To wonder what a ‘big family christmas’ would be like?

9 replies

2anddone · 13/12/2017 23:09

When I was growing up it was always me, mum, sdad, sister and Nan on Christmas Day and we would see the rest of mums side of the family on Boxing Day (though there was only 4 of them and mum moaned the whole time).
Sdad didn’t have any family living in this country so we never saw them at Christmas.
Bio-dad was awol from my 8th birthday and none of his side of the family contacted us either.
When I got my own place it was just me and (now x) h until our dc arrived then it was just the 4 of us.
My parents live abroad in the winter so they aren’t here for Christmas. Xh parents totally blank me and the children so we don’t see them ever (but that’s a whole different thread!)
Xh ‘comes home’ for Christmas (Christmas Eve to Boxing night) and has ever since he moved out 5 years ago so it’s still just the 4 of us (luckily we get on ok!).
I have never had the ‘big family christmas’ I read about in here or see on tv. AIBU to wonder what it would be like, I would probably hate it but it might be nice just for one year!?!

OP posts:

SprogletsMum · 13/12/2017 23:13

I suppose our Christmas would qualify now as a big family Christmas. On Christmas day the 6 of us go to my mum's. My mum, her boyfriend, my aunt, my brother, my sister and my niece and nephew are there so 13 of us all tog ether. Then boxing day we go to my nan's for a Christmas day with my dad. There will be 16ish of us there.
It's mostly very loud and chaotic but we all enjoy ourselves.

MsVestibule · 13/12/2017 23:13

We have them and they’re OK. Sometimes I have 11 for Christmas Day and I normally enjoy it, despite the occasional falling out before or after. But TBH, you’re not missing that much!

ladystarkers · 13/12/2017 23:16

Usually just the six of us, dh, me and 4 dcs. Love it.

Amanduh · 13/12/2017 23:16

I absolutely love it. There are a lot of us from babies to great gramdparents. It's all presents and warmth and laughter and food and well, it's just bloody brilliant. My absolute favourite time of the year and we eat, drink and are merry. It's loud and loving and perfect.

However there are just as many people that have them and they are overcrowded, miserable, bickering borefests full of family feuds and present wars so... depends on the family I suppose. I'd say just be glad to be with the ones you've got

Original poster

2anddone · 13/12/2017 23:16

I think that’s it I wonder what I am missing out on...when with my family it would be mum taking over in the kitchen, sdad morning dinner was too rushed

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DailyMailDontStealMyThread · 13/12/2017 23:16

It’s always just me, DH and DC as we have no family either side.

It’s lush and I don’t feel like I’m missing anything and get a breakfrom work drama.

Win win

Original poster

2anddone · 13/12/2017 23:16

Moaning not morning!!

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Myneighboursnorlax · 13/12/2017 23:20

There’s 21 at our family Christmas. It’s chaotic. There’s too many people to be able to have proper conversations with everyone. There’s not enough time to enjoy watching people opening their presents, they’re all opened simultaneously. There’s also only one bathroom, haha.

jo10000 · 13/12/2017 23:23

It's manic, expensive and fun. Also can be tense at times. The key is to have young children every year because then the magic is always there, which we mostly have, (nephews, cousins kids, cousins kids kids etc). We have family lunch of about 12 and then up to 30 for the evening, it's always musical chairs trying to find a seat (so someone goes for a drink and loses seat til some else goes for food etc), present giving goes on til about 9pm, then half the group play cards for pennies (10ps and 50ps in recent years) which finishes in Last Jack. Expensive cos I usually get a present for everyone. Fun as it's great. I really love my family Chrustmas, it's been such a tradition and I'm so grateful.

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