Is there anything I can do to avoid the annual festive row with my live-in Mr Scrooge?
Looking for practical advice, relationship help or emotional support? As a mum-of-four, grandmother-of-eight and dear friend to many, Margaret’s years of experience make her the ideal person to turn to with your worries you. But the truth is I have been having exactly that same row with my husband for decades.
It never changes. It’s as unfailing a tradition in our house as mince pies and ginger wine.
I have lots of prezzies stashed away in cupboards and wardrobes which I have gathered up for weeks, and I really look forward to getting them wrapped in pretty Christmas paper and writing messages to family and friends. But of course Mr Scrooge doesn’t understand any of that.
He’s just thinking of the cost of it all – not the pleasure it gives to people.
By nature he’s not mean with money at all.
But somehow he sees Christmas as a time of “excess” and he hates that.
It always makes him grumpy and I end up on the receiving end of his tetchiness.
I do wish that he would change the record and actually take an interest in what I’ve bought. But this is unlikely to happen I reckon.
So this year as always I am stealing myself for our familiar Christmas cracker of a row.
We’ll say the old familiar lines no doubt.
But at the end of it all, when the job’s done and the wrapped prezzies are under the glittering tree, I will finally be able to relax and look forward to seeing family and friends enjoy their gifts. That’s what matters after all. Mr Scrooge can have his annual huff – but this is one Christmas tradition I’m not prepared to change.
family alone. But I know I’ll worry about them. What should I do?
Perhaps you could reach a compromise by agreeing to take a couple of hours to pay a short visit to the people you’ve come to know, just to wish them a happy Christmas and leave them a small gift. It would mean a lot to them. But remember, hospitals do try their best to make Christmas a bit special for people who are alone.
Maggie says