Cancel christmas this year ??

[familyiswhatmatters]

Hi I no it's early but last Christmas my parents, son,husband and I have decided to spend this Christmas in the heat and go to Spain and rent a villa for a couple of weeks . This didn't fair well with the in laws ( what ever does ) they started saying things like what about santa clause. Firstly my four year old doesnt give a stuff about santa or Christmas, he has never wanted or physically opened a present , and anyway gets a present or treats every 2 weeks from me and my husband. aibu to think fuck it santa won't come this year.I'm often referred to the Christmas grinch and don't put up a single decoration it's not like he doesn't get presents and I don't even think he'd notice /care if santa didn't come

I hate Christmas and often go away. Fuck em. Do what you and your family want to do.

I have no problem with going away for Christmas in general.

Have spent Christmas with my partner only in a foreign country a few times. Northern Europe and USA. Bloody loved it.

Your kid doesn't give a crap about presents because they're not even a treat. He gets them too regularly to appreciate the excitement.
Do what you want but it's a shame for your 4 year old that you can't be arsed to make an effort for no other reason than you seem to want to prove a point and annoy your in laws. Oh and Spain won't be hot!

"Anyone else read this in an Alan Rickman voice?"

Oh my, you're right, he has such a lovely voice too, Figaro2017,

That's a bit spiteful, Nicolas.

I've been to the south of Spain over Christmas and it was blissfully warm in the daytime. Cold and starry at night. Gorgeous.

Is your DS your in-laws' only grandchild? TBH they have a point - not even about not seeing their grandson at all over Christmas but that they can't even send a present for your DS to open.

I love Christmas whether at home or away but if you're happy to be referred to as the Christmas Grinch then that's your choice. I do feel sorry for your DS though; when he starts school you might find he gets quite upset at no Christmas celebrations without good reason. It's one thing for him to say "We don't celebrate Christmas because of our religion" but quite another to say "My Mum doesn't bother". 😳

Why can't you just placate your ILs with "Yes, Santa will know where to come" and offer to facetime them while ds opens his pressie?

So your son doesn't get to help decorate even a christmas tree? You do sound like you are making a point for no apparent reason.

'all the kids in school will be excited and he won't have a clue why'

What about kids that just don't celebrate Christmas? Sure I've had a few of the kids in my kids class tell them that Santa isn't real and that the parents buy the presents.

What's your husbands opinion?

"My Mum doesn't bother".

Is he going to just say his mum, not his dad as well? And he could equally say 'Over the break, my parents and I have a lovely holiday in the sun somewhere new.'

He's hardly the only child on earth who doesn't get to do Christmas or open presents. TBH I can't see why it all (particularly the 'Oh but he won't have anything to open!' stuff) gets so fetishised by some people.

We spend lots of christmas' in Spain as my IL's live there. It's sometimes warm ish, often not particularly. We really enjoy it, they have fab Xmas traditions such as Reyes at the beginning of Jan.
You sound like you're just trying to piss the IL's off tbh. Do whatever you want, no reason to be so bloody miserable though.

OP, do you think Christmas is not celebrated in Spain?
You will find Santa (Papá Noel) everywhere, and the Three Kings (Reyes Magos) and Christmas trees, and cards, and carols, and theatre and entertainment for kids, etc.
Depending on the area it can be warm during the day, if it is sunny, but chilly at night, with freezing temperatures almost every day...
I am originally from Valencia, holidays in the Costa Blanca, and I always find it odd that people tend to think that it is hot in Spain in winter. No, it is not, is sunny, can be warm at midday, but you need a coat, and the heating on every night.
And yes, we do Christmas. Full Christmas, from Dec 24th (Nochebuena) to Jan 6th (Los Reyes).
I'm afraid you won't be able to escape... unless you rent a villa in the middle of nowhere and don't go anywhere else during your stay.

Love the name. So family matters as long as it's yours and not your husband's? Lovely.

Valencia is where we spend Christmas every other year LaBrujaPiruja, we love it . We lived in Madrid for a couple of years too; they were cold Christmas's!

Sapphire The OP says "I'm known as the Christmas Grinch" rather than "DH and I" so yes, I expect the little ds will say "My Mum doesn't bother" or "My Mum doesn't like Christmas".

Assuming your ds is starting school this year then I'd be amazed if he doesn't come home talking about Christmas and asking when Santa's coming and can they put the Christmas tree up soon as everyone else has had theirs up since mid November.

The family across the street from us spent every Xmas away somewhere. The never had decs or a tree. They left a couple of days before Xmas and were home around New Years.

They managed to raise three fine children.

I can understand your iLs being upset that they won't see their grandchildren at Xmas though, especially since you're going away with your folks and excluding them.

He's really laid back and has never once asked about santa he doesn't like opening presents and avoids the fake santas in shopping centres at all costs holidays in general just annoy me due to the whole country coming to a sandstill and plus every holiday ds always gets sick and what happens no chemist or doctors open

Are you posting from your phone, OP?

So what happens if he gets sick in Spain then where I assume doctors and dentists will also be closed?

Yep why

I feel a bit sad that your DS doesn't get to feel the excitement of Christmas.

We're planning something similar, but as two adults with few responsibilities we don't have anyone grumbling about it.
YANBU, but I think that your post was unreasonably aggressive in its tone.

Doctors and chemist's closed for 2 whole days! It's a travesty I tells ya!

There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend Christmas abroad one year if that's what you want to do.
Sorry, but I do think it's utterly miserable never celebrating it all when you've got a 4 year old, who's never opened a present or asked for one (well, he wouldn't, would he, as he won't know any different!)