Do you have the Xmas BLAHS? Why & how do you deal??

I've always loved the holidays, but it seems that once I got older (I'm 32), the holidays became more of a let-down than anything else.
You always waited for that one Xmas that you'd get a great surprise gift....and it still hasn't happened!
I've also noticed that I don't even go anywhere because you see all the neat stuff in the stores that is only there at Xmas time & I can't afford to buy any of it. I actually had to RETURN gifts I'd bought this year because I'm not getting child support and I have $4 in my bank account.
While walking through the mall to return these things, I was SO mad/depressed, I was either going to tear someone's head off or break down crying. I felt so incredibly depressed and it just made me sick.
I have a 6 year old and I can't even take her to get her picture with Santa because I don't have any money.
She keeps wanting to go to the mall (which is right across the road from our house!) because she loves seeing all the holiday things, but I can't take her because I can't even buy a pretzel or soda and she just doesn't get that there is NO money!
Ugh, I've just come to really dread the holidays completely and winter too, with the freezing cold and stuck inside,etc. In warm weather, I spend the entire day outside, even if just sitting on the deck. So this cold stuff is really bothering me.
I WANT to feel 'in the mood' and bake or make things, but I just can't get there.
Anyone else feel this way??

Hi WhoIs333 --

Welcome to the forums. Thanks for sharing how you feel.

I've felt the blahs many years. It's not so bad this year, perhaps because I'm in the middle of so many other problems requiring solutions, I just don't have any space left in my emotions for this.

Of course, it's tough to have a 4-year-old who really has no idea what money is, no less that there's none of it and what this means.

I hope that you can find some inexpensive things to enjoy with your child, even if you have to fake it for her/his sake. If cookies are too much trouble, perhaps making and stringing popcorn, or even admiring her work drawing Santa and snowmen and putting it on the frig.

I'm sorry that you have the holiday blues. It can seem like the worst time of the year to be sad. Please keep coming back to the forums. I'm the first responder but I'm betting the wise people here will have more insightful things to say than I do, since I've never had a kid to raise.

Absolutely! Neither my SO or I are working at the moment so we have no money either

I haven't been shopping at all this year, and I have only sent a couple of Christmas cards... usually I send quite a lot. (Bah humbug )

Being a bear I deal by hibernating and growling *Goes back to cave*

Take care,
Fuzzy

I've been in a holiday funk for about 5 years now........and it seems to get worse every year.......

i forgot to tell you how i deal......poorly. i'm broke. i never, ever go to the stores because that just makes you feel bad. i'm making everything, as usual........

Bah... Christmas is always a very bad time for me. I was always forced to attend rather dysfunctional family events. But the big thing for me is that in was on Dec. 27, 30 years ago, that I was taken from my homeland and left in the arms of strangers. I think that is what makes this time of the year so painful.

Obsidian

I also have the Christmas blahs, but I don't know why. I guess I deal by not caring- more blahs I guess you could say.

Is that horrible?

I feel like the Grinch

Hey Angela, no fair, I am the original Grinch. Holidays just build these expectations. It's hard for anyone to live up to them. I noticed in the post office a toys for tots campaign and wondered is you could contact some local organization and get your child on a list for gifts and hoilday food. You can try the Salvation Army, the Marine Core league, or United way. That way your kiddo would have gifts. There was also a coats for kids drive. Everyone likes to get stuff to dress kids warmly here. Heck, all I'd need to do is mention her size and I would have wool socks, hats and mittens coming out my ears as well as a few toys. Hang in there, I am a Grinch with NO money. However, I had the experience of having one of my lovely board members do a tree where I got to list needs/wants of my older clients. It was such fun stopping at a client's house tonight on the way home. I had told her not to go out because all she had was a pair of worn out, no tread cheap 50's sneakers and boots that leaked. Someone got her a brand new pair of winter boots and another someone lotions and perfumes, and another a singing snowman. She was very happy and it made me happy. Good luck with your child. Please really try for her to do some baking. I used to do sugar cookies and have the kids cut and decorate. Also you can make a salt dough tree ornament of her hand and paint it and hang it on the tree as an airloom. My kids remember these times. In fact my 20 year old son and his girlfriend tried to make cookies last night, big disaster but I know what he was trying to do and I love that he remembers.

I definitely have the Christmas blahs and bah-humbug. Since I have no children (unable to) I have never been much for decorating - no trees, etc. In fact, several years ago, I approached all our family members and suggested we just give whatever money we would spend on gifts to a charity of our choice. Back before we decided this and we had no money we made the Christmas gifts for our families. I took yarn and covered plain old metal clothes hangers and gave them out. My great uncle told me it was the best gift he had ever gotten - it was just what he needed. It is hard to be broke and go through any store this time of year. Even if you have money - when Christmas causes depression the stores are also places to avoid. The radios all play Christmas music, people are irritable because of long lines and from spending more money than they can afford. I say - get rid of the gift idea altogether except for very small children. I do agree with the idea of putring your child's name in with an organization (a church or some of the other organizations already mentioned) so your child can have something to open on Christmas. Perhaps, too, you can do something free together that won't involve you having to try to explain you can't buy anything. Good luck to you - and welcome to our forum family.