Yeah sadly the first thing people think of when it comes to Christmas is presents not a fictional character. I hear where OP is coming from. My dad used to be overly stressed and a little depressed when it came to the holidays. Was never sure why but as I got older I understood as I got older how stressful it can be. Just enjoy being in the company of your family, tell em you love them, enjoy, smile and be happy bro. That will be all that matters.
My GF has an uncle who was a real prick in his younger day and treated his son (her cousin) like shit. He was a bit of a knucklehead but nothing really bad. Story is, when he was pretty young, all he wanted one year was a bike for Christmas. So this prick cut out a picture of a bike, gave it to the kid on Christmas and said "if you were better behaved you would have gotten a real one". _
Been in your shoes Gus. Just married, two car payments, rent, bills out the ass... A nice card with the offer of house chores or yard work is what we did. A home cooked meal, car wash, kid sitting for your family who have them. Getting together with family is what's important. If you have little kids in the family, get them a little something, the adults will just have be adults.
Even if you do not accept Jesus as the son of God, certainly, we can all agree that his philosophic message is one of the most endearing of all time?
I get the thought, and concern about Christmas, that Gus is talking about. I think even the well off should be concerned about it. The whole gift giving thing is a corruption of what Christmas is supposed to be about, obviously, but what makes it even worse is the way it triggers reactions like Gus's, which are quite understandable. I would merely suggest one spend the day with those who love you and who no doubt will understand, and it will be far less stressful in actuality than feared. Not to digress but the kinds of things that many people complain about on these sorts of family holidays, like also Thanksgiving and for some F'ing reason my mother used to think Fourth of July was, heh, is when people misbehave and fight. But yeah, the gift thing can be a real drag.
Christmas Eve was the last time I ever saw the love of my life. I've never been the same. Christmas day I feel so angry and heartbroken. I've been selfish in my own feelings. This year I'm going to try to enjoy my family and not be so angry. You can try too.
This year I made the decision to move to Asia so I missed my son's birthday 2 weeks ago and I'll miss Christmas with him as well. It hasn't really hit me until the last 2 or 3 days. I've kind of gotten into a funk despite being with people who love me and care about me but I won't send the holiday with the one person I care about the most.
I'm sorry man... Be as strong as you can. It's good that you are minimizing the anger; I think anger is one of the great obstacles to healing.
Nope. He's messed up as an adult. Not because of that incident but because of being treated like shit his whole childhood. _
