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Original poster

A thread of solidarity for those with Christmas guests

136 replies

Champagneforeveryone · 23/12/2022 16:55

DM is arriving today, DH has just gone to collect her. Our relationship is normally OK, but due to some extremely dubious parenting on her part we've never been close.

Currently she's astounded and quietly appalled that the trains are busy and there's been a delay. She had also made vague noises about sending gifts down via courier but then left it too late, so tomorrow will require a trip to town <screams>

Added to the mix, DS is home from uni and his GF will be joining us from Boxing Day. DM is mildly racist and GF is not British. Dm also disapproves of wokeness and the general silliness of young people, so we're all in for a treat when she finds out GF is actually trans.

I intend to spend the next few days in a state of mild inebriation 🍷

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 23/12/2022 17:04

Memememememememe

Mums driving me potty. I'll happily tell you more about it later! She's talking at me at the moment, so I'm concentrating on not answering in case I say something rude!

mbosnz · 23/12/2022 17:04

Oh my! That sounds like a fantastic scenario for a Christmas horror film! Wishing you strength, sending you solidarity, and I shall join you in a sympathetic wine.

(One of the perks of living on the other side of the world to the rest of our families, is that we don't have these problems. . . but we've had our share in the past, when we did live in the same hemisphere, so I feel your pain. . .)

dogtheted · 23/12/2022 17:06

DM is mildly racist and GF is not British. Dm also disapproves of wokeness and the general silliness of young people, so we're all in for a treat when she finds out GF is actually trans.

Oh god! I thought my Christmas issues were bad 😂 this is going to be fun.

Honestly I think you just have to pre-warn everyone to put DM in her place if she says anything racist.

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Events & celebrations
dogtheted · 23/12/2022 17:07

picklemewalnuts · 23/12/2022 17:04

Memememememememe

Mums driving me potty. I'll happily tell you more about it later! She's talking at me at the moment, so I'm concentrating on not answering in case I say something rude!

My mum also talks at me, not too me. Endless monologues and stories that require no response. It's sad but funny.

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:11

My mums on her way and here for a week I can just about cope with the hour long phone calls when I say about 4 words... I think I'll be going on lots of walks and urgent trips to the shop on my own 😬

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:12

@dogtheted do we have the same mum! 🙈

dogtheted · 23/12/2022 17:13

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:11

My mums on her way and here for a week I can just about cope with the hour long phone calls when I say about 4 words... I think I'll be going on lots of walks and urgent trips to the shop on my own 😬

Is yours old? My mum isn't even old, she's only 62. She just talks absolute drivel 24/7.

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:15

Nope late 60s but I get the same stories 253 times she's going through a pretty crappy time but using me as an emotional crutch which I really am getting tired of!

Fantasmic143 · 23/12/2022 17:16

I have just had a discussion with DH about how to manage the temperature that we need to have the house at for my parents - about 30C. It is usually about 18C. We are going to turn the radiators down everywhere but the lounge and dining room and I genuinely think DH and DS will wear shorts in the house! I will provide them with blankets for when just sitting but DM will put her coat and gloves on if she is cold. Sigh.

Pallisers · 23/12/2022 17:18

There is a wine store near me that puts up quite funny signs throughout the year. They have this today:

Christmas means family
We have liquor

dogtheted · 23/12/2022 17:19

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:15

Nope late 60s but I get the same stories 253 times she's going through a pretty crappy time but using me as an emotional crutch which I really am getting tired of!

It's awful isn't it.

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:22

Have to admit I'm getting anxious about having her with us a whole week

Original poster
Champagneforeveryone · 23/12/2022 17:24

I can hear the car 🙄

OP posts:
Supernormative · 23/12/2022 17:25

Sounds difficult. Does she know that DS is gay (I'm assuming when you say trans you mean his GF is male to female)? Maybe speak to her alone about it first so it's not too much of a shock. Hope it goes well.

swedex · 23/12/2022 17:30

Good luck @Champagneforeveryone xx

peerie · 23/12/2022 17:32

We've all been given tasks for Christmas day at a relatives, mine is sweet stuff my sisters is wine - she's bringing a case of 12 red......nothing else 🙄

peerie · 23/12/2022 17:34

....and they're (4) staying with me for 3 nights 😩

VioletLemon · 23/12/2022 17:36

Please update!

Iwanttoslowdown · 23/12/2022 17:44

Oh gosh OP you win the award this year. Keep us updated 🍿- I mean we’re here for support.

Original poster
Champagneforeveryone · 23/12/2022 17:47

Supernormative · 23/12/2022 17:25

Sounds difficult. Does she know that DS is gay (I'm assuming when you say trans you mean his GF is male to female)? Maybe speak to her alone about it first so it's not too much of a shock. Hope it goes well.

He's always been "bi" but almost exclusively every one of his friends is as well, and until recently this was more in theory than practice.

We're in no way the "cool" parents and it's taken some getting used to, but he seems happy so broadly speaking we are as well.

DM is currently drinking tea and tittering away at the TV. DS has wisely headed out for work.

OP posts:
Idgaff · 23/12/2022 17:49

Solidarity… mine doesn’t start until tomorrow when PIL arrive. Feel horrible for moaning, because they are nice people, but they are soooooo set in their ways, and everything has to be how they want it (even though they’re in our house not theirs… 😂) Quite often how they want things to be done is how my 4 year old, the most stubborn child ever, doesn’t want things to be done!! Feel like there’s going to be a Harry Hill style Fiiiiiiiiight…..!! Wish me luck 😂

AWaferThinMint · 23/12/2022 17:50

Good luck @Champagneforeveryone!

My MiL has just arrived for 4 nights. I love her to pieces and she's fabulous but she cannot leave a silence and almost all talk is about what we're eating next, and at what time, and who'll make it, and what wine will go with it etc. It's exhausting.

But she's so generous and lovely so I just need to carve out opportunities for quiet time. Luckily we've a big dog who needs walking for long long walks.

VladmirsPoutine · 23/12/2022 17:51

I just wanted to ask what is "mildly racist"? I've never come across it and it sounds rather intriguing. Is it like being "mildly pregnant" or being "mildly autistic"?

BigSandyBalls2015 · 23/12/2022 17:58

MIL arrives tom. She will talk about her numerous medical appts … usually followed by “he was a coloured gentleman but very nice” 😳.

She will also regularly go on about how pretty DD2 is, could have been a model apparently, and how it’s from her side of the family … obviously. This is in front of DD1.

Original poster
Champagneforeveryone · 23/12/2022 18:08

VladmirsPoutine · 23/12/2022 17:51

I just wanted to ask what is "mildly racist"? I've never come across it and it sounds rather intriguing. Is it like being "mildly pregnant" or being "mildly autistic"?

Rather like bigsandyballs MiL, various comments about the coloureds. She is also deeply suspicious of "the immigrants" and their nefarious ways.

Basically it's spending too much time alone, in the company of The Daily Mail and The Jeremy Vine Show.

OP posts: