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Topic : 12/17 Huge Holiday Headaches

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Created on : Thursday, December 11, 2008, 02:53:45 pm

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Do you have someone in your life who makes the holidays more of a headache than a festive, joyful time? Jennifer says her mother, Judy, otherwise known as Grandma Claus, goes way overboard when it comes to Christmas. She says her mother decorates every square inch of her house with her estimated 1,200 snowmen, 1,000 Santas and angels, and tens of thousands of lights! Judy’s Christmas spirit takes up so much space, she can’t even eat at her dining room table. Jennifer says her mother gives so many gifts to her three daughters, that it takes them an overwhelming two hours to open them all -- and at least 75 percent of the gifts end up in the trash or donated to charity. Don’t miss what makes Grandma Claus’ gifts so … special. Then, Dr. Phil’s next guest, also named Judy, is a self-proclaimed Scrooge who hates Christmas and refuses to celebrate it at all. She says the holiday is nothing but greediness and commercialism. Can Dr. Phil break through her "bah humbug"? Plus, don't miss some exclusive backstage moments from Dr. Phil and Robin’s fifth annual Christmas in Washington concert, which airs December 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on TNT. Join the discussion.

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nicole4c

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Happy

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December 31, 2008, 1:20 pm PST

Merry Christmas from Canada

Quote From: xanpeter

Growing up we never had much money, and my parents tried to do their best for us. But they liked boys more than girls and the gifts showed it. While my two brothers got great building sets and bikes, I would get something "useful" like clothes or underwear. The year that was most hurtful was when I was 17. My parents gave me an ugly lamp for my room. It was my only gift. I later saw it in a furniture store in town. It was a free "bonus" you got when you purchased something in the store.

After Dad died, Mom made every Christmas an ordeal. I would drive four hours to bring her to our home for the holidays. Every single Christmas morning, Mom would wake up, not offer any greetings, and said "Don't let me forget to call your brother. Today is his birthday and I can't forget it." Later in the day, she would get depressed because Dad was no longer with us. Then she would get angry with me because my brother wasn't at my house to spend the holidays with her. I invited him every year, but he wouldn't come. Mom said I must have done something to offend him. The only peaceful Christmas we had in almost 15 years was when we left the country for the holidays, and Mom stayed with my other brother.

As Mom got older, her mind deteriorated and we had to put her in an assisted living facility. Mom refused to live with any of her children, and frankly, it would have been a living hell. Mom even managed to ruin Christmas the year she died at age 88. She passed away two days before Christmas, and we had to spend the holiday planning her funeral. The memory of Mom's ruining every Christmas for almost twenty years still saddens me, but I try to make sure my husband and children feel only love and happiness for the holidays.

You can't change the past and we would like to, I have a very strange family, we have no traditions and thats sad but now you and your family can start new Christmas memories and hopefully have many happy christmas's to come

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mollyangeles

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January 7, 2009, 1:45 pm PST

CHRISTMAS

I DIDN'T GET TO WATCH ALL OF THE GRANNY CLAUS VS. SCROOGE SHOW, BUT I DID WATCH ENOUGH OF THE SHOW THAT I DID NOT HEAR DR. PHIL OR ROBIN SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I HEARD THEM SAY AT THE END OF THE SHOW HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF DR. PHIL FOR A LONG TIME AND THOUGHT THAT HE WAS MORE OF A CHRISTIAN AND HAD MORE CONVICTION THAN TO NOT BE "POLITICALLY CORRECT". IF I AM MISTAKEN I WILL PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE TO DR. PHIL AND ROBIN.

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jazzykat888

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January 11, 2009, 7:32 pm PST

Grandma Claus vs Scrooge Judy

I only get to watch the show when I am off work sick. Just so happened that I caught this programme today, being in Australia we get the show a few weeks late. I have to say my allegiance lies with scrooge Judy as I passionately hate xmas as well, I hate the fact that you are pretty much compelled to partake in xmas whether you want to or not. I don't put decorations up at all and my kids whinge if I don't put a tree up, so I put one up about 2 days before and take it down two days after. Not being a Christian i don't like it shoved down my throat and I wish I had a bullet for every carol singer I came across.

As for Grandma Judy, I think her approach to xmas is selfish. She clearly stated with no respect for her daughter's wishes about toning down the presents to her children that she would continue to buy what she wants regardless. Her joy of giving completely supercedes anybody elses feelings in her family. It is clearly all about her, and I don't fall for the snowjob that she's buying these things out of generosity. It seems to me it's for her own self gratification. If she had no family she would probably still go out and buy presents for all the neighbours' kids who would still say 'please don't' but she would impose her gift-buying fetish regardless. Sorry Grandma but I think you need to ask yourself why you're really so obsessed with xmas.

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hayjood

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January 11, 2009, 7:46 pm PST

bah humbug

i don't consider myself Christian although i was raised as one. i get presents for people when i can afford them only. i am on a disability pension and have a small part time job. every year i feel pressure because my family spend money on me and i can often not afford to return the favour. i have had to stop going to family gatherings because the last Christmas i went to my brother, who abused me when i was 10 thru 12, threatened to put me through a wall. when i give a gift to a friend at this time of year i can say happy midsummer or happy new year, but with my family i have to cover it in Christmas wrapping. has it ever occurred to anyone out there that Christmas is such a discriminatory time for non-Christians? we are forced to endure carols at every shopping centre we go to, even at work! i do give gifts when i can because i do like to give, but i feel locked out of the whole experience with family and my small nieces and nephews because i don't want to play happy families with the man that molested me sitting at the same table. Look at your motivations and if you are just doing something to make yourself feel good perhaps you should try and make others feel good instead. DON'T buy useless unwanted gifts like fake dog poo, that is so NOT thoughtful!

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