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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"I can't eat too much Christmas lunch, I'm too full of pringles". WTAF?!!

290 replies

Flubba · 27/12/2011 07:01

Okay, so custy clearly wins on the shit Christmas front, but I'd like to hear your crappy Christmas stories. It'd give me good cheer! Xmas Grin

Mine was the line "I can't eat too much Chritsmas lunch, I'm too full of pringles " from my FIL after I'd been preparing and cooking all fecking morning and then some. Xmas Angry Xmas Hmm

for the sake of those getting their Christmas knickers in a twist about this not being an AIBU Xmas Wink, here goes...

OP posts:
G1nger · 28/12/2011 18:08

megatron I also find it very difficult to make apologies to people, but the fact is that your MIL has brought this upon herself. She really does have to either start treating you properly or start apologising. Her behaviour was appalling.

AnotherMincepie · 28/12/2011 19:51

Surely the Pringles comment from FIL was meant to be a joke?

Original poster
Flubba · 28/12/2011 19:59

no, sadly, no anothermincepie - he does make crappy jokes like that sometimes, but there was no "I'm only joking" after it, or after I stropped at him. :( / Angry

OP posts:
HollyTwat · 28/12/2011 21:22

This thread reminds me of the new year we invited my db and now exsil for a meal. We knew they'd be late, but said we were dishing up at 8pm
They arrived at 9.30 clearly having had a row.

Transpired that she had insisted on cooking herself a meal before coming. She sat down to eat and said it was a shame she wasn't hungry as she'd eaten. And it looked really nice food.
We were Shock

Original poster
Flubba · 28/12/2011 22:06

Your exSIL is clearly related to my FIL Holly

OP posts:
RandomMess · 28/12/2011 22:35

Megatron that sort of text from your dh does sound a great idea. I also think you can dine out on this forever. Mentioning it whenever you make meal time arrangements. That text could also mention how upset and uncomfortable BIL and SIL were made to feel.

HollyTwat · 29/12/2011 00:15

It's just shocking isn't it Flubba!
I'm so grateful if someone cooks for me

We once went to dinner at their house, the one and only time, and because they'd had a row she had refused to continue cooking. My fb had to finish it off whilst she sat and watched us. We didn't know where to put ourselves.

I could tell you some stories about her!

Pandemoniaa · 29/12/2011 01:04

I've told this story before but it still remains an eye-opener. This was the year that DP, his ex-wife and their 3 dcs travelled 300 miles to spend Christmas with her DB and (not quite so dear) SIL and their 3 dcs. All children being under 10 at the time.

After a perfectly cheerful Christmas Eve which had passed off entirely without any sort of dispute, on Christmas morning, SIL sent a message downstairs to say she'd gone off the idea of Christmas and thought the whole thing was over-rated. So she planned to spend the day in bed but would rather like half a grapefruit and a boiled egg for taken upstairs for her breakfast.

Lunch was an interesting meal since she'd clearly "gone off the idea" of buying anything even vaguely resembling the traditional repast. So while DP's ex-wife took the children to the park, DP and BIL took themselves off to the corner shop and came home with an interesting range of festive food. Fish fingers and Fray Bentos pies being the main ingredients for lunch.

I have actually spent a weekend with DP's BIL & SIL and got on with her very well. But knowing her as I do, I have to say I am not surprised.

But what is it about Christmas lunch that brings on such truly bonkers behaviour in so many houses, I wonder?

CheerfulYank · 29/12/2011 01:07

Shock Pandemoniaa !

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 29/12/2011 01:12

Wow, Pandemoniaa - that's just bizarre! but also the sort of thing that my ex-sisteroutlaw would have done - she never got the chance to do it at Christmas but did do it a few times when my parents went to visit my brother and her; just took to her bed and refused to speak to or see them, or feed them or anything (they lived a couple of hours away from my parents, it was a Big Trip for my parents to undertake, being as they were both a bit crap with long drives).

Pandemoniaa · 29/12/2011 01:22

That's equally weird, Thumbinapuddingwitch! I've always wondered how the people who pull these tricks actually manage to ignore their guests. Are they entirely devoid of shame?

Oddly enough, DP's SIL came downstairs on Boxing Day as cheery as anything and acted as if nothing untoward had happened on Christmas Day. Everyone was too stunned to say anything but they never made the mistake of accepting another invitation for Christmas.

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 29/12/2011 01:25

I don't know about devoid of shame, Pandemoniaa - but she was certainly lacking in basic manners!

CheerfulYank · 29/12/2011 01:37

My Dad is visiting us right now and DH has not been down to see him because he's really ill...and he feels terrible about it!

I can't imagine someone just not going to see their guests.

MalibuStac · 29/12/2011 04:00

I am [shocked] at the way people have acted towards others. Usually for us we have christmas dinner with the in laws but this year due to our dd only being 17mths we decided to stay at home. More so because we wanted to let her have time to play with her new toys. It was greed with everyone that we would eat starters and mains separately then come together for presents and puddings later. We didn't get pudding (crap compared to others).

On boxing day my family get together but for the past few years one cousin and her family haven't came due to cils mother passing and spending time with his dad, totally understandable. Anyway just as we were about to dish up aunt says cousin is coming with hubby, 3 kids and eldest ds's girlfriend. Oh and they were coming for dinner. Aunt says cousin had told me (she bloody didn't[shocked]). Luckily my aunt cooks loads but only managed to have enough when a couple of us didn't eat. So Christmas day no pudding and boxing day no dinner! Still managed a lovely time though.

Wonder what New year will bring for us all :).

chemiseblair · 29/12/2011 09:44

My elderly grandmother rolling out the alarming chestnut that "lettuce from ethnic shops tastes like curry" was the only real jaw dropper. Oh and my mum insisting at length that my taste in men is based on Fred the Flour Sifter (from Homepride flour) because she used to give me sheets of kitchen towel with him on when changing my nappy and I would coo at them. She went on about this at some length, including a detailed discussion of how DP resembles him. She does not drink. Xmas Confused

FlangelinaBallerina · 29/12/2011 10:24

This thread has been quite the eye opener!

Based on the experiences of those with young DCs, as an expectant mother I'm trying to formulate a plan. From what I can tell, little ones do better with a meal at 12ish, then get hungry again by about 5, yes? Most people have Christmas lunch about 3, hence the problem. In my family, we always end up having it at about 4- my dad aims for 3 then everything just takes longer. Not a diss btw, he is an amazing cook. With that in mind, does it make sense to give young DCs sandwiches or whatever at 12, then serve up the full roast about half 4 when they're hungry again? Cos I think that's what I might aim for in the future. Could make a big pile of sandwiches and other guests can pick at them to keep going. Although I'm not due til 30th July, so it'll no doubt be a year or two before D Bump is ready for anything more festive than milk and mashed carrot. And I can't imagine a time when I might be able to get a roast dinner down me again either- this Christmas I have mostly been eating grapes and dry biscuits. Sigh.

Megatron, send the text!

Original poster
Flubba · 29/12/2011 10:55

Flangelina my issue wasn't the children being hungry (we fed them snacks at 11ish), and FIL should really have been able to control his own pringle-stuffing! :o

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 29/12/2011 10:55

Crikey Megatron whilst I agree you completely deserve an apology, you're unlikely to ever get one, or even an admission of guilt. Your MIL sounds like an extreme version of my mum (my mum is lovely though, but the builder of her own unhappiness!) but the good thing in all of it is that you're not alone, your DH, BIL, SIL etc etc., know what's what... so if nothing else, you won't be alone in your rage, now or in the future! Having a good bitch amongst others who know the score is theraputic.

Fairy Red Cabbage and Apple is VERY Christmassey, my in laws don't get it either, but I serve it every year and always will, even though I'm the only one who eats it... I think it looks pretty.

Some people are so unbelievably rude aren't they? Even though I know these people exist I am always always SHOCKED at the bress neck of some people. (the phrase is brass neck isn't it?? It feels wrong somehow.)

I'm so grateful that Christmas was just me, DH, boys and FIL this year (who is challenging as he has Alzheimers - but he just does as he's told without rudeness) it was very stress free... the only bummer was the almighty cold I woke up with on Christmas Morning so I couldn't taste the cumulation of weeks of culinary magic I'd created. I have a plate ful; in the freezer for when I'm better.

aldiwhore · 29/12/2011 10:56

Flubba I wouldn't have an issue with anyone stuffing their faces on snacks and being unable to eat my beautiful dinner... my issue woyuld be WHY your FIL felt the need to tell you!!? I wouldn't have let him sit at the table.

FlangelinaBallerina · 29/12/2011 11:10

Flubba, your FIL was being a twat. I was more thinking of some of the later posts, though.

Oh yes, and red cabbage is delicious. And northern.

Megatron · 29/12/2011 11:20

She hasn't phoned yet. Xmas Sad I was fine about it yesterday but I feel crappy today like I'm causing some major rift in the family.

FlangelinaBallerina · 29/12/2011 11:31

You are not causing a major rift in the family.

aldiwhore · 29/12/2011 11:34

You are not causing anything. SHE is causing it.

PigletJohn · 29/12/2011 11:36

well she won't phone, will she? She will have convinced herself that she behaved perfectly properly and it's everyone else who is unreasonable.

BlatherskitesInFairyLights · 29/12/2011 11:37

Stay strong Megatron. She caused the rift not you. Your DH, BIL and SIL understand and agree with you along with a whole thread full of MNers. YANBU

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