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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Christmas birthday?

7 replies

tryhard · 16/10/2015 19:56

Background is that Christmas has always, always been a bone of contention between me & DP's family. No one lives near anyone else, they want all the family back at theirs & I want to spend it in my own home. Added to this, my nuclear family are either dead or don't live in the country so being with his family at that time of year in particular can be more than a little painful for me. Normally we see them Christmas Eve, though I know they hate the fact that we don't travel Christmas Day so they can 'see DCs open their presents (from them)'. Anyway, DS3's birthday is Christmas Eve, last year (his first birthday) we went to their house & they said they'd do a buffet. What they actually did was Christmas day, roast, crackers & opening of presents in front of extended family, the full works. I was livid, it was DS3s 1st birthday & though he knew no different that year, I wanted it to be about his birthday feeling guilty enough that it's always going to be a crappy time to have a birthday! This year, 2 months before Christmas, the questions have started already - what are you doing for his birthday? When are we going to see you? They are a big, loud family & I tend to get completely bulldozed by them, when I raise my complaints I get accused of being too sensitive or BU, but I feel really resentful that once again, my DS3s birthday is going to be completely taken over by my inlaws. AIBR or am I being Scrooge?!

OP posts:
lashawn · 16/10/2015 20:01

As a Xmas eve baby myself I would say yanbu.

You are right to want to keep a focus on it being his birthday - it gets overshadowed by Xmas enough as it is, without roast dinners and crackers!

Can you see them on boxing day instead?

lashawn · 16/10/2015 20:03

Oh and just to add - it's not a crappy birthday as a child. There's nothing better than reaching the end of your birthday, going to bed knowing that Father Christmas is on his way next!

honeyroar · 16/10/2015 20:05

I sympathise, having a stepson with a Xmas eve birthday.

Could you organise a party at your home on Xmas eve? We always do a kind of an open house day, with birthday cake and bits and bobs on offer. People tend to pop in all day for half an hour or so (busy day for everyone!).

Could you Skype or FaceTime them on Xmas day when you open presents from them? I can see how they'd enjoy seeing their grand kids open presents..

yorkshapudding · 16/10/2015 20:07

I think lashawn's boxing day idea is really sensible. It means that you get to celebrate DS's birthday properly, you don't have your Christmas day ruined and they'll be less likely to insist on doing the weird second Christmas thing as they probably won't want to do a roast two days running. What does your DP think though? Does he want to spend Christmas with his family or is he of the same mind as you? If you're agreed on this then he should be the one to lay down the law with them.

3littlebadgers · 16/10/2015 20:08

Can you do his party at your house so if they want to take part it is on your terms? My friend was a Christmas Eve birthday and the Christmas decorations only ever went up after her party, or when she was older after they had done presents and birthdsy lunch.

tryhard · 16/10/2015 21:18

lashawn it warms my heart to hear that!! Honestly the guilt I've been made to feel about this birthday! Ever since they knew my due date, the in laws have been saying 'oh dear, poor child, what an awful birthday to have!' so I've got a real issue about trying to make it special for him! DSs1&2 are summer-born so they always have the big build up to a lovely outdoor party and then a big build up to Christmas & so I kind of feel DS3 has been cheated a bit somehow; they get to enjoy the build up & excitments twice over but he gets it all at once?

They live centrally to all the extended family, hence the pressure to hold it at their place rather than ours. I must admit I don't get this Grandparent thing about seeing them open their presents - perhaps I will when I'm a grandparent?! - my DM couldn't give a shit & won't be in the country, but in laws make a massive deal of it & seem to feel hugely affronted if they don't get to see DC open their specific presents, I don't understand it at all.

DP wants us all to be with his family, the more the merrier in his opinion, the problem for me is its always more of his family & I find them overwhelming & dominating, but to be fair, my family just aren't around & that's why I just want it to be our little nuclear family together :(

OP posts:
summerainbow · 16/10/2015 21:42

This what I would do
Christmas eve child birthday family freinds intived.
when he is older do half birthday so he can party with his school friends.

Christmas day just you nuclear family
boxing day or later in school days go to in laws have Christmas opening there when they older you don't have to have go. ( get a job so you have to work)

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