Den thanks doll! I may be the expert but i loved what you said to Virginia..about our kids and when we've "had it up to here" as my mom used to say! It's okay to think it and normal too...as long as you don't actually grab a handful of hair!
Then it's time to go see your neighborhood therapist real quick!
And Virginia, I know Den and Ellis have both mentioned meds and I too am on meds. I'm more of an anxiety person but have some depression too. Sometimes it does take some chemical intervention so, don't suffer too long...if things don't get better consider some therapy or even the possibility of medication. However, you sound like you're really doing well inspite of feeling blue! Great attitude girlfriend!
We started doing a polyanna with the grownups in my family years ago. Its nice. The kids get presents...if they're younger than 16. Everyone else goes into the pot for the polyanna. There aren't that many kids under 16 in our family so its not too bad...just four right now.
My DP family isn't huge either. And there are only two grandchildren. We don't go crazy. It seems so nuts to go into debt for Christmas. I will say that two years ago we did go crazy for DD on Christmas. She was almost four years old that year and very into Santa. We found out that was a mistake because she got so many things she lost interest and didn't even want to open them all. She was totally overstimulated!
Last year we were more moderate and she was fine. This year she figured out that Santa is a myth! She is only five, well she'll be six in March. Hey other Moms when did your kids figure this out? My DP was devastated that our baby didn't believe! I told DP its just that our kid is so smart she started asking all these questions this year, like, how can the Easter bunny be real? Rabbits can't stand up and they are too little to carry baskets? If the Easter bunny isn't real who bought me those presents at Easter? and so on and so on...
I'm Jewish and DP is Catholic. DP says I should have kept the mystery going but when the kid was interrogating me at first I kept saying "I don't know" "Ask Mom (meaning DP)" but, finally I started answering honestly...I felt so conflicted...should I lie or tell the truth. DP was pissed at me for awhile but the kid really figured it out and just wanted confirmation...am I an *** for confirming it for her? Did I ruin her childhood? Thank you Dear Abby...I await your thoughtful reply.
Oy Vay i'm rambling!
Love,Soozie