Splitting the family at Xmas?

LadyMorticia

Before OH and I got together, I spent 4 Christmases by myself.:o My family and I don't get on and I never really liked Christmas.

Anyway, DH and I have been together for almost three years and this will be my third Christmas here (we live with his parents).

I've gone from someone who absolutely hated Christmas, to someone who now gets so excited about it.:o I think it's because growing up there wasn't really a family dynamic, so to speak, but being here now and spending Christmas with OH, his parents and his sister makes me feel all homely.:o
I'm even getting excited about decorating my wheelchair with tinsel.

When DH and I have kids, and we move out, I would like us to have a few Christmases in our own home though.

jakes-mum

We used to take turns between DH's family and My family, when we had DS it finally all came to a head, we drove to DH's family in Wales 2 days before christmas, opened presents christmas morning, got in the car and drove 200 miles to my parents house for christmas lunch so both sets of parents would be happy and see their grandson christmas day! :eek:

DH said never again would we do it and we now spend every christmas at home alone, depending on if they are visitng either of my sisters they will come to us boxing day or christmas day. Dh's parents come for 4 - 5 days from 27th december onwards.

dirtysexymonkey

im glad youve found a solution op. my grandparents have always come to us. because the rest wont have them. even when my mums been heavily pregnant no one volunteered. and now my parents have to fly halfway across the world so my grandparents have somewhere to go, rather than us kids flying to see them. but they are in their 80s now so id rather spend christmases with them than not. might not have many chances left.

split_second

we havent worked out what we are doing yet, first christmas as an engaged couple

escortg3

Christmas day is Visit the cemetery (dad) first. Then My mum and brother come to ours for christmas lunch. We also have any single mates with no where to go.

Then we have a open house from 5pm onwards. My children, brothers, cousins, mum OH family. Its become quite an event usually 25 to 30 people turn up as every one seems to be bored at there house christmas night. This usually ends around midnight. I love Christmas day.

SandC

Sounds ace escort3g!

I watched the Seven Dwarves documentary the other day and 3 of them stayed at the communal house for Xmas, with another friend and then someone else popping later. It looked such fun!

escortg3

There are alot of people who will be on there own for christmas. I think every one should get together and have fun.

It doesnt cost that much.

I buy 5 french sticks, salad, cheeses, a joint of gammon and left over turkey. dips, coleslaw, little sausages. Then just mince pies, a chocolate log and christmas cake.

Everyone brings loads of drink so i only buy a small amount.

redhead122

I'm excited yet dreading xmas this year, our dd will be 11 months old, so her first xmas, my parents live locally, but have had a tough year with my brother getting divorced and not seeing their 3 other grandchildren as regularly, so they want to go away and forget all about xmas, I'm sure my brother wants to do the same.

OH's parents live 1.5hrs away, and even tho I love them to bits, I still feel I can't relax in their house and want to spend it with my parents.

We normally go to OH's parents xmas eve, see all his family, stay till xmas day afternoon then head to my parents, then boxing day we do grandparents/aunts/uncles on my side, then 27th my parents come to me as it's mum's birthday, or we go out for a curry.

28th/29th I normally see my friends for my early birthday celebrations and xmas catch up.

NYE it's my birthday so we have everyone over, and now i'll have dd's first birthday on 6th Jan.

I want to make dd's first xmas really special, even tho she won;t remember it and start our own traditions, but pleasing everyone is going to be fun, and I know everyone will want to see dd, and selfishly I want my parents there to see dd's first xmas too, i don;t want them to go away for xmas.

I think I might just hibernate and wake up in Feb

OP hope you find a solution that suits

Sweet_Pea_2

It sounds like you may now have a solution. Hope it all works out for you.

I can sympathise with your dilemma as we have something similar, and it seems that we are not the only ones!

I was going to suggest that you have your Xmas day with OH on either Xmas Eve or Boxing Day and then spend the actual day with your respective families. Thats what I would do if I had the choice!

lollyb84

Glad you found a solution. and glad I'm not the only one who has issues with Xmas, judging by some of the responses!

Oh, and on the anniversary card thing - I always buy my parents a card (DH finds this very odd) as I wasn't at the wedding!), and yes, one year when I forgot, I got a snotty phone call from my mum. TBH though, my mum is more than a little odd!!!