Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want DS to wake up in a hotel room on Christmas morning?

116 replies

witherhills · 15/11/2011 14:47

We go to my parents-250miles away
DS is 4
My DH finds Xmas a bit too much, so doesn't want to actually stay with my parents, and not much room anyway.
We have just been let down with serviced apts we usually use.
Alternative is a hotel in city centre.

Am I being precious? or shall we just get up and say Father Christmas came to hotel for you?

I love going to my parents, but I really would like Ds to wake up in his own bed.

OP posts:
LydiaWickham · 15/11/2011 15:13

Chaos at christmas is part of the fun. Why would your DH need to 'escape'? Sounds odd.

Why not stay at your parents Christmas eve, you offer to drive back Christmas night, therefore only having to stay one night, your DH being able to have a drink and you can be in your own home for boxing day?

eurochick · 15/11/2011 15:16

Take a bag of tinsel and decorate the room around his bed a bit if you are worried about it not being "chrismassy". But I doubt he will care if he has new toys!

MrsvWoolf · 15/11/2011 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gordyslovesheep · 15/11/2011 15:20

Oh I don;t find your DH behaviour odd btw - loud, boistrus, overhwelming families aren't everyones cup of tea - that's not a character flaw ffs!

keepingupwiththejoneses · 15/11/2011 15:22

OP, most of the hotels is Liverpool are nowhere near the clubs and pubs so that shouldn't be an issue, here is a great list, hotels such as atlantic tower, radison and other are out of the way of the party goer's. I also agree with demonata about getting a little tree and putting a few presents under it. He will love it.

Original poster
witherhills · 15/11/2011 15:23

if you don't like chaos, it's not fun at all Lydia! He is a bit odd, but nothing sinister about it, he just wants a bit of a rest. He doesn't get much time off, and doesn't want to have to deal with the noise levels!
I love it personally.
I don't particularly want to stay at my parents, and we are going for a couple of days, have no desire to be in my own house, when all family and friends are having fun up north.
He's fine if he can visit and leave when he wants to.
DS stayed at Grandma's last year on Christmas night

OP posts:
ChangeyMcChangeaLot · 15/11/2011 15:25

YABU. Like a 4 year old will care as long as there are presents!

You are being vv precious, and daft. Be thankful you have a full family to visit and a husband and child to visit with, as well as enough money to stay in hotels as well as buy presents. Its a hell of a lot more than many of us have.

gordyslovesheep · 15/11/2011 15:25

I've stayed at the Crowne Plaza a few times - it's nice and not in the centre

Runpunzel · 15/11/2011 15:28

My 2.5 year old thinks a hotel is the most exciting thing ever so would love to be in a hotel for xmas, might your DS think its pretty cool?

Original poster
witherhills · 15/11/2011 15:36

changey- you don't know anything about my finances.
I am very very thankful for my lovely family.

OP posts:
bonkersLFDT20 · 15/11/2011 15:36

YAB precious (but sweet). I thought this was going to be a thread about shared custody and the difficulties over Xmas, but no, it's a little lad with his Mum and Dad in a hotel on Christmas Eve with fun Grandparents down the road!

It'll be great. You can kick back that evening and play board games or something rather than peel sprouts.

Father Christmas found my DS (then 7) in New Delhi a few years ago. He's pretty resourceful you know. He'll be finding us in North Norfolk this year.

mummytime · 15/11/2011 15:39

Some of our most magical Christmas's have been involved waking up in a hotel room. I have packed a little Christmas tree (tiny). Santa has still managed to bring everyone stockings.
Actually the best Christmas was probably also spent a long way from family. Youngest DC was 4.

PaintYouByNumbers · 15/11/2011 15:40

i stayed at my nans once, and santa 'visited' me there instead. was rather exciting!

plainwhitet · 15/11/2011 15:41

Y A Slightly U; Father Christmas has to find children in hospitals, too, as I know only too well, and he does manage it. Make it fun and your child will love it.

GColdtimer · 15/11/2011 15:48

Just asked DD who is 5.5. She said "wow, that would be so exciting. As long as Father Christmas could really find me".

ChangeyMcChangeaLot · 15/11/2011 15:53

If you are in fact staying in a hotel and are indeed giving your child presents, how am I in error in any way? Hmm

Blatherskite · 15/11/2011 15:54

I love seekers ideas!

We do a Christmas Eve present - always a brand new pair of Pyjamas and a Christmassy book to get them in the spirit. Why not take down a mini tree and stockings to have in your room, do the PJ's and book to set the mood and a lantern in the window to let Santa know where he is then when he's dreaming of sugarplums, fill the stockings and bring out a few presents and he'll be beyond excited in the morning. Get room service to bring you breakfast in bed while he plays with his new toys then off to Grandma's for lots of fun. You'll be ready for the relative peace of the hotel room by the time bedtime comes round again :)

Sounds magical to me

gordyslovesheep · 15/11/2011 15:56

you are making assumption and generally being a bit snarky

Blatherskite · 15/11/2011 15:57

Here's a mini tree Not scoring high in poncetastic stakes but it's cheap...

gordyslovesheep · 15/11/2011 15:58

I am getting rather jealous Grin

Original poster
witherhills · 15/11/2011 16:00

er, maybe my parents might be paying for the room or because maybe we have to find a hotel that we can use DH's points(from work)
Maybe I have to use boots points and nectar points to buy his presents. He doesn't have one present yet, and I have no money in my account.
Maybe I have no idea how I am going to pay for the petrol or the train

Maybe because this might be the last Christmas that his parents will be together and I want him to have good memories

you know nothing about me changey

OP posts:
Original poster
witherhills · 15/11/2011 16:07

I have some decorations that we can take, our house is tiny, and I used to go overboard for Christmas when I was single.
Blatherskite- we always did that too, Xmas pj's.
I have a couple of Xmas books.

I am being silly, I know there are worse problems to have, but I just want him to have the magical feeling that I remember.

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 15/11/2011 16:07

I don't think that DCs care in the least. Father Christmas never has problems-why would he know that you were at the grandparents but he wouldn't know you were in a hotel? Confused
Personally I would stay at home and invite people to stay with you.

Blatherskite · 15/11/2011 16:08

Here's a cheaper one and you could take your own decoration to make it feel more like home?

ChangeyMcChangeaLot · 15/11/2011 16:13

fucking hell, defensive much? Hmm Why would I give a flying shite about your finances?

Get a grip of yourself, count your blessings, quit whining.