not going to have all my kids on xmas day

[cherrymonster]

ex wants to have the girls for christmas, he intends picking them up on the evening of christmas eve, and bringing them back boxing day morning. i dont mind this, as he is their dad and has as much right to have them at christmas as i do, but i dont know what to do over christmas now. will have both ds's here, who are 11 and 9, will also probably have my brother and sister here. obviously i want to make it as special as possible for the boys, but i also want to make boxing day special for the girls when they come back, and it will be weird having them open presents on 2 different days.

[cherrymonster]

should add, the girls have never been away from us for the whole of christmas day before, what do i do with their stockings and presents? keep them for boxing day?

[bellavita]

My brother is divorced from his wife. They take it in turns with the children each year.

They will open their presents from him this year when he sees them on boxing day and vice versa last year, he had them from christmas eve so when they went home to their mum they opened all their mums presents on boxing day.

[cherrymonster]

well thats kind of similar to my situation, except that my ex doesnt have all the children, just the two youngest as the boys are not his. he was very good to start with, had all four children for the night on christmas eve then brought them back late morning, but he has a new partner now, and a baby and she wont let him have the boys (thats another thread) i just dont like my kids being split up on christmas day for the whole day, before it has only been either the morning or the evening.

[bellavita]

How about saving a couple of presents for the boys until their sisters come back on boxing day and then they have something to open too?

[cherrymonster]

thats a good idea bella.