Families at Christmas

[sun5hinez]

I love Christmas, but trying to organise who we see and not upset anyone is a real nightmare. I like to have just a quiet Christmas day with my husband and children, but not all the family seem to understand this. Does anyone else feel the same and how do you go about it?

[China Doll]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean and in an attempt to get away from it, this year I will be leaving the country!

My folks are split and remarried and it's also my birthday around christmas and both my sisters are away so I find myself dashing around like a mad thing when I'd actually rather just be getting drunk in front of the telly. As I'm single and have no ties I generally don't mind it but if I were you and had kids then I would point blank tell my family I'm spending it with hubby and the kids and they can either come for dinner or come on boxing day but I'm not running visiing them. That might sound harsh but christmas is about family and spending it with them and I'd chose to spend it with the nearest and dearest, (hence why I run around like a mad thing, there's a method to my madness).

[sun5hinez]

Yes, it is so difficult when families are so fragmented, inlaws divorced yet both want to spend Christmas with us! Agghh!! But, I am going to be strong. Actually, a bit annoyed that I'm worrying about it already!!

[4getmenot]

One day those family members wont be there and you will be wishing you had them there at xmas, make the most of it

[CAJ1]

I agree with 4get. As someone who doesn't have family to spend christmas with I advise you to make the most of the people you have to share it with. If I wasn't with my boyfriend I would spend christmas alone. I know which I would prefer...

[wonkon-wonk]

It's not difficult is it?


"I will be having a quite Christmas day this year with just my husband and children"


there...............................................DTH?

[4getmenot]

You get rest of the year to have a quiet family day, be glad you have family that want to be with you. Mine are all leaving me this year :-(

[daniela31]

If this is what you prefer, you must tell everyone now....
but have an open invitation for boxing day....or the day after.
:-)

[redcrx]

4get, you know you can come here for xmas

[4getmenot]

I know I;m just collecting all my invites togather :-) lol. waiting for HIM to invite me to his family for xmas but would also like to see the littlns so either xmas or boxing day I will drive up

[gina32]

4get is so right, my dad died earlier this year and i am going to miss him so much, it wont be the same without him

[4getmenot]

and was he always there for xmas or did you want family time?

[gina32]

he was always there, he was part of my family, and we wouldnt have had it any other way

[sun5hinez]

I guess all families are different. To have a close family (other than husband and children) who have always been supportive and there for you whatsoever is something to cherish and feel very lucky about. Not everyone has that.

[4getmenot]

No they don�t but to have even more people there on xmas the more the merrier and also the more lucky you are

and gina thats lovely

[whiskeysheri]

I'm so lucky I don't have this problem.

My boyfriend and I have a long-distance relationship, so we spend Christmas day with our own families and then spend Boxing Day until New Year together.

My mum and dad are divorced, but (and I'm aware this seems strange!) we have all spent it together for the last few years; mum, dad, their partners, us kids, grandparents, etc. Obviously my parents wouldn't spend it together if it wasn't for us and my niece, but it's lovely.

We're spending it separately this year, so my mum gets a break from being the hostess, so we'll spend the morning and lunch with her and then in the evening, we'll all traipse over to my dad's for the night.

Christmas is about your kids and you should spend the day however you like for them. I hope you manage to sort it out, I can see myself having a similar problem if my boyfriend has moved down here by next Christmas! :o|

[gina32]

thank you

[annie0000]

I think that it is right that the kids get to spend christmas in their own home having your own traditions.

However, it is nice to have family round, becasue that is what makes christmas special.

A friend who has similar circumstances with her own parents who have split up and have new partners - she has a schedule.

Opening presents early morning with hubby and kids
Dad and wife round for late breakfast
Parents-n law round for christmas lunch
Mother and partner round for Christmas supper - her mum and dad visit her sister in the opposite timeframe.

Her parents can't stand each other at all. and having the in-laws in the middle limits the chance that they will bump into each other!

[smudge]

When our two daughters were little, we always spent Christmas day at home, allowing them to play with their toys/presents & enjoy the day. Wouldn't have had it any other way!

On Boxing day, we used to visit Mum & Dad (in the old family home). Most of the family turned up there too & it was real fun! God, how I miss those times!

Since Mum & Dad are sadly no longer with us, our daughters, husbands & four grandchildren come to us on Christmas day. We have lots of fun over dinner & afterwards. The home made mince pies come out later & we all muck in with the washing up, etc.

By Boxing day, we're free to do whatever we want to do. No pressure for anyone - we're all usually all worn out! ;o}

[natalie_1982]

Myself and my hubby always used to dash round visiting everyone because, like many others, both of our parents are divorced and none get on particularly well, and to top it off most members of the same families hardly speak to eachother!

This year though, as I now have a baby I have said that anyone and everyone is welcome to visit and have lunch and spend the day with us, but I won't be out traipsing all over the place to please everyone else. Christmas is for kids and I want my baby to have all of hers at home. At Xmas she will only be 9months so it won't matter to her where she bis (or whatday it is) but I was to set a precedent (sp?) for the years to come.