doesn't sound especially daunting, but, at the risk of sounding like a spoiled princess, I've never shoveled snow before in my life and the idea of learning now, when I'm 7 months pregnant, just pisses me off because I think my husband should still be willing to do things like this for me, in spite of his anger, and if for no other reason than out of concern for the well-being of his child that I'm carrying). Or that I'm dreading the inevitable confrontation about the kids on Christmas: who will be where and when and for how long.

It's the first day of winter, the first real snow this season, the first day of winter break for the kids and I just can't wait for all of it to be over.

8 comments:

Mark said...

This is not the brightest of seasons for everyone. You are a testament to that. May you find the light from within and may you be blessed with wellness, peace, love and wisdom.

Shell said...

Christmas seems to magnify everyone's problems- since we're supposed to be happy, all the reasons that we aren't are easier to see.

I'll pray that some Christmas cheer comes your way, though.

Menopausal New Mom said...

Wow! Where do I start? I hope that seeing that your kids are excited will help you feel a bit better about all the work you're doing. And yes, it's a hell of a lot of thankless work although it wouldn't hurt your husband to get off his ass and clear the walk for you.

Yes, my little one has been having a ball spending at least an hour every day moving around all the ornaments on the bottom of my tree too. I just make sure there is nothing there she can break and as long as she's having fun, I can blog!

McGillicutty said...

Hey there... it's all over now..it's taken me forever to get through my reader.. i hope it wasn't all bad and that you're feeling better.
Hugs!!

Unknown said...

I hope things have improved since Christmas. I know what you mean. And I agree you have no business shoveling snow right now!

The holidays are not always a happy time for everyone. Hang in there.

I am following you now---thanks for following me, and sorry it's taken me a bit to come visit!

Diva's Thoughts said...

Well, with the impending divorce and being 7 months pregnant no wonder you feel the way you do.

Frogs in my formula said...

Those are pretty legitimate reasons to hate this season. Here's hoping 2010 is better for you!

Macey said...

It's taken me a while to get here after my "vacation."
I hope you're feeling better. And know that back in 2005 I was 7 months pregnant staining the damn fence because my husband wouldn't. He was pissed at me. I threw the baby argument out there too and it didn't work. As testament to his anger, it wasn't long after and he left.
Now, it all worked out for the best, he came back, things were worked on, yada yada yada, but still. I understand the assholeness of not helping you or at the very least your baby.