There seems to be so much pressure from the media to have "the perfect family Christmas" with no end of "must do things".
We live near both sets of parents, 200 meters from mine and 3 miles from in laws so we don't have any issues with travelling long distances or accommodating guests for the festive period.
Christmas morning we will open presents between us and the kids, have a quick breakfast and go to church - my parents will be there and it's lovely to celebrate Christmas with our church family, kids bring toys, lots of Christmas jumpers etc.
We go to in laws for lunch - they don't drive and fil likes a pre lunch drink in his local, mil is a terrible cook but a lovely person and we get on well - we now have an arrangement that mil (over) cooks the meat and roasties and I take the rest along and re heat it there, my brother is a chef and supplies me with meat juices to make lovely gravy and I make a really good stuffing, the veg is cooked and chilled so that it just need to be warmed through to serve. I will also take a nice dessert! We joke about it being Christmas Dinner in a box!!!! Mil is happy as she gets to eat my cooking without leaving her house and I'm ok with it as I'd rather cook in my own kitchen and I don't have to endure Mils gravy (think Ria in butterflies).
We have a nice afternoon, exchange presents and leave when we are ready - no one has room for tea!
Christmas night we relax and watch a family film or play games and on boxing day we have a second Christmas at my parents with extended family, we go over in the morning and I help mum to prepare the meal. Presents are exchange once everyone has arrived and after lunch we play silly games etc. We head home when we ready.
We've had the same arrangement for a number of years and everyone is happy with it - I asked my parents if they would like to change things this year so that we are with them on Christmas day instead but they are happy to continue as we are.
I read so many threads hear about nightmare Christmases with inlaws that I feel very lucky!!!
How do you "do Christmas" and are you happy with the arrangements?
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How do you do Christmas?
12 replies
SecondTimeIsBetter · 02/10/2016 10:39
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