to heave all over my boots if I read one more thread about "special family traditions"

[Mintyy]

and how that interfering old hag of a mum/mil/aunty is not asking permission to buy presents or, even worse, hoping to spend some time with their relatives over the Christmas period?

Stop being so bloody PRECIOUS! and get a grip. You are part of the older generation's "special family traditions" - do you not understand??

Whilst I agree minty, it sounds like you need a sit down and a nice cup of tea.

A thread about a thread, you'll fry for it But I AGREE AGREE!!

Good post Mintyy.

I do. I need tea and a valium and lots of toast and marmite. Its not just one thread, there's masses of them and they started in flipping August!!

I agree Mintyy but doing it quickly before you get told off for threads about threads!!
Imo, the best thing about traditions is that they evolve through the generations to become new and to include new family members and circumstances. Took me years to make DH see my point!

you ABU about the marmite. Jam all the way!

You Ok Mintyy?

Marmite is best on crackers. With a smidge of ploughmans pickle.

YABU to eat marmite :)

Agree!!

Yes and no.

Some members of the older generation need to learn to let go a bit MIL I am looking at you and learn to respect their children as parents and some parents need to remember they don't own their children and that the children should have a meaningful relationship with other family members.

For example, we live a 2.5 hour drive from our families so now DD is starting to get Christmas we will be going up on Boxing day for a visit instead. DMIL is not happy with this as she traditionally hosts Christmas tea, but we are putting DD first as it is not fair that she gets to unwrap presents then wave goodbye to her lovely new things for 3 days. MIL has been told (nicely) to suck it up, we will buy boxing day tea so she gets all the magic on the next day too (oh and I will be cooking and cleaning up after too)

But, DMIL has been invited for the weekend we are taking DD to see Santa so she can share that, bought DD her baby's first Christmas bauble and will be invited to take DD to panto etc when she is older, as she has with her other grandchildren, even though I would love to do that with just DH and I, it is all about compromise, but that needs to be on both sides.

Marmite is traditional in our house. Especially at Christmas. We have it on the turkey.

I just made that up btw

totally agree

You were doing well until the marmite comment. I'm going to ask Santa to ban marmite.

I absolutely agree with you Mintyy, love.

I have crumpets with butter and marmite and a lovely hot cuppa.

Here..

you cannot ban marmite, the DC would eat my plain toast then they don't touch the marmite stuff

What a good idea, marmite on turkey. It needs all the flavour it can get.

I had crumpets with golden syrup this morning, so there.

I was absolutely with you until the Marmite.

But yes, traditions evolve and cannot be owned by anyone. Let alone guarded like a fierce, bitey dog when they haven't even had the chance to become a tradition.

But mintyy surely you realise that the wife is the DH's family now - forget the poor mother who you know raised him.

YANBU, especially when those precious posters are moaning about their MIL. Fair enough if MIL is a right old nasty piece of work but generally they are not.

Surely most family's "traditions" are more or less the same? Its also the need to be the one who is in charge of everything that gets me. Its very controlling.

on the money mrs.campbell!!!!!!

Yes micromanaging everything to the nth degree. Why??

What sort of boots?

v excited as this is the 1st xmas that me, DP and DC's will spend together in our own home, the traditions start here! :)