A Chronically Ill Christmas

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Oh God, I've forgotten to buy the brussel sprouts and the world is about to end! Alright, which one of you moved the French baguette? What do you mean, you’ve eaten it?! That was for the Christmas MEAL! Okay, okay - I think I still have the bread machine somewhere. Flour, check, salt, check, yeast… where did I put the..? I. Don’t. Have. YEAST! (As you hyperventilate, you momentarily consider packing a bag and buying a last-minute one-way ticket to Spain. No one will notice.)

In principle, those with chronic conditions love Christmas as much as anyone else, but the reality is that it can be anxiety-inducing and energy-draining. This isn’t just about the panic that descends upon our houses over a twenty-four hour period. It’s also about the fatigue brought about through entertaining others, the overwhelming – and growing - number of tasks leading up to and on the day, the need to create the perfection that is kids’ Christmas, and the aftermath in the subsequent few days that knocks you off your feet (ha, who needs wine?).

Let’s be honest. In just over under three weeks, you will have your home completely turned upside down: enough wrapping paper in which to wrap your home twice over, the tree that seems to grow in size every time you look at it, the kids’ high-pitched screams at frequencies only dogs can hear. You cannot even fathom the number of refuse bags you are going to need to have on stand-by in order to clean up the mass destruction that was formerly your home. It’s going to. Be. HELL!

But, fear not, you shall survive! (cue hero music) Here’s how:

1.    Make a list now for food and drink, with a separate To Do list for everything else. Too many lists and you'll lose the plot; no lists and you’ll forget the brussel sprouts.

2.    Break down the To Do list - what can you delegate? To whom? Be clear about what you need and by when (you may want include the impact of baguettes going missing).

3.    Include the clean-up operation in your To Do list. It’s not over until that final guest has left and you can grab that last drop of brandy.

4.    Don’t panic by the ever-increasing To Do list – this will be your temporary best friend and will keep you focussed.

5.    Use your resources - Is there anything that can be supplemented by others? For example, why buy a crate of wine or slave until 3am on Christmas Eve making dessert, when you could reach out to guests to ask if each might bring 'extras'?

6.    Can anything be ordered online and delivered, which might save you time, pain and effort?

7.    Be realistic - seriously, you're not trying to feed the five thousand: it's one day out of three hundred and sixty-five. I know, you're a perfectionist like me, but really think about it: what's your baseline? What do you really need to happen and what would you like to happen?

8.    Pace yourself - I know what you're going to say: "Ah, that old adage, Carla. You're pulling out a cliché!" (sorry, not sorry) All this pre-planning will help you achieve this.

9.    Measure the input and output of your energy levels – will people really care that your cranberry sauce is shop bought? If you do forget the brussel sprouts, will it matter to anyone but you and if it does, will anyone die of brussel sprout deficiency? Will anything be worth the stress of rushing around last minute, or the three subsequent days as a zombified former host?

10. Excuse yourself - if you have to have time out to lie down, then listen to your body, otherwise your body will rebel. Also - and I hate to break this to you - but I’m sure your guests will be okay to entertain themselves for an hour or so.

Now, I’m a realist. I’m in no way saying this is going to be smooth sailing but, with some preparation and some self-challenge, you can make it! (Hero music crescendo) You will survive this!

…And just in case you don’t, you can always take that trip to Spain…Feliz Navidad, to one and to all!

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