Christmas Sickness!

suitseir

This happens to me every year, well every year, I am HOSTING Christmas at home. I have been lucky the past three years as I have been abroad, and at my sister's house for the last three. However, I have family this year and it is actually making me sick! PHYSICALLY! Please don't laugh but it stresses me out!

OK things about Christmas that stress me out:

1. The electricity might go.....it did for 2 Christmases in a row!
2. The turkey turns out to be under cooked. Thankfully, not so far!
3. The heating breaks down....I have elderly and young baby this year!
4. I know, I know, things out of my control but how do I stop this?

Anybody else get stressed out HOSTING Christmas? HELP!

1. Buy in some candles so the if the lights go you can turn it into a fun candlelight christmas (not near the tree!!!). If your oven works off electricity, don't worry, people wont expect you to magically cook the food, they'll understand, just serve whatever's done.
2. The turkey wont be undercooked as long as you start your preparations early enough. You said it yourself, you've never done it before.
3. If the heat goes off offer people blankets. If you have a fire start it up, but as long as the drinks are flowing no one will be too cold. Again lighting some candles around will add a bit of heat in the near vicinity so make sure you've a stock of them. As for the baby, every mother I've ever known will always bring extra clothes and blankies everywhere, but if you want just warn them that the house might get a bit cold.
4. As far as things being out of control go, it's all about preparation. Also I find ginger good for settling anxious stomachs (ginger tea or normal tea with ginger biscuits) but you could always try getting something from the pharmacy. Mainly though, just remember that no one expects it to be perfect, if anything goes wrong just laugh it off, explain to people, and if worst comes to worst rope a guest or two into helping you!!

suitseir

true-or-false wrote: »

1. Buy in some candles so the if the lights go you can turn it into a fun candlelight christmas (not near the tree!!!). If your oven works off electricity, don't worry, people wont expect you to magically cook the food, they'll understand, just serve whatever's done.
2. The turkey wont be undercooked as long as you start your preparations early enough. You said it yourself, you've never done it before.
3. If the heat goes off offer people blankets. If you have a fire start it up, but as long as the drinks are flowing no one will be too cold. Again lighting some candles around will add a bit of heat in the near vicinity so make sure you've a stock of them. As for the baby, every mother I've ever known will always bring extra clothes and blankies everywhere, but if you want just warn them that the house might get a bit cold.
4. As far as things being out of control go, it's all about preparation. Also I find ginger good for settling anxious stomachs (ginger tea or normal tea with ginger biscuits) but you could always try getting something from the pharmacy. Mainly though, just remember that no one expects it to be perfect, if anything goes wrong just laugh it off, explain to people, and if worst comes to worst rope a guest or two into helping you!!

Thanks for making it logical! I am going to print this up and put it on my notice board in the kitchen! AND you are right, if it is out of my control, then it is!

cynder

You forgot one, as we found out last xmas, the glass on the oven door exploded. We had the ham cooked from the day before and moved the turkey into the top oven.

star-pants

Aye true-or-false has good ideas there that are helpful.

Another thing you could do to calm yourself is Rescue Remedy, think it's drops you can put on your tongue, I know a few anxious people who use it before exams and other things and they find it great help.

We had the electricity go on Christmas Day before so I know how horrible that is. What you could do is have something basic, that can be served cold made from the day before. Like a pasta dish or some cold meats/salad stuff/rolls/cheese - just enough that should ye be stuck you can at least feed people something.

If you know anyone with a storage heater type thing that you could borrow for a day or two, then at least you have that as back up if the heating went, if the electricity goes then you'd be stuck unless twas a gas one.
Have spare blankets easy to hand as said.

Most of all take your time, do up lists & make sure you're well prepared from the day/two days before for everything you have to do, if you can do anything the night before then do so. Take it easy and don't get upset if something doesn't go according to plan.
There's always rows in the kitchen Christmas morning in our house, something enevitably doesn't go to plan but it always turns out ok in the end

p.s. try & enjoy yourself too!