To want to stay at my own home next xmas

[Justonemorecuppa]

Fed up with my xmas day being dictated to by others. EXP saying when he will and won't have the boys round his, my family insisting on massive family xmas lunch that my 2 asd boys find overwhelming, only seeing DP (of 4 years) if I drive to his family's house as his mum insists on him staying there with DSS.
I know things could be worse but my xmas day was basically - couple of hours at home in morning then round to mum's for lunch/dinner plus pressies then dropping boys to their dad before driving over to DPs. I didn't actually get to sit and relax til about 8-9pm by which time i was knackered and just wanted to go to bed! It's like this ever year - Me and my kids traipsing round to everyone else. Granted my mum, their dad and DP mum all live within an hours drive so not massive distances but is besides the point.

WIBU to say next year - boys to see their dad xmas eve into xmas day morning then they're home where we're staying for the rest of the day. DP to bring his son round for xmas dinner and/or Evening nibbles. If people want to come round - welcome to (with notice) but I'm not going anywhere!

I'm planning the same next year. Will be me, DD(5) & a 6 month old baby; anybody who wants to interact with us (including my ex) can bloody well make the effort & come to us!!

If I didn't have kids i wouldn't even celebrate christmas; my days would be spent locked in my flat, with my duvet & a load of junk food, watching trashy telly on the sofa! At least if we stay home i can semi-replicate that with the kids

We stayed at home this year, no guests, just us, and it was absolutely glorious, I will never go back!
Our families are 4/5 hours and 9 hours away by car and until now we've always traveled, but I'm totally done with it now we've got children.
I can't recommend it enough!

We did.
Everyone seems to spend Christmas making other people happy. As a result, no one is happy.

Do it.

Had our first ever Xmas day at home yesteday. It was wonderful.... and we actually like to go to my folks / the in laws.

Think we'll be doing the same again next year.

Not a hope I'd do all that visiting. Have a quiet one with your boys next year.

We stay at home. I put my flot down when ds1 was tiny and we stay at home, both sets of grandparents come over for a couple of hours.

We do this every year.. and I wouldn't change it for the world.. indoors new pj's on and relaxing in our own home with the kids.. heaven

Yanbu when I was younger I was ferried all over the bloody place (divorced parents and had to see gps as well) I once fell asleep on the floor Xmas evening at my grandparents house I was so tired. Now as an adult I have an aversion to going anywhere on Christmas Day

We hosted last year but have stayed with parents this year for various reasons (new smaller (temporary) home and we’re living out of boxes etc, wife pregnant).

We’d decided before we’d arrived that next year we’ll offer to host and put up on 24th/25th/26th and both sides can dip in and out or stay as they see fit.

We know it’ll probably upset SIL as she still seems to think she’s 6 and everyone should stay at my in laws, but we really can’t be doing with that with two DC under three.

YANBU. We’ve done this for the past 3 years and it’s great. We will welcome people to pop in and are generous hosts but we are not going anywhere. DS11 gets overwhelmed and it’s our way of coping. I feel sorry for MIL/FIL as they usually end up travelling around but we’ve discussed it several times and they understand our reasons which I am thankful for.

This year MIL/FIL went to BIL/SIL for breakfast (1hour away) and spend time with them. Then came to us at 14:00 for lunch and evening. They only live 5 minutes away so DH drove them home so they could have drink whilst at ours if they wished. Who knows what will happen next year but I already know that we’ll be spending it in our own home.

Do it. We are at home this year after traipsing round all over the place or at home having to consider others for timings/menu. It was lovely and stress free!