not to want to take MIL with us?

[rara67]

This year instead of panto we are going to cinema on Xmas Eve. DH will collect MIL on 23rd (she lives 50 miles away and wont drive here any more) and she will stay til 27th/28th. She has never been to panto with us, as it was our own tradition, just the four of us. DH wants me to invite her this year (he's on his works xmas meal tonight that's why I get to make the call). However, do I invite my mum too? We would then have to take 2 cars and it would turn into a major operation! How can I make her feel included? I dont want to do this every year, I selfishly want to do stuff with my family but I can understand where DH is coming from ie we invite her down and then go out. Any ideas please? Need to call soon before she cracks open another wine box!!

Thank you ladies. Oh of course I will invite her! Its that DH usually moans that he was brought up in a house that was full of old people at Christmas. Even now he doesnt like "people" in the house and I have to remind him that "people" is just his Mum! She's 79, not very mobile and doesnt like cartoons, she finds DS's exhausting. I love the idea of baby photos, but ever since DS1 was born in 2003 she has done nothing but talk about when DH was a baby (born in 1959). She even gave me his weight cards (which I do think is really sweet and keep in the back of DS1's red book)!

She drinks quite a bit, up to a bottle of wine a day (and that's when she's here, bless her).

Good grief, your D sounds absolutely charming.

If you invite someone to stay for Christmas, you should think of doing things that they would enjoy doing too. Don't invite a 79 year old woman who doesn't like cartoons (who does?) to stay and then moan that she won't enjoy going to watch a cartoon at the cinema. Not many 79 year olds would enjoy that. You can go to the cinema any other day, surely?

Agree with the provinciallady.

Thinking about it seriously ProvLady, the cinema is the best thing for all of us!!! DMIL cant walk far, so the park/beach is never an option so cinema could be good as it involves sitting. Goody bags for the boys and hipflask for Gran - sorted - everyone happy. Thank you so much, off to give her a ring.......

Good news! She says she would love to come with us, hasn't been to the cinema for years. I didnt tell her it was Rise of the Guardians but I did give her the 'get out' of "I'll book you a ticket but if you change your mind on the day it wont matter" At least she's got the option and I feel a lot better than I did earlier this evening, DH will be pleased and if she changes her mind I will simply drag another pensioner off of the street and into the cinema!! Good night one and all.