What do you all do at Christmas?

[Ewe]

Well, that's it really, how do you all split it with kids/IL's etc?

[brightwell]

We do alternate Christmas's one year with their dad, Christmas Eve afternoon until Boxing Day afternoon and the next with me but they then have a few days extra at their dad's on "his" weekend

[citronella]

Am watching this thread as this will be our first apart and not under same roof...

[Ewe]

Mine too citronella, in fact, it is DD's first Christmas, which we obviously both want to be a part of.

XP normally spends it at his parents about 2hours away and whilst he drives he doesn't have a car. We just can't seem to find a solution!

[TwoIfBySea]

ex-dh wasn't speaking to his family at time of our split so that isn't a consideration.

He came last year (he had walked out on us in the July so this was the first Christmas apart) on Christmas morning. Wanted to turn up at 7am but I refused, he showed up at about 10, stayed for an hour or so and then went off to his gf's family.

They have a baby now but he still says he will come over on Christmas morning. We'll see what she has to say about that though.

[onlyjoking9329]

I am dreading Christmas this year, it will be our first Christmas without Steve, Steves family no longer speak to us and I don't have any extended family so it will be just me and the kids, we have had a few offers to spend it with friends but not sure I can cope with that as it always reminds me what we have lost being around couples.
I am thinking of going to lanzarote until new year.
it must be hard for those of you that will be without the kids for Christmas I am lucky I will have them with me.

[mummyfantastico]

Last christmas (our first apart) xh spoke to the girls on the phone xmas morning and had them for a few hours on boxing day, but that was mainly because of his shifts.
This year I was hoping he could come round xmas morning for present opening (which worked well for one of the girls birthdays) and even stay for lunch if he wants, but the cafcass woman says that would confuse the kids. She thinks splitting the day between us is best.
DD1 wants to spend all day with me and boxing day at dads, I haven't spoken to dd2 about it.
So I'm no help at all sorry!

[Overmydeadbody]

I spend christmas day alone with DS (my family don't celebrate christmas) and we choose all our favourite foods beforehand to eat and then spend all day curled up on the sofa with big duvets watching our favourite films.

Ex has no contact anyway so that's not relevant really.

[Leslaki]

I'll be having dcs xmas eve and Xmas day - exh has never bothered much about Xmas before excepot re his presents so tough!!! He nver did any of the santa magic or anything and has seen them for 1 hour all summer hols! So he can have them boxing day. I will say to his parents that they can pop over for an hour or so on Xmas day like they have done in the past but will probably be too embarassed to face my parents cos of their son's behaviour to come round. So mum, dad and my gran will come downa nd we'll have a fab time! Kids will be too christmassy to notice he's missing as he never participated much anyway. His mum likes to throw a boxing day buffet ala bridget jones' mother so he can take them there and shower them with 'I'm a fab dad' presents! I'll watch MY tv and eat chocolate alone as parents will be going to see my bruv!!! Can't wait!

[Ewe]

That sounds lovely OMDB. I have said to XP he is welcome to come over for lunch and spend the day with us (at my Mum's) or he can take her on boxing day - he's thinking about it!

Interesting to see what everyone else does, I don't think I could ever let him have her xmas day [selfish mummy]

[mybumpsaboy]

Ewe...you mean you actually get a choice on whether you "let" him????

I've been told i no uncertain terms that the courts will rule he gets alternate Christmases

And I'm dreading it.

The only SLIGHT joy is that my LO is due Christmas Day hehe so if he comes some time around then, I guess one year I'll get Christmas, the next year Bday...& swap on our alternate years, so the "big day" for the year just gets deferred a bit

[tortoise]

DS's are meant to spend alternate xmas's with their dad. But the last 2 years i have had xmas eve and half of xmas day. He then has them the other half and boxing day.
Not been discussed this year yet.

DD's only allowed supervised contact so they won't see their Dad over xmas.

[gillybean2]

I spend it with my ds, just the two of us.

[ShyBaby]

Well ds's dad isn't really concerned about christmas day and dd's dad has never met her so I have the luxury of them all to myself.

ds's dad has him on boxing day normally.

I have to admit, I would be gutted if they weren't with me on christmas day, it would break my heart. Hopefully, exp will never ask!