OH doesn't want to socialise at Christmas (or anytime)

Dunroamin

mumps wrote: »

Well families do tend to include children so if you want the family relationships you can either have children "inflicted" on you or you can enjoy them, it really isn't that hard with most kids. They are just people and most of them are quite likeable if you give them a chance.

Do they? That's a new one on me!

mumps

Pollycat wrote: »

I don't think 7DW needs to change her mind set at all.

I can't think of anything worse than having 3 kids over to our house on Boxing Day - and my OH totally agrees.

In fact, I'd probably not want them at any time of the year so I don't think the spirit of Christmas comes into it.

I can enjoy Christmas perfectly well by myself, thank you very much, I don't need a cousin-in-law's children to do it.

Well lets hope you never need them, they might feel the same.

mumps

Dunroamin wrote: »

Do they? That's a new one on me!

We all started off that way, can't you remember? We might not have children of our own, or our children might be grown up, mine are, but most extended families will include children.

Pollycat

mumps wrote: »

Well families do tend to include children so if you want the family relationships you can either have children "inflicted" on you or you can enjoy them, it really isn't that hard with most kids. They are just people and most of them are quite likeable if you give them a chance.

My (immediate) family does not include kids.
I quite like my family relationships but at Christmas I prefer to keep socialising at houses to a minimum.

Our house is not child-friendly at all, lots of breakables.

And my sister's kids would be crushingly bored as I wouldn't have anything to entertain them with.
They would be wanting to play on Xboxes, text their mates etc.

I wonder why the OP didn't suggest to his cousin that he and his wife visited them instead of inviting them to their house.

Dunroamin

mumps wrote: »

Well lets hope you never need them, they might feel the same.

Who's ever likely to need a first cousin once removed?

seven-day-weekend

mumps wrote: »

Well families do tend to include children so if you want the family relationships you can either have children "inflicted" on you or you can enjoy them, it really isn't that hard with most kids. They are just people and most of them are quite likeable if you give them a chance.

There are none in our family (well none that I ever see). We are having my son and his partner and her mum round for Christmas dinner, that's it. If in the unlikely event we ever get any grandchildren, well obviously they would be welcome, but I will still be glad when they go home.

We have young friends who have two small children and I like going to their house and seeing their children, but the difference is, it is their house and their children, therefore not my responsibility and I can just sit and read a book if I want to. I am not expected to entertain them.

Dunroamin

Pollycat wrote: »

My (immediate) family does not include kids.
I quite like my family relationships but at Christmas I prefer to keep socialising at houses to a minimum.

Our house is not child-friendly at all, lots of breakables.

And my sister's kids would be crushingly bored as I wouldn't have anything to entertain them with.
They would be wanting to play on Xboxes, text their mates etc.

I wonder why the OP didn't suggest to his cousin that he and his wife visited them instead of inviting them to their house.

Particularly as he's already said he's been going stir crazy in his own home!

mumps

Pollycat wrote: »

My (immediate) family does not include kids.
I quite like my family relationships but at Christmas I prefer to keep socialising at houses to a minimum.

Our house is not child-friendly at all, lots of breakables.

And my sister's kids would be crushingly bored as I wouldn't have anything to entertain them with.
They would be wanting to play on Xboxes, text their mates etc.

I wonder why the OP didn't suggest to his cousin that he and his wife visited them instead of inviting them to their house.

Don't you consider your sister to be immediate family? Maybe my idea of family is odd.

When I was a child I had an aunt who had no children. Her house wasn't child friendly but it was our favourite place to visit. She always treated us as responsible people and we responded as she expected.

I wouldn't worry too much about the x boxes, they will probably bring their ipads or suchlike. You would probably hardly notice them, although lots of people would probably say they were rude. Kids really can't win.

Dunroamin

mumps wrote: »

We all started off that way, can't you remember? We might not have children of our own, or our children might be grown up, mine are, but most extended families will include children.

You don't need to have children to be a family.

seven-day-weekend

Dunroamin wrote: »

Who's ever likely to need a first cousin once removed?

My husband has no brothers or sisters, so his nearest 'family' (apart from me and our son) is his cousin. He gave her away at her wedding ten years ago and they are more like brother and sister than cousins (although she has brothers and sisters of her own, who, apart from one, neither my husband or his cousin see anything of). They do actually have quite a close relationship.