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AIBU?

And This One, Arsey BIL

43 replies

CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:16

DH and I are visiting his parents over Christmas in Scotland, a flight away for us. PIL have a big house and we are here for 10 days.

DH's sister and her husband and his brother and her his wife have 2 young DCs each. The DCs have spent most of the holidays so far palmed off on elderly PIL, who are a bit exhausted but too nice to say no.

DH and I have quite a wide circle of friends and interests, whereas even before children, SIL and BIL did not. Their whole life revolves around house and home, which is fine for them I guess but not really our cup of tea. Hence they have repeat Christmas Days in each relatives house leading up and after Christmas. The one at PIL was the 23rd. We were told we had to be present in the house from 11-7pm to watch the children doing a nativity pantomime and then singing and dancing. While I don't mind an hour or two, I found 8 hours a bit gruelling. DH and I would rather spend daylight hours in the holidays outdoors doing stuff, rather than indoors all day eating and sitting on a sofa.

BIL didn't even turn up until 5.30pm, although finished work at 2. By this time, we were all sitting in the living room, SIL was texting on her phone, DH was on his mobile internet, and I had, after sitting watching the children all day, just gone on my laptop to look at FB. BIL immediately piped up "Ms Celebratory should put her laptop away during family time". I could have cheerfully throttled him, but I settled for ignoring him, as did everyone else. He then left to go home, sans children and wife, 15 mins later, so had spent less than 2 hours with his own kids.

As usual, one child from each family was left with the PIL overnight while the parents went home, this seems to be the norm and at weekends the parents apparently like to be childfree if they can, so again the 4 children are left at their grandparents much of the time.

Anyway, it was just one day. We had to exchange presents on the 23rd as neither BIL and SIL could make it to PIL for Christmas Day, but this evening one set skyped and then arranged to visit all day tomorrow. But they don't want to go home afterwards as only BIL drives and he wants to drink, and they don't want to get a taxi for the 10 mins. So DH is going to have to sleep in the shed to make room for them!

Thoughts? DH and I don't have DCs yet. Is this normal?

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NinjaBunny · 25/12/2013 20:23

Hence they have repeat Christmas Days in each relatives house leading up and after Christmas. The one at PIL was the 23rd. We were told we had to be present in the house from 11-7pm to watch the children doing a nativity pantomime and then singing and dancing.

Thoughts? DH and I don't have DCs yet. Is this normal?

23rd? They're 23rd day of turkey, stuffing and shit? 23 fecking days?

No, it's not fecking normal. They're NUTS.

Xmas Shock

And 8 hours of children doing nativity and dancing?

Xmas Hmm

Over 23 days?

Xmas Hmm

124 hours of nativity and dancing?

Xmas Shock

You know those people who hate Christmas? That'll be those poor children.

Xmas Sad

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NinjaBunny · 25/12/2013 20:24

And why is DH sleeping in the shed?

Is that some weird homage to Jesus?

Xmas Confused

Nice and all but a tad unnecessary...!

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greenfolder · 25/12/2013 20:26

Shed? The rest of it-thats just inlaws.

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:26

To be fair, they only do their version of Christmas Day on 5 or 6 days, at each other's houses, their own and PIL.

Arsey BIL wanted to have a repeat Christmas Day on Boxing Day tomorrow for SIL's family, as they spent actual Christmas Day at BIL's, but after one year where we were naïve and went and it turned into competitive food by amounts, we politely declined. But it looks like it will be repeated tomorrow anyway, albeit a lite-version on the singing and dancing.

DH have made it known we are going out hillwalking for the day, and invited them with us. No takers.

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:28

The shed is kind of like a child's summerhouse. Its OK if he doesn't stand up fully! I'm going in the dining room!

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ZillionChocolate · 25/12/2013 20:29

23rd December?

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wonderstuff · 25/12/2013 20:29

I don't really understand your post, but sleeping in the shed isn't on.

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:32

Yes, the 23rd of December. Apologies, somewhat tense! Not 23 days of Christmas!

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FionasFatFairy · 25/12/2013 20:35

Surely if you are house guests and they are just too tight to pay for a cab, then they should be in the shed/dining room?

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NinjaBunny · 25/12/2013 20:35

Oh, blimey!!

I thought you meant they'd done Christmas Day with gifts and trimmings 23 times.

Xmas Grin

To be fair, I've heard odder things on MN this Christmas.

But your DP can't sleep in the shed. It's fecking cold. Could you not find a naice B&B and incorporate that into your hike?

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 20:36

Not 23 days! It was on the 23rd! Grin

Thoughts? Its between them and PIL. You can do your own thing- nothing forcing you to sit in and watch the children. Use that tongue and say no.

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 20:38

Btw where are you sleeping i he's sleeping in the shed and i it a rickety garden shed or a purpose built garden house? It matters tbh.

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trixymalixy · 25/12/2013 20:39

Gosh, aren't you superior being outdoorsy and all that rather than sitting indoors on your arse.

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 20:39

Ah missed a post. Why isnt he in dining room with you? Where are you sleeping now and why are you being shifted from that place because bil wants to stay? Say no.

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:40

No, we were pretty much forced to watch the children all day on the 23rd. As in we were told to be there in quite forceful terms from 11-7, the words "or else" were used. I don't think they can conceive that anyone might want to do anything different. Yes I guess we could have disappeared, but we didn't want to create a bad atmosphere just before Christmas.

I can cope with one Christmas Day just fine, its the multiple replications that do for me!

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 20:42

Stop being silly. You werent forced. What was the 'or else'? Im sure it wouldnt have been devastating consequences. Why so many martyrs on MN at xmas?

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:42

Dining room is too small with a massive table and also full of toys right now. DH seems strangely keen to sleep in the shed.

No, trixymalixy spending day after day indoors during the holidays does my head in. I don't know if that makes me superior or not, I wouldn't have thought so.

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HankyScore · 25/12/2013 20:45

Why are you sleeping separately?

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NinjaBunny · 25/12/2013 20:46

DH seems strangely keen to sleep in the shed.

Not surprised.

Sounds fecking tedious inside the house.

Xmas Hmm

Can't you join him in the shed?

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 20:46

Well then the shed must be comfortable enough and nothing to complain about. Where have you been sleeping til now and why are you moving?

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:48

PIL like us to sleep separately in their house. This is going to sidetrack the whole thread isn't it!

BIL and SIL will need to sleep in DH's current bedroom and the one other spare bedroom. Kids have their own room.

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HankyScore · 25/12/2013 20:50

But you're married! Fuckeroo they are barking.

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CelebratoryChangeNamer · 25/12/2013 20:52

But can anyone tell me if its usual to palm your children off on the grandparents most holidays and weekends? Whats the point in having children if you aren't going to spend time with them?

And is it normal to coerce people to watch your children do lengthy nativity plays and singing and dancing?

I want to know if I'm U to feel driven a little mad by this and if I have really low tolerance or something!

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MairyHoles · 25/12/2013 20:52

That sounds awful. I have a spare bed and an open door policy coupled with my brass neck which makes me very, very hard to offend makes me an ideal Scottish host, depending on where you're at. Oh, and wine, lots and lots of wine. It's fucking freezing tonight, in all honesty I would be prepared to pay the cost of a taxi back to theirs, for yourself, then leave them there. I've been drinking the aforementioned wine and reading back this sounds garbled but as I'm on my phone I can't use my fingers well enough to correct it. Too much wine.

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HOMEQCRICH · 25/12/2013 20:54

Can't you move into the shed for the duration? Sounds far more appealing!!
whilst its important to make the most of family time its your holiday too! Enjoy the walk!

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