A thread of solidarity for those with Christmas guests

[Champagneforeveryone]

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 I wouldn't pay too much heed to the wide eyed faux native posts.

Just place marking in advance of our own guests arriving...

How's it going op...

I salute you all. I couldn't do it.
Plus I've just watched National Lampoons.. that's enough to put anyone off hosting at Christmas!

I have to ask because there are so many threads with this same theme. Why do you all continue to invite people to stay in your home that you don't want there and can barely tolerate?. Why do you put yourselves through it year after year?

No one else will/can tolerate her, DF died. Not of tolerating her, I hasten to add.

My siblings can't do more than a couple of hours without all hell breaking loose. She's an elderly lady, I couldn't have her alone at Christmas- and she would be if she wasn't it's us. However she still grumbles at anything that doesn't meet her exacting standards. Hyacinth Bucket eat your heart out.

On the way back here (chauffeur service) Mine tried to show me a lovely video of a dog on her phone.... while I was driving in the dark, fog and rain on a motorway. Apparently it was ok as I was driving slowly because of the conditions.

I really like ‘faux native’ as a typo 🤣

My inlaws arrive tomorrow.

FIL spends 90% of any given hour on his phone looking at weather apps. He may have an argument with me if his app says it’s raining and I look outside and I can see that it is not raining.

<sigh>

We've (wisely or otherwise) been to the pub. We're back home and now she's on the wine.

There's been one mention of "the coloureds" but nothing else noteworthy. There's been a long and outraged explanation of the train journey down, and an update of the neighbours health issues. She's coerced DS into going out for coffee tomorrow which he's thrilled about 😉

She's now got DH explaining his Apple watch to her, simultaneously scoffing at his ability to pay with it and marvelling that it could detect if he has a fall.

All quiet on the Western Front. The one thing I always forget is DM's inability to be up and about. Mornings involve a lot of drifting about and drinking of tea and we invariably never leave the house before midday. When DSDad was alive it was even worse so I'm counting my blessings.

Theres also "stuff" everywhere. We've recently downsized and ruthlessly decluttered. DH has a propensity to put things on any flat surface but is making real efforts since we moved. With DM and DS in the same house it's terrible. Currently my coffee table has mugs, phone chargers x 2, various Christmas cards, gloves, reading glasses, car keys, a jumper, a dish of chocolates, a tube of Pringles and a candle.

Good luck to all anticipating the arrival of relatives with trepidation. The end is in sight 😆

Wow talk about first world problems. I for one wish my DM could be with us for Christmas but sadly she passed away

There's been one mention of "the coloureds" but nothing else noteworthy.

Even my 92 year old mil has been re-trained into the ways of the 21st century. It involved a lot of "you can't say that!!" but it can be done. Is it too late to start before son's girlfriend arrives? And does she even need to know she's trans? Maybe gf would be pleased for it not to be a thing?

Good luck!

And I bet you never ever moaned about her when she was alive. Ever.

Hate posts like this. It's only the second Christmas without my dad and I really miss him - but I also know that if he was still here he'd have at least a paragraph on this thread. Doubtless I annoyed him when I visited too, no matter how happy he was to see me.

Mine has announced that she has to go to a chemist to get some face wax strips, and that she won't feel Christmassy until she's been somewhere.
So all the outings she did at home, the crib service this afternoon, making a wreath, the festive food, advent candle, Christmas carols on the radio, tons of decorations and lights aren't doing it, apparently.

And as for you, @CallieQ , I guess you are a bit like our visitors. Tone deaf and insensitive.

Can I join? We have a 4day newborn, an excited ds and the in-laws.. who are quietly hurt I have insisted ddog stays away. Tomorrow we have my parents too, and dh and I plan on drinking wine and watching the competitive grandparenting get out of hand :)
we mentioned in passing a present df bought for newborn yesterday- silly us. much fussing from mil and a stressful trip into town today to ‘get everything they need for the baby’ 😖

fil incoming. Instead of inviting him for set dates, oh simply informed me he’s coming for 4 days. He has form for being critical of everything (“I wouldnt do it like that, son”) without doing a single thing himself. Very much treats like hotel inspector. Dominates the remote for only telly and will fall asleep clutching the remote on Red Bill soap box races with glass of red perilously balanced on belly.

We organise our lives around not going to the shops at this time of year.

She organises hers around me taking her!

How is @CallieQ being tone deaf and insensitive ??

I love the idea that Christmas is not complete without facial waxing strips 😆

PILs arrived yesterday. Lovely, lovely people but oh my the faffing. They’ve taken the kids out today and it took them 25 minutes from announcing they were ready to go to actually leaving the house. My parents are coming tomorrow. Mum will find something to criticise, she always does, but I’m hoping to have had enough Buck’s Fizz and/or Prosecco to not care by the time she arrives. They’re also at opposite ends of the political spectrum so we’re all very careful not to go there 😬.

My goodness you are all so lucky. We don't have any family at all so just me and my dd. No grandparents, no guests, no visitors nothing.

We lost dad 5 years ago. I've had Christmas alone. I don't pop up on those threads to tell people they should think themselves lucky.

Some of us have living, extremely difficult family members, with caring responsibilities, and are trying to be sure everyone is happy including the person whose reason for being is to spoil everyone else's time.

@Champagneforeveryone

You could sell tickets to that scenario. We could all watch online.

MN, that's a new facility you need to set up right away.

God, I hate the idea of spending Christmas with visitors. I count myself lucky that I choose not to. Not everyone is the same.

H's uncle is here now. He and my MiL just bicker constantly. Too early for my homemade plum brandy?? 😭