i still haven t put up anything yet, i used to do lights, and all that and cause of the pain i dont, i dont have the energy, so this year i'm leaving for the kids to do, i will help and do small things.
when the pain levels are down, try and put some things together, but i think we are all in the same boat this year, too much pain and no energy, we miss out on alot.
ask a friend to help you.
merry Christmas and a happy new year.
hugs

I compromised with myself. Since I'm unable to sleep, I did some of the decorating that I couldn't do with a 2 year old following me. I put the garland & lights on the fireplace mantel, lots of decorations in it, and hung our stockings. Other than actually going through the boxes in the holiday closet, the most difficult part was figuring out why the pre-lit small tree I call my "Memory Tree" only lit halfway.

After close to 45 minutes, I had replaced the fuse according to directions, and it STIILL wouldn't light up! So I grabbed an extra string of lights and now my 4.5 foot tall prelit white lights only tree is white and colored on the bottom and no white, just colored on top. Avant Garde, perhaps? LOL!

The compromise is in leaving the big tree (Hubby would have to help do that anyway) alone. And not putting out the Nativity. It's too precious and I can't expect a 2 year old to know it is not a toy. I remember desperately wanting to play with the wise men and set it all up differently, but I didn't b/c I knew it was delicate.

I decorated my walls with our family wreath, snowmen that I've collected, and even took down family photos to put up boxes of xmas decorations. I inherited all my Mom's Angels, and I collect snowmen, so every surface seems to have Frosty or an angel on it.

I have boxes upon boxes or ornaments, many of them Hallmark and non-glass type. So when Jaden's had breakfast later today, I'll bring him down and try to explain what we're doing.

This way I'm going it in shifts, I'm not taking hours on the big tree, and Jaden can get in on it and practice his future ornament hanging duties.

It's odd. After I wrote the top post, I got angry with myself. I asked myself how many years I have left where I am ABLE to do this. If we had any friends/family around here I would employ help, but our family and friends are all in different states. So hopefully this is a concession to the part of me who is screaming "It's not enough!"

Now, if we can keep Jaden from pulling down the stockings (and the lighted garland) we'll succeed for this year. And maybe by having him help me decorate the small tree, he'll learn that once we put it up, the tree is not to be touched. I'm not sure, we'll see.

As for the pain, my foot's okay, but my lower back is killing me! Of course, that would've happened with or w/o RSD. I think. And though I do feel some inner turmoil about not putting up our tree, I still have my Memory Tree, called so b/c I needed a tree to hold my old ornaments plus my Mom's angel collection. We'll pick and choose like I do every year, b/c there isn't a tree big enough to put them all out. Heck, maybe I created a new tradition for my son and I. We'll see how he reacts to actually decorating! ;)

Good luck to everyone who attempts this feat, and for anyone who doesn't b/c of the pain, it's not your fault! And remember that you CAN make changes. I guess with my Mom's death, inheriting so much Christmas stuff, I felt it was my DUTY to put up her stuff to remember her. But she would be the 1st to tell me not to overdo it.

It's the 1st year in a long time that my house isn't decked out, but we're halfway there. Next year maybe I'll feel up to the big tree and the outdoor stuff. This year, I did what I could. And while it's almost 3am (AND I still have the ornaments to do with my son) I feel pretty good about myself. Even with my oddly colored tree lights. ;)

I know how you feel and then every day that they are not up you think in your head why bother by the time I put them up I will have to take them down. I would do the smaller version this year as the memory tree and the mantel that sounds good, and just set aside a couple of hours and no matter how bad the pain is just do it. All I managed to do is put up the tree and my shelve over the couch and I have tons of decorations but I think they are going to stay in the box this year and this will have to do.

I downsized the tree & I love it. My younger one will be home from school this week & she may be a bit disappointed buy hey its not her putting it up. My husband it exactly like yours, he supervises while I grumble.

Less & less up every yr & unless the family wants to pitch in that is the way it will be. I just can't do it & as long as there is a little holiday spirit then who cares?
It is hard & then the entire time your putting it out your worried about taking it down.
I'm trying to stay focused on the real reason for the season & praying I get a little of my old holiday spirit back. That will be good enough. Don't stress out do enough to make yourself happy & the wee one. Still young enough you don't have to worry.
Blessings, Sammy

It took me forever. I kept saying I'm just not going to bother. But of course I finally did and it wore me out!!! But I'm glad I did. I'm making plans on how to make this easier for myself next year.

I'm going to leave the tree up and just wrap it, either hang it int he barn or storage unit. Put the decorations away a lot neater and get rid of a bunch of it. I think in the past I have put up too much. I like it better this year and I didn't put up nearly as many decorations. It looks neater. I'm happy with it.

Glad your figuring out a way to compromise too:)

texas' most favorite and iconic ice cream is the brand "blue bell".

one of their most famous slogans is- "we eat all we can.. and we sell the rest."

i'm thinking of it this year as in, "i do all i can and fuck the rest."

i've got my first cut tree instead of a potted plant, i sewed the christmas tree skirt. i bought new deco for our 4th christmas theme as a family. are their lights high in my trees and humping, blinking reindeer? nope. but, inside was all i could do. and i'm not going to beat myself up over it.

i wouldn't have done a crap, if i weren't the mom to a three year old. as a friend reminded me recently, the uninhibited spending of money and energy isn't really the true meaning of christmas. it almost makes me shameful to think of the money we are spending for a holiday we don't even believe in. since when did everyone's jesus say- "go forth into credit card debt!"? and when, upon his birthday did we come to establish santa clause as a competitor against our financial and realistic forward energy?

as far as this goes, it's really unholy the suffering that christmas can cause people of poor income and poor physical condition. i've forced myself every step of the way and it's not enhancing my season spirit. it's just sucking it right out of me.

i heard on some tv sitcom, the simpsons, i think, no- family guy.. when lois goes nuts and asks her family where they think all of this shit comes from? "out of her holly jolly ass?"

we all need to lighten up. as the weather declines, a lot of us do as well. be happy with what you can do and for goodness sake, don't guilt yourself for what you cannot do. if we really think about the spirit of this holiday, both religious and secular while being inside of both a grab-fest of consumer culture.. the largest one of the year... let's try to focus on what is really important. the expression of love to our families and of course the birth of christ, your savior.

c'mon. i for one am having to let some things fly. and when i watch them not materializing i remind myself that i've done the best i can. if no one wants to pitch in and make things into a grander scale, then i'm taking that as a sign that my work is up to par. after all, if anyone wants anything done right, they do it themselves. i'm not seeing that happen, so i feel that i've done a great job with what i have... even though it's not much.

pat yourselves on the back. if you hung a stocking... you deserve it. give it to yourself. we all deserve validation even if things weren't what they once were. change is not prerequisite failure. we're all doing out best!

happy holidays,
jen

Last yr., I put out a bowl w/ just some ornaments in it on a Christmas Tablecloth. It was all I could do.

This yr, we got a little 3 ft tree for the den and the same for living room. Did a little more but not much. Gave away over half of my Decorations to a local organization. Enough's, enough. If I had small children, it would be different but, I agree that a simple Christmas can be the best of all!!

i don't do anything, it's too much for me. try not to put too much pressure on yourself

Hi,

I am one who has always loved this season. For me it is not about buying expensive gifts. It is about enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday. I make most of my gifts and they are simple, but from the heart. The Christmas tree has always been special to me so putting one up brings me joy. I enjoy going to the mall and sitting watching the children with Santa Claus. It is so sweet to see the simple faith and utter excitement on the faces of the children. That is pure joy! Immersing myself in the joy of Christmas takes my mind off my pain. It's good for the soul!

Hugs, Cathy

Amen Cathy! I find that the happiest I am is when I watch people open their gifts, especially kids. I wasn't able to spend a lot this year or last, but I am still able to get the kids in my family gifts. I've also discovered online shopping as a miraculous way to get things done. About 75% of my shopping this year was done online. And I schedule the rest of the shopping.

Yep I SCHEDULE it. For instance, my son has Speech on Thursdays. I know I have to get up and out so I stopped at Hallmark on the way there- 2 gifts bought- then took Jaden to Target after, where he sat amazingly well in the cart and helped me get our babysitter's daughter something. I also bought my hubby a birthday gift and my nephew a DVD he wanted. I pushed the cart and was able to lean on it. Once home, anything not needing to come right in was left in the car and my hubby brought the rest in when he got home.

I still have a few gifts to pick up but as I leave for home on Wednesday, I'm scheduling the shopping for Monday after my hair cut, or before, and delegating some to my husband. I figure I already bought and wrapped most of the gifts, so he can pick up stuff for HIS side of the family, minus what I already got.

I don't think getting gifts for each other means commercializing anything. If you normally exchange with someone and can't this year, it's easy to talk about. Most of us have cut way down. I know WE have! I don't think overdoing it is the answer, either. We need to remember the reason for the season, but that doesn't mean throwing away all of our traditions.

I did what I could in the house- and like Cathy the tree is important to me. I couldn't do the big one but I was able to do my 4.5 foot one and involve my son. THAT was fun, and worth it. I was not able to do my Nativity or the big tree, but I'm surprising myself with what I CAN and HAVE done.

I was feeling SO low when I started this thread, and now I know that no one is going to be upset if I don't keep up. I did what I could and will do so again next year. I will also get more help next year.

For now, I think we all just do what we can. I know I'm in a good mood today having just wrapped some gifts for my son, nieces and nephews. I can't wait to see their faces. Kids are unable to make their faces lie, ya know?

Now if I can just manage almost 4 full days with my MIL. THAT will be MY miracle for the year! I can feel the stress coming on... ;)

I too only do half of what i use to and i have a domestic helper but the small tree a nativity sceene makes me feel good when i sit and look at it hoping u have a merry xmas and enjoy the holidays