Am I weird for wanting to spend Christmas in my own house?

[Coffeerun]

Every year I decline invitations from my mil and my dsis to spend Christmas Day at their houses.

I just like to spend Christmas at home with dh and the dc. I'm happy to have visitors if anyone feels the need but don't particularly want to host lots of people. Growing up Christmas was always at home with my mum, dad and siblings, didn't leave the house, that's how I love it.

Most people I know do seem to spend Christmas with extended family and there's usually some arguments over which set of parents they'll go to, or seating arrangements or who cooks.

It's my year to have the kids this year, the three of us will go to church in the morning, out for a pub lunch (no dirty dishes for me!), and then home to fall asleep in front of the telly.. I can't wait!! When I was with the ex there was always so much stress about who's turn it was to go to the in laws (we would try inviting them but no cigar) and the drama always ruined it for me.

Do what suits. We go to SILs but she has a disabled DD who needs her space. Then we hibernate from 26th. Lovely.
Was always just DM DF DSis DB when I was growing up, with the odd waif n stray who couldn't get home for Christmas. That was lovely too

DH has memories of having to leave his toys and being bored shitless in various relatives houses, so we've always stayed at home with the DD's.

I refuse to put a bra on or get out of my pyjamas, so it's just as well

We normally alternate between DH's parents (200 miles away) or mine (80 miles away).

Due to me being 39 weeks pregnant we are spending our first Christmas just the two of us at home. I can't wait! Will be lovely not to have to do any driving over Christmas and do to what we want.

Both sets of parents have made alternative arrangements with other relatives so no one's on there own.

Before moving in together we used to alternate between my parents and dh's parents. Once we had our own place we'd do Christmas eve with one set of parents and boxing day with the other and had Christmas day at home.

Since my mum died my dad spends Christmas day with us and we see dh's parents either Christmas eve or boxing day. There's no way I'm spending Christmas day rushing the dcs to open presents, eat, get dressed and travelling to see family. I have enough rushing round every day for school.

I always had Christmas at home instead of being dragged around the country to grandparents/family. When my dcs are grown I expect them to want to spend Christmas in their own home and as long as I see them at some point over the holidays I'll be more than happy. I'm actually quite looking forward to being able to spend the day quietly reading/watching TV.

This thread is making me feel so much better. Dh is refusing to go to MIL (200 miles) until the 26th (this is a comprimise). I was feeling guilty but posters are right, we have done the Christmas traipse every other year since ds was born (12 years ago).

I don't blame you, Coffee and I'm sure that many of us are more comfortable in our own homes if we were to admit it. Visits tend to be foisted upon us, don't they? It's nice that friends/relatives invite us to theirs but there's no place like home, even if you're on your own.

As a childless widow I always go to my sister's home and I'm reasonably comfortable there despite the noise (and grateful to be asked). It's so different from home. I take part in board games, quizzes, watching someone else's choice on telly, not allowed to wash up (though I try to sneak out to the kitchen from time to time). I stay from around 11 am to past midnight.

Boxing Day is a contrast and I enjoy that too - quietly recovering from the night before, (not pissed though) I put my feet up and enjoy the peace, just lolling about and pottering as usual in my own way.

Nice to hear I'm not the only one. People look at me like I'm crazy. We spend so much time with the family in the weeks anyway & we always had Christmas Day at home when I was little with just us, so now it's just me DP & our boys at home alone. We play games, build their toys & use it as a chance to have some quality family time just the 4 of us. As parents get older we will take it in turns to host but for the moment they still have their own little ones that they do Christmas Day with so it works well

YANBU. My DH and I are from military families and hated the Christmas travelling when we were younger. We're lucky that both sets of parents are close though.

This year we are staying at home. My dad is away on holiday, we told mil and Fil that we are at home and they were welcome however bil and his family have invited themselves to the inlaws this year (after having the morning in their own home). Inlaws are coming over to us in the morning for breakfast and to give the DC their presents. They will come to us with bil family on Boxing Day.

When I was growing up we stayed somewhere very inaccessible so it was always just our immediate family and my dad's mum who came to stay for a week. Compared to my DH's family (who had a huge extended family around) it seemed a bit quiet, boring and insular!

I like a crowd at Christmas so now our siblings have all got kids, DH & I like to mix it up a bit....some years everyone comes to ours, some times we all go to my SILs, this year we're going to my parents. The kids love seeing their cousins & the adults always have a great laugh together.

I really hope that in the future my own children will feel the same and will want to include me in their Christmas plans. I'd be gutted if they all wanted to be on their own with their families and didn't want to see us!

This will be our first time at home as a family and I'm looking forward to it but do feel guilty too. We moved over 200 miles this year, my mum has mental health issues and can't leave the home and my in laws work for the church. We used to get up, go to one set and then go to another set and then home late. Have been doing so for over 10 years and I think it will be quite relaxing staying at home. I know that our parents are a bit upset by this but I think that I wouldn't mind my kids wanting to stay at home in the same situation.