Festivals Becoming Stressors Not Celebrations!

Thank you soooo much, ILites!!! I felt so relieved reading your responses.. so much sensible and wise stuff here! It's more like I feel guilty all the time knowing the high expectations, and feeling I don't measure up. Nobody 'says' anything : I know the expectation - nobody will pitch in unless I let it go -and even then, it will be done with so much of judgement that both ways it becomes very unpleasant.
I don't really do much, and MIL does cook quite a bit. I guess the compulsion or the perceived expectations just get to me every time.
A lot of people have mentioned the time management thread - things are better now, now that LO goes to preschool...
I guess I just have to harden myself and not bother about the judgement and just do whatever. (Uh, recurring theme! )

Another ILite has created a thread on following the customs of in-laws and not the ones we are familiar with, and that strikes (a pretty loud) chord.
I agree with @rgz - it's mindset I guess. Not about seeing it as a chore or not, but about caring about the judgement. hmm.

True true!

Very practical advice, will do this for the next one on!

Yellowmango, I love you!!!