There is huge stress in all the stuff the family expects: decorating the house, getting a tree, decorating the tree, undecorating the tree, getting presents, wrapping presents, cleaning up present mess afterwards, making travel plans, making vacation plans, making meal plans, baking cookies, matching up to my wife’s holiday expectations and obsession.
I dread it. There is no moment to relax and enjoy for me.
However, it makes the kids really happy.
I really wanted us to disappear for Christmas this year—take a vacation somewhere, but we didn’t plan it, and now with what’s happening to the economy, that’s not gonna happen.