Dsd9 has never spent Christmas with us in all those 9 years. Last year she said she was going to but changed her mind. This year, she said the same and we were expecting her to change her mind again but she didn't.....
I love Christmas pandya was very excited. Ds3 also excited as he worships his big sister and started to get christmas a bit more this year.
I chose and bought all her presents and did her stocking with no input from dh. Wrapped everything as well. Made sure we had lots of food in for her (fussy vegetarian - we areneitherofthose things) including making her grandmothers nut roast recipe for Xmas lunch. I sorted sleeping arrangements as my mum was here too. I bought new games I thought shed like (as she loves games) I also tried to persuade dh to get his parents to come to us for the day instead of going to his brothers, they alternate ut I really thought they'd want to come here seeing as it was the first time dsd was going to be here, but no, they didn't want to switch and dh didn't really say anything (I thought this was extra important as dsd is used to quite. Big busy family Christmases and ours tend to be a bit smaller and quieter)
Anyway, dsd was due to come 22-27th (they live 4 hours away so it possible for her to come for just the day) she arrived evening of the 22nd, wheni discovered dh was still planning on going to work on the 23/24th..... News to me as I'd assume he was off as he'd never mentioned his absence when we talked about when he should get dsd. In the end he just went in for couple of hours each morning. Dsd is excited and see snappy enough over these coupled days, but says frequently that it doesn't feel like christmas (because she is away from home) and starts face timing her mum more and more.... Christmas Day comes and dh (bearing in mind this is the first time he's EVER had his daughter on Christmas day), pisses off on his own for an hour to get a coffee once everyone is up. My mum has probably spent more time entertaining the children!
Day goes ok, dsd likes her presents, keeps facetiiming mum though and it's pretty obvious she's struggling with being here, and in the end she facetimed her mum just before bed and started crying because she wanted to go home. So dh is now spending Boxing Day doi g the 8 hour round trip to take her home.
I just feel really pissed off. I so wanted her to enjoy herself and have a happy christmas here, but I feel like I was the only one (along with my mum,) who made any effort and dh seemed to treat it like it was just a normal visit. I also can't help but feel annoyed with dsd although I know she's only 9 and just wanted to be with her mum. It just feels like it's never enough, and dh hasn't even acknowledged any of it anyway!
(Just so as it to drip feed, I also have an 11 week old who wakes every couple of hours so I'm knackered and generally grr about lots of things!)