The Realtives are Coming / Oh no I have to visit the Relatives - Xmas Vent Thread

belfastgirl23

Can you explain how it comes about that your sis and her kids are coming for four days? Like how does the phone call go that this happens in? Maybe we can help you reframe how you handle it.

too late for this year but you could start managing expectations for next year now!

thorsoak

Christmas is supposed to be the season of peace and goodwill to all men (and that includes rellies!)

Wishiwererich - I am SO glad that I'm not a member of your family!

Nevertheless, I do hope you have a good Christmas.

Make-it-3

I have 3 weeks at the in-laws to endure.

Their house has no heating, I hate the food, I can't drink, I mostly feel isolated because I don't speak their language. The house is out of town and there is no where to go but stay in and get bored, bored, bored or help out by doing pile upon pile of everyone's ironing.

I may if lucky get some very slow internet connection, so MSE is my Christmas friend.

Savvy_Sue

missprice wrote: »

I will be notified (by royal command no less )
if my nearly mother is/not turning up for Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.
now I do like and get on with her but I do wish she would not leave it so late to tell me, because I then spend half the night looking for an extra chair around the neighbours who have already planned the Big Day 16 weeks before and have already borrowed all the chairs that may be needed. and have moved them from house to house the day before in preparation :rotfl:

Sorry, but I'd be asking her now whether or not she plans to join us, I would need to know how many sprouts to buy!

seven-day-weekend

My husband and I are house-sitting all over Christmas, looking after two dogs. We are not allowed to invite guests to clients' houses. Job done.

LisaLou1982

WISHIWASRICH wrote: »

They haven't arrived yet but I'm ready - beds all made, fridge stocked, etc etc....except I've nothng much for the kids to do except I've sorted out a pile of DVDs and founs an old DS of my youngest son....the kids are 9 and 6.....

....still when they do arrive it won't be long til bed time - not that my sister's kids go to bed at a proper time - they will probably still be running around at midnight....:eek:

You definately need to learn to toughen up OP - although i do understand the part of keeping some sort of harmony over the Xmas period, there is one rule that is steadfastly stuck by here...

My House, My Rules. And my rules are that children go to bed. If they need telling off i will be doing it if their parents dont. Dont like it? Dont darken my doorstep again. Harsh, but fair!

FatVonD

Buy yourself some chocolate, a bottle of wine and a good book and hide them in your bedroom. When it's at its worst take to your bed with a terrible 'migraine' and orders that you must not be disturbed

missprice

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Sorry, but I'd be asking her now whether or not she plans to join us, I would need to know how many sprouts to buy!

to be fair its not the extra food, after all whats one more to feed, its that she 'may' get a better offer nearer the day and want to take that up.
she has always been like this and I have had her now for nearly 15 years, so I know what she is like, but no one likes sitting on the footstool thing, so its drag a deckchair out from the depths of the cupboard on Christmas eve that rankles slightly, when I am also trying to prep food so there is not so much to do on the big day.

wish I could post a pic of my cupboard so you would see what I mean:rotfl:
I really do like her just not this bit of her.
other people can be much worse and next year I have a cunning plan to book a meal out for the main people and the others can go do one unless they agree in September :T

Gloomendoom

WISHIWASRICH wrote: »

I like Christmas Eve and Christmas day - just me, DH and our boys - bliss!

I guess we are lucky to have this - other people have to have endure unwelcome visitors even on christmas day:)

No we don't. Some of us actually like our relatives and enjoy their visits.

Edwardia

Peater wrote: »

And then one of the Aunties will have too much Sherry and ask me if i'm gay.

You should say yes just to watch the jaws drop

My mother invited herself over for Christmas Day because she didn't want to be a burden on my younger (wealthier) brother.

Last year we asked her over and two days before she cancelled to go over to said brother's place.

I told her if she did it again I wouldn't invite her again. She must have felt a bit guilty as she bought me a washing machine for Christmas.