I don't seen to care about Christmas this year

Fake it till you make it!  You have kids.  You do not have a choice.  Please do it for them.  You don't want this to be the year they look back and remember what a buzz kill you are being.  Don't watch TV or only watch recorded stuff. I have 5 kids and don't feel bombarded in the least.  Even spent the day at the mall with my 9 year old yesterday. We avoided the JCPenny wing so she doesn't even know Santa is already in the mall.  All the things that are bumming you out are EASILY avoidable. Focus on your kids, memories from your childhood, and making new awesome memories for your kids.

You better or Santa won't bring you anything.

I understand how you feel. I am just distracted by our home improvement projects, the house is very unorganized right now and I can't fathom dragging out the tree, deco's etc in the middle of this other project. I am giving myself until Dec. 1 then I'm starting an advent calendar with the kids. First year of this for me so we'll see how it goes. Every day we will pick a card with an activity on it that we can do as a family or something we can do to think of others. The first card will be - decorate for Christmas! I have a week to get excited.

Of course I can't start any of this until I make the calendar.....

"Seem", not "seen".

Anyways, you better watch out, you better not pout, ....

We used to have three distinct holidays this time of year.   Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Now it just a two month long single holiday called Hallow-Thanks-Christmas.     Bummer.

I'm just gonna be ornery and only celebrate the Winter Solstice.   

I am with you on this one.  Bring on the pagan rites!

Thread title type noted. Its early, and I've not had enough coffee yet

Winter Solstice is the only real non-made up day this month anyway.  That being said:

I hear people say, "Do it for the kids".  Lets think about this shall we...  Do what for the kids?  Teach them that getting presents is what it's all about?  That the only time you have to be thankful or to think of others is during late Nov/Dec?

If you want to do it for the kids, then sit them down and teach them that it's not about gifts but about being with people.  Try not buying a single thing and instead spend time together.  THAT'S the lesson you want your kids and 98% of Adults need/should learn.

I will be called a Scrooge many times this year.  But I look at it this way:  I will either celebrate you every day of the year or one day.  You don't get both.  So do you want me to send you gifts on Dec 25th only?  That's what it boils down to in my opinion.

Ask your family this:  What does the Holiday season mean to them?  What does it REALLY mean to them?  And make them stick to what they say.

i have been training for the feats of strength.

I believe the holidays start with the airing of grievances.

I usually come around on this, but maybe this year is different since Thanksgiving was so early. I always end up having fun, but it just seem so far away (I know its only 4 weeks, though!) and there is so much going on at work, home, etc, its not even on my radar yet. Ultimately, I'm sure we will have a great holiday, and have fun time, particulaly with a 7 month old puppy who we are praying won't try to tackle/eat/chew on the tree.

Ok.....and then put the tree up and hang the lights on the house.  Geez....where does it say that you can't do both?  My kids love the Christmas season, and we teach them what Christmas is about....it's really easy!

I won't call you scrooge, because it's the X-mas season, and I'm too happy to be able to watch my children enjoy it like I did as a kid.

Merry Christmas!!

I'm right there with ya.

And I don't have kids... so get off my lawn!

Forget the sales, the hype and the money.

Start your own Christmas traditions.  Teach your kids how to be giving during this time.

I take my kids to the VA hospital every Christmas and we sing Christmas carols to the vets.  (off key of course).  We also go down to the mission and help out there.

Christmas is what you make of it.  There are a thousand other things you can do too.

I'm glad you don't live in the times of the Spanish Inquisition and The Crusades, and that you are fast bugger.

Hahaha!  I feel like this every year!  My wife hates me for it.  Thankfully, I don't have kids so don't have the issue of saving face.  My wife always reminds me how lucky I was at Xmas.  I was a little spoiled as a kid and basically got whatever I wanted.  However, I don't have particularly good memories of Xmas growing up.  I think the stress of the holidays always had my parents on edge and all I remember is a lot of head butting, especially between me and my mother.  We never seemed to get along until I moved out!   Then there was a string of bad xmas's in my late teens early 20's.  I spent many of those years in the hospital for different reasons.  One year I was seriously beaten up.  I got jumped in a parking lot going to my car.  They kicked me in the head so many times they shattered all the sinuses in my face and broke my eye socket as well as some of my ribs.  I also had a car stolen one year while I was at the xmas night service at my church.  I used to sing solos for the services and literally got my car jacked as I was singing in church!! I was soooo mad I punched a wall and broke my hand. They stole all my books and papers for finals, as I was still in college.  I ended up having to drop some classes and re-do a lot of papers and hand them in late just to pass my classes.  I could go on..........but I think you get the point!

I'm really trying to hold it all in this year.  My wife's family has disowned us because we stepped in last year after her mom died and her dad went bat $hit crazy and married a psycotic, abusive, drug addict.  I wish I was exagerating, but I'm not.  Most everyone hates us now, or isn't allowed to talk to us.  It does make it easier and cuts back on all the travel time for parties, but my wife is really upset about it.  So me being my normal bah humbug self this year isn't going to help anything! 

So....yeah........MikeD I feel ya man.  You're not alone!