Real life MMD: What should I do for New Year's Eve?

TBagpuss

Stay put. It's hard to plan ahead with a newborn (Congratualtions, BTW!) and travelling so far, and at a time when trrains are likely to be so crowded, sounds very difficult.

Why not consider having a baptism, or naming/welcoming party in the spring, at or near your family home, when you can plan to travel more easily and can invite the older family members who don't travel, to meet the baby.

Also, family traditions can and do change - it's not unreasonable to start building new traditions with your child - why not start a tradition of a summer visit? If you plan ahead you could suggset that the relations meet up, and a garden / beach based party might work better woth a young child/ children in any event.

Meanwhile, send apologies - it's prefectly reasonable, and honest, to say that you don't feel up to travelling with the baby, and arrange to phone or skype,perhaps early in the evening while your baby is awake!

Sopheline

Could I just point out that it's not actually possible to buy tickets more than three months in advance of travel? It's not really fair to judge the OP for not buying the train tickets in advance, especially if all their time and money has been devoted to the new baby!

I'd agree with people suggesting honesty, it's the simplest solution and is least likely to cause any hard feelings.

Ebenezer_Screwj

The term "family" has become very much abused and misused with all its cloying sentimentality, emotional blackmail and divided loyalties. Why not just say that you are seeing the new year in with your OWN new little family ?

milvusvestal

Why not just come clean and explain that, with your new financial commitments, you can't afford to travel so far this year?

There is no shame whatever in telling people - your family especially - how you're placed, and perhaps they can remember the time when they too were in the same situation; most of us have been, when providing for a growing family.

The very last thing you should do is get yourself into debt by borrowing, merely to keep in with your distant relations - and it could well be that, realising you're strapped for cash, they will offer to help pay for the travel costs.

froggy1

congrats, but as wildthing says just explain your situation and that you can make a visit later in the year when everything has settled down, you will find that you enjoy the experience of showing and sharing the new addition to your family once both of you have caught up on your sleep!!! i wish i had had wildthing to advise me when i visited relatives over the xmas/new year period with a newborn

florere

Congrats on the baby. Tell them the truth,you can't afford it, perhaps they will club together to buy you the tickets, although travelling from Lancastershire to Cornwall on the train with a new baby is one big trip. Send them your love and lots of photos:beer:

pennypinchUK

Isn't this so simple? You just say "Sorry, I can't afford the train ticket this year due to the costs I'm paying now for Junior. I'll see you when I can afford to come." They're family, they'll understand.

Aldahbra

mungaman wrote: »

Be honest & tell them. If its the one thing you do every year surely you could have booked the train months ago on advance saver. It's not like it's just been sprung on you!!
With both of our children, we've travelled to Greece/France when they were both a couple of months old; sure it wasn't easy but kids will go & do as you do. Travelling with youngsters isn't such a big deal. I don't know why people make such an issue of it. We aren't wealthy, just normal people.
Get a grip, tell them your situation & book your train ticket for next years trip in March!!

Maybe you had very easy children, or didn't breast feed.

If she says she can't afford it and can't manage the coach. Then she can't.

Be honest with your family, don't make up other excuses.

JayD

bill_the_bus wrote: »

Be honest with them. They may have a whip round and pay for a ticket as maybe an early birthday present or a baby welcoming gift, would be cheaper and easier than everybody coming to yours. Can you travel by coach, will a relative meet you part way to make the fare cheaper. If you are honest i am sure a compramise can be met so you can all be together for the New Year.

I totally agree with Bill the Bus and could not have put it any better.

He has given you 3 very possible and easily achievable options here plus the most important factor of all - BE HONEST! I hope you all had a Happy New Year