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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not invite ex in-laws to xmas

67 replies

SocialNiceties · 11/09/2018 10:59

This year i will be having Xmas day at my house with my 2 kids , first time post divorce. Agreement is exh and i alternate years having Xmas at our homes, other parent comes for Xmas day.

Last year we weren't divorced but in process of unbeknownst to kids; his parents hosted, lot of usually distant family around, i went for xmas and boxing day, then left them to it. This year its my turn to have kids for xmas. In my new home. I have to have exh, fine, but i don't really want to have to invite the ex-inlaws as well.

For context, 80% of xmases past we have spent with ex inlaws at either their or our house( 20% of xmases with my family who live far away). When we were married the Ex in laws always invited the only member of my family who lives near me when they hosted xmas as well. Ex in laws have no other children locally but have extended family a bit further away.

I feel like the "right thing" to do is invite them, but i just don't want them there, i will end up being cranky and on edge and not enjoy the day which is first post divorce. Even if i just invited for lunch they will turn up crack of dawn and stay until the death and dominate the day with my exh there too; and i think it will set a precedent that they expect to come every time i have xmas.

I expect the exh will be outraged if i don't invite them and bring up that they have always invited my family member to their house when they hosted and that i am stopping them to see their gkids on xmas day and what /who will they some Xmas with

OP posts:
Fiveletters · 11/09/2018 11:04

God no. No chance I would let them in my house on Xmas day! I wouldn’t let my ex husband in either though! Would it not be better to alternate and have completely separate christmases?

You are not being unreasonable in the slightest. If he doesn’t like it, he can go to their house.

Honeypickle · 11/09/2018 11:05

Why do you have to invite your ex-h? Surely the point of getting divorced is to start leading separate lives? Can't he have the DC at his parents house on a different day - Christmas Eve or Boxing Day? You will have to start doing alternative Christmases - but that means with your ex too. Or split the day somehow? Sadly that does mean some years you won't see your children on some of Christmas Day - but at least you won't have to see him or the in-laws!

Aquamarine1029 · 11/09/2018 11:14

I think you should rethink the whole damn thing. Having your ex over all day is just ridiculous. Instead of alternating houses every year, I think you should alternate what happens on Christmas day. For example, this year you have the children in the morning, then they can be with their father and his family for dinner. Next year is the opposite.

You're divorced. It's time to rebuild your life and create new traditions. Your ex-in-laws don't belong in that equation.

SocialNiceties · 11/09/2018 11:15

I expect the arrangement will change over time, but right now that what it is.

OP posts:
justilou1 · 11/09/2018 11:21

Nope! New life = New Rules!!!

Honeypickle · 11/09/2018 11:37

Why don't you say to your ex-h either he joins you on his own or you'll have to split the day?

SocialNiceties · 11/09/2018 11:39

@Honeypickle i think that is a good suggestion if he kicks off about it

OP posts:
Honeypickle · 11/09/2018 11:42

Fingers crossed for you!

Havaina · 11/09/2018 11:43

I expect the arrangement will change over time, but right now that what it is.

It really doesn't have to be. Are you worried about next Christmas when ex will have the kids?

You shouldn't, you could have your own Christmas with DC on Boxing Day or the day after.

And I definitely wouldn't have ex in laws.

Ex can be outraged. The good thing is you no longer have to give a shit as you're divorced.

VimFuego101 · 11/09/2018 11:51

I think you need to rethink this arrangement. What happens when one of you gets a new partner and wants to include them in Christmas Day too?

Disfordarkchocolate · 11/09/2018 11:51

It would never have even crossed my mind to invite my ex in laws! It's your house and your new life. He can see his parents on Christmas Day on 'his' years. I can't see this arrangement lasting too long after new partners come on the scene but making the best of it for now doesn't involve Christmas Day with your ex in laws.

Bluelady · 11/09/2018 11:56

You need to change the format and change it now. You have Christmas Day with your kids, your ex and his parents have theirs with them on Boxing (or another) day. Your kids will get really confused otherwise.

HollowTalk · 11/09/2018 11:56

Can I ask why you split up? That would make a difference to me (though I still wouldn't want the in laws there. That would be very strange.)

mummmy2017 · 11/09/2018 11:59

Tell him you have had a rethink..
Split the day... Remember this will benefit you as well.
One has xmas eve with the children... No sleep over..
Bed time they come home...
You get morning. Breakfast.... Gifts..
Collected about midday...
Go to his parent's for lunch at about 7
He brings them home...
Boxing day you have children.
Next year swap rolls.

moredoll · 11/09/2018 12:04

I'd invite them to lunch making it clear it's lunch only. The arrangement will evolve over time.

Disfordarkchocolate · 11/09/2018 12:05

I wouldn't recommend splitting the day in the future, unless you have a good relationship the whole day is spent knowing the children are leaving soon. I know how hard it is not to see your children on Christmas Day but you can make another day a special day where you make new traditions.

Havaina · 11/09/2018 12:05

Yes, if he has a partner by next December, you may find yourself uninvited to Christmas OP.

serbska · 11/09/2018 12:06

I would not be sharing the day with ex at my house!

You take one day, he gets the other. Swap each year.

Starlight345 · 11/09/2018 12:11

It truly depends on the relationships with ex how to do Christmas but no to il’s . Yes what when you get another partner.

The fact your ex will kick off if he doesn’t get his own way makes me think you are really not able to do Christmas Day together

RaspberryRuffless · 11/09/2018 12:14

I have my ex inlaws for an hour or so on Xmas morning, along with ex and his partner. But our split was fairly amicable and we still mostly get on. Think it depends on the relationship you have with them. We see them fairly regularly throughout the year anyway. But my ex and I don't have an arrangement of having our son each year. He's happy to visit then spend the day with his partner and her family. So ex inlaws coming here is the only way they'd see him on Xmas day.

LusaCole · 11/09/2018 12:15

Definitely no to ILs!

MiggledyHiggins · 11/09/2018 12:16

They aren't your inlaws any more. They would uninvite you in a heartbeat if their DS brought a new girlfriend to Xmas dinner.

BrendasUmbrella · 11/09/2018 12:16

Only agree to split the day if it will be honoured the years that he has them too.

Is it in your legal agreement to spend Christmas Day together? That sounds odd to me.

mummmy2017 · 11/09/2018 12:16

If you agree to xmas, then Easter and birthday will be next..
NO sort it now.

TuckMyWin · 11/09/2018 12:24

There are a lot of people projecting their own relationships on to this thread. I think if the OP and her ex can tolerate each other at Christmas for one day, for the benefit of the children, that's great. Otherwise the children would either not see one parent at Christmas, or have to travel half way through Christmas Day. That said OP, I think that you get to set new rules regarding his parents. You are hosting Christmas Day, not him, so you get to invite who you like. Will he be inviting your parents to his Christmas Day next year (for example, if they chose to come and visit you)?

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