Another Christmas with the family 'problem'!!

make_me_wise

I was in a card shop the other day and noticed these letters that could be sent to kids, from Santa. Basically a reply to their xmas wish list. It could confirm where his pressies will be taken to Might settle the little guy down if he knows Santa will be able to find him.

spendingmad

Thanks for all your replies! I have explained timings with DS - he understands he will have less time with his pressies if we stop at home. I may 'float' the idea of christmas eve at ours to my mum and watch the reaction!!

Stephb1986 I am inclined to agree that I have made the plans and he will follow them, tough - but then it is christmas and I feel abit bad!

Meritaten - it was a bump to the head and a couple of stitches nothing too serious and he got a very special letter from santa the next morning - I do think this is an excuse for some other reason.

Sezzagirl - Fab idea elf and safety!

JC9297 - I would like to go to the pantomine on christmas eve and I have ordered a xmas jigsaw from amazon which would be nice for us to do

Nicki - If it was costing £1200 I wouldnt be going decision made - but you could always invite them to yours!

DH is home now so I might get him to discuss it with him and see if we can find the real reason for not wanting to go! I need to make a firm decision by the 10th as we plan to deliver pressies ready for xmas eve on that weekend.

jellyhead

We are staying at the inlaws for christmas eve and have been to see Santa (I know it's November but my youngest wanted to see the grand arrival and stroke the reindeer). We told Santa where we will be and he says that's fine, and he is even going to hide a present for youngest somewhere in the grandparents house

We are taking a 'christmas eve' box consisting of a new DVD to watch on christmas eve, new pyjamas and lots of 'movie night' goodies such as doritos, popcorn and nice drinks. Would that sort of thing make him feel better about going to Grannie's house for christmas eve? Maybe she also needs him to help make mince pies?

Person_one

Stephb1986 wrote: »

I might get flamed for this but when I was a kid I did as I was told. What ever happened to that??

You've made the arrangements stick to them.

Steph

Some people these days are starting to get the strange idea that children are people and have feelings.

I always feel a little bit sorry for children who spend Christmas day being shuffled around and dragged to loads of different relative's houses. They look forward to it for weeks, can't sleep from excitement the night before then spend most of the actual day in the car or chatting to boring fuddy duddy uncles while all their shiny new toys sit unplayed with.

OP, I'd just stay at home and enjoy a lovely relaxed day with your children. There's no rule that you have to lay eyes on as many relatives as possible within a 15 hour period.

pinkshoes

Tell DS that you've already written to Father Christmas to explain he'll be staying at his Grandma's this year, so to make sure his presents get delivered there instead.

To be honest, if he REALLY wants to stay at home, I'd go as far as sending his stocking presents to his Grandma's house so that he then has to wait to open them!

ps - driving on Xmas day is much better than driving on the 24th!

Nicki

spendingmad wrote: »

Nicki - If it was costing £1200 I wouldnt be going decision made - but you could always invite them to yours!

Dad is 87, has had two heart attacks, including stents earlier this year in place of a quadruple bypass which he is too ill to withstand, and is confined to a wheelchair. Mum is 85. It won't be for many more years and whilst I grouch about them being snippy when we are going to a major effort and expense to see them, I'd regret it forever if they didn't get to spend the time with their grandchildren, and vice versa, while they are still able.

jellyhead

Person_one wrote: »

OP, I'd just stay at home and enjoy a lovely relaxed day with your children. There's no rule that you have to lay eyes on as many relatives as possible within a 15 hour period.

Or, invite your mum and dad to come and visit you at your house on christmas day, either separately or at the same time.

meritaten

I think most parents have faced something like this at christmas - To stay at home or go to grandmas? to invite parents round? to HAVE to do something because its 'expected' and you would rather do something else!
I stupidly set a precedent by inviting daughter her OH and my grandson to christmas dinner - that was twelve years ago and ALL three of my kids now expect an invite to christmas dinner and I now am faced with having FOURTEEN people for dinner - in a tiny terraced house! its a nightmare! I am actually dreading it!
If I had any gumption I would be telling them all that its time they made their OWN christmas dinners - but then it would be just me and OH - talk about between a rock and a hard place!

Person_one

meritaten wrote: »

I think most parents have faced something like this at christmas - To stay at home or go to grandmas? to invite parents round? to HAVE to do something because its 'expected' and you would rather do something else!
I stupidly set a precedent by inviting daughter her OH and my grandson to christmas dinner - that was twelve years ago and ALL three of my kids now expect an invite to christmas dinner and I now am faced with having FOURTEEN people for dinner - in a tiny terraced house! its a nightmare! I am actually dreading it!
If I had any gumption I would be telling them all that its time they made their OWN christmas dinners - but then it would be just me and OH - talk about between a rock and a hard place!

Spread the work! If you've got adult children coming tell them they'll only be allowed in if they bring part of Christmas Dinner, you can cook the turkey and the gravy, everything else can be brought in cool bags by them!

Nicki

Christmas lunch though is one of the few meals which is almost as easy to cook for 14 as it is for 4. In fact in a way easier as you won't be eating left overs for weeks! Its just a glorified Sunday roast at the end of the day, with a joint which is always big enough for a crowd, unlike most supermarket chickens, beef or lamb roasts. That being said, the most I have ever had for Christmas so far is 10, but that was a doddle. Kids on a picnic rug on the floor/wallpaper pasting table/etc, grown ups round the dining table, and chuck everyone out for a nice walk after lunch to burn off steam, before presents, mince pies or Christmas cake and packing them home again. Now if you had all 14 staying overnight, I could see the problem