I remember my boyfriend’s parents were alerted to my being on the scene when he showed up with thoughtfully-chosen and impeccably-wrapped Christmas gifts.
Even in my early twenties, the notion that Christmas was women’s business was entrenched in my psyche.
I became his personal gift advisory and wrapping service of my own volition.
Things mums never say at Christmas. Post continues after video.
Fast-forward fifteen years and I’m still the self-appointed Christmas manager of my domain.
My husband says we should ditch the gifts and grab a roast chicken to eat at the beach on the big day. While this has obvious appeal, the hold of Christmas obligation always proves stronger. It runs deep in my family.
I don’t want to disappoint my mum who doesn’t want to disappoint her mum—who sits on the precipice of falling off her perch, elevating the obligation to the next level.
And I don’t want to disappoint my kids who base their expectations on Christmas movies and advertising that mandate there should be a massive pile of gifts under their tree.
Top Comments
I kind of feel like if you’re a ‘self appointed’ manager of Christmas then you’ve lost the right to complain about it. Yes Christmas has been hectic this year, I’m hosting for my family and have two small children and I’ve really wanted to make this special for my son who’s old enough to understand what’s going on. But that’s me, I want the nice things and the fancy lunch and the carols and activities. So I don’t whinge to my husband when he’s not self initiating on my agenda. Plus he’s getting up at 4am Christmas Eve to pick up the seafood...we’re each just doing the bits that are important to us