To ask what you're dreading most about Christmas with your inlaws this year? ( lighthearted )

MIL insisting we all play whatever board game she has bought. Somehow adult niece and nephew get a free pass to escape as if they are still 5 not 25! This is only a half complaint, I love a board game, but by the time she wants to do this I have generally reached my socialising limit and want quiet time. But really MIL is lovely.

BIL being a racist twat and believing everything he sees in GB News. There is always the risk we will come to blows about this one.

Oh God, this is my MIL. If DH or I need something while we’re in her house, we have to sort of mouth it silently to each other, because MIL with her ears like a lynx will immediately pop out from wherever she’s been hiding to solve the problem.

e.g.
”Hey DH, do you know where there’s a <whispers> spatula?”
<MIL erupts into room>
”Spatula? Are you looking for a spatula? I’ve got three right here, look - all different sizes and shapes. And <starts to haul stepladder out from under the stairs> up here in my special Spatula Cupboard I’ve got another half dozen - do you want plastic? Aluminium? Wood?”

It’s exhausting, bless her.

Well, my MIL phoned DH while we were out at the park this afternoon, to rant and rave that her new phone has the time displayed in a format she doesn't like, and that her phone keeps wanting to schedule software updates which is "so annoying!"

My DH said "why are you telling me? I don't work for Samsung!"

But she wouldn't get off the phone... anyway, this and other reasons are why we are spending Christmas in The Canary Islands.

That seeing MIL will probably involve a hospital visit. We lost FIL 3 years ago, and it’s obviously difficult for all of us.

When you in laws have passed away and you see your dh tinged with sadness at your own parents house you would put up with all kinds of behaviour to still have them. Dh’s dad died when he was only 27

Argh me too! Every family event when anyone arrives they go round hugging and kissing everyone else and then another round every time someone leaves. I was brought up in a very non demonstrative family and so I find it really uncomfortable! When people turn up in my family, they just say hello and nod and say “well that’s me off” at the end of the gathering and just leave! I think they’ve picked up on my discomfort and it’s lead to some really awkward moments!

My ILs, who are lovely, but eccentric, are too elderly to host now, but when they were younger it was very nice in their picturesque old house but but I used to feel almost ill from the constant shifts from being completely frozen to absolutely sweltering in front of a massive fire. Wearing thermal everything and feeling like a mummy I’d be wearing so many layers. Also almost a bit dull as they are very lowkey on Christmas vibes except for real candles on the tree!!! Which was terrifying. And a massive meal in the evening so you had to keep going back and forth to the freezing cold kitchen to peel veg etc. then going to bed and feeling like you were going to die of hypothermia during the night!

DHs grandma has dementia. My dad died earlier in the year. Grandma is going to ask me at least several times a day, "how's mum and dad?" and I'm going to have to either say it over and over again, or brush off with "they're fine" and I'm not sure I'm strong enough to do either yet. Not her fault, but I'm dreading it. We're staying for 2 weeks.

Not in laws but my own parents - their house is freezing. They are very comfortable financially but are cheap with the heating. They’ll tell you to put your coat on.

O.M.G 😂
My in-laws (SIL x 2) are away on a Caribbean cruise over Xmas. One of DHs sisters did ask us yesterday to take her cat (which has FIV) to stay at ours for two weeks while she's off on this cruise however we have a cat who is very territorial and would likely try to fight. SIL had a sulk, saying she didn't want the cat to be on its own and having just a cat-sitter to pop in each day instead

Thanks @BossaNovaOnAllNight I hope so too! Both MIL and PIL have had health issues in the past couple of years but both pretty good at now. Long may it (they) last 😍

Yayyyy! 🫖 🍪 ❤️

I’d offer them a tenner for a full day of heat! Being cold indoors is miserable.

Phew! I think I am this hostess!

Sorry OP but nothing at all. I love them all to bits and love getting together for a few hours on Christmas morning. They have been nothing but kind and loving to me since I first met them all nearly 25 years ago and hope we have more years ahead of us!

I’m particularly dreading sticking my fork into my brocolli and carrots and watching them disintegrate before my eyes whilst by SIL and her husband discuss politics, immigration and what ever their newest tinfol-hat theory is.

All the while I know my siblings will all be at my parents having the delicious dinner my mum has cooked, telling silly stories and having a drink (none of my in-laws drink so I always feel like the town lush at their house).

Sigh, it’s only the thought that we’re going to my family next year that gets me through 🙈

Both my in laws are deaf, they have the tv up LOUD, my mil sits in one room, my fil in another and they yell at each other across the hall, through 2 internal doors that are closed. Mil doesnt like what fil likes to watch so hence the separate rooms. The dog will be going nuts as it is over stimulated due to the noise, it also hates people walking past the window which doesnt help as in laws live in a welsh valley terrace that is cheek by jowl with neighbours and visitors everywhere.
My sils will be in and out, along with various kids, presents and more yelling at each other. No one has a conversation, they all yell at each other with whatever floats through their mind. I did 1 Christmas with them, my fil boils veg to a mush, the turkey has been cooking on a low heat since 9pm Christmas Eve, it was so dry and there was no gravy or wine either as they had forgotten it.
My parents are better volume wise but just as demanding. Timings on Christmas Day are a miltary operation, breakfast by 8am, dressed by 8:30, presents at 9am etc. My dad will have a bin bag ready for the wrapping paper while my mum tells me to make a note of who gave me what so I can write a thank you note. I am 42 years old.

PIL have both passed away but because of the distance they lived we generally used to have to go to theirs.
Until, the last time we went and agreed we wouldn’t again. MIL had a tantrum on Christmas morning that she didn’t like Christmas dinner and didn’t want it. We offered to make it, but no. She served up the worst Christmas dinner in history at 8pm. We had such bad indigestion after, but at least we agreed not to to go again.
When we didn’t go the next year, they had a Christmas dinner for just the two of them.

Generally they then came to us. One year we wrapped all the presents in a single paper for each person. So a red for MIL, blue for FIL etc. They picked up every present and said ‘ I don’t know who this is for, it doesn’t say’ DH then put them in front of each of them and they still complained ‘who is this for?’. It took so long to open everything and not fun.

@Christmaslogistics and @watermybegonias those stories have me howling with laughter! That is NUTS!

@Dogman and @timetogetlost I am so sorry. Christmas really throws those gaps in your life into huge relief. xx

My story is about a friend. Her PILs come over every Christmas Day for the last 23 years and FIL ALWAYS rearranges the furniture in the sitting room! It sends her crazy, she has told him to stop, he keeps doing it! And he is FAST! He will literally wait until everyone is out of the sitting room, and no matter how quick they are (toilet break, checking on dinner, whatever) by the time everyone gets back, he has rearranged the furniture. Always does it on his own, makes no mention of it beforehand, doesn't acknowledge it afterwards. She has tried every strategy in the book to stop him from doing it, to no avail. It has become such a tradition that we all find ourselves checking her FB on Christmas Day to see how long she held him off for, while she updates us from her mobile phone, from the bathroom, biting down on a towel while she screams with rage!

I am actually laughing out loud. I have an elderly chihuahua who really does little more than a beautiful teddy bear, so I floated this as an idea for when she passes. Not the moving her from room to room part. My husband is usually very indulgent, I was at least 50% serious and I just got a resounding ‘no, are you insane?’ as a response .

It has made me giggle that someone has actually done this.

Our first Christmas with our new baby. My parents live further away so they are staying the night before and having Christmas lunch with us. Partners family live round the corner and we will go to theirs late aff/early evening for a few games and leftovers. My partner has said they’ll “probably” want to pop round in the morning to see the baby and give him presents. I asked him to lock down a time with them. He’s so casual and says they’ll come “whenever.” They know we are eating around 1.30pm. But I hate the fact they plan to just rock up any time before then. I like to know an exact time so can plan ohr morning around it. I dont want them to barrel in as we are having breakfast. Or as we are sharing gifts with my parents. I’d rather have a set time so we can organise things around it. I know that makes me sound a bit like a control freak but they have a history of just turning up announced when it’s not convenient, and I feel Christmas morning will be the same!

Light-hearted - good.
My husband and myself don't see any in-laws over Christmas (we are also child free). It's great.
What's probably the worst, remembering from childhood, is the forced fun and the drunk uncle shouting about politics and wanting to fight with my father.
Life is too short for this human shit, I say! 😃

The performative huffing and puffing. My MIL can huff and puff like the bloody wolf in the three little pigs.