to be having a lovely Christmas at my in-laws?

[Notmytelescope]

Anyone else managing to have a lovely day with the MIL? Or is it just me that quite likes leaving the dramas of my own dysfunctional family for the calm, cosy generosity of the in laws? Xmas dinner is beginning to smell lovely and FIL is just about to liberate the bubbles. Kids are happily playing with their toys. I’m not trying to be smug but I can’t quite believe how other people do Christmas!

I have a lovely Christmas planned that involves my lovely PIL instead of inviting more drama with my family, who are OK individually, but as a whole, quite hard work.

Merry Christmas everyone

Same here. I spend Christmas with the in laws every years and it's drama free unlike my family

I'm having a great one at DP's brother's! There is a gorgeous 9 month old who is one of the happiest babies I've ever known. DP's dad is cooking a three meat roast and there is a massive hamper of nibbly things and I'm on the Bailey's!

You’re lucky, I haven’t spoken to a soul today

You sound grateful. Saying thank you for something is not smug it's shows appreciation and gratitude.

Happy Christmas and thank you for spreading a bit of Christmas cheer.

I'm glad you are having a lovely Christmas, it's coming to an end here in Australia and I have had a great day with my eldest son's new-ish in-laws. Our whole family were invited for lunch with their extended family and as we don't have family here I felt very grateful to have been included.

We're having Christmas in our own house but PIL called down to drop off presents. Watch the DD's play with their toys. Was lovely to see them for a wee while.

Absolutely YABU! Accordng to MN tradition, you should be arguing over something very trivial with your toxic MiL. Your DH should be totally unsupportive an the kids should be having a fist fight!

Glad you're having a lovely time.

My lovely in-laws here too.

drinking sherry and eating chocs at home with older son, youngest granddaughter and younger daughter. Tomorrow at older daughter's; younger son and wife on Saturday.

My lovely in laws are coming here any min. I love my family but I’ve not really fit anywhere with them since my mum died so now I have PIL we have a lovely day.

I’m already on the (very weak) gin.

Merry Christmas all.

She doesn’t sound smug she sounds grateful and happy.
Why rain on her parade.
Personally I am not having a great time, but life has it ups and downs.
I cling onto the hope that one day I will have happy christmases again. And ops post gives me hope!

Having a lovely day with my gorgeous, fun in laws!

Hello @bunbunbunny, I’m sorry if I sounded smug. I hope you are managing to find a nice way to pass the day? Its more a sense of surreal surprise that it can be this way after some of the crap in the past.

MIL is here, and we're having a grand time. I think it's like complaints, no one really says if they have a good experience somewhere, but will complain (quite rightly) if they don't.
I'm lucky enough to live a fairly calm life, having scraped off anyone who causes it not to be calm (I'm old and have had my fair share of crap in the past before I learned to get rid of horrible people) and I know lots of people have toxicity and drama in their lives through no fault of their own, so am grateful for this. You sound grateful too OP, enjoy your day.

It's just us until the weekend but then I get to see my lovely in laws. MIL is fantastic and I was friends with one of my amazing SILs before I married her brother. We are getting together for a family party and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. They have all been so supportive through my recent bereavement (my DM) and I can't wait to see them.

I'm pleased for you.

After a fallout with the in-laws in June they arrived here last night uninvited and unexpectedly.

I hugged them and said I was pleased to see them, FIL apologised to dd (teenager who he very badly insulted) and we all accepted his apology and had a nice evening.

They dropped in this morning too to see the kids.

Nope not at all as I am currently doing the same! Been to my dads this morning which was tolerable as a quick visit and now chilled out on the sofa with my feet up being waited on (currently 7 months pregnant and in laws won't let me do anything!!) and enjoying playing all the new toys with the kids and spending some real quality time with everyone! Such a nice relaxed atmosphere!

Sounds nice OP and not smug at all. Remember MN isn't a true representation of life with inlaws though.

Isn’t it more just that if things are going well, that people don’t need to talk about it? I always liked my pil, thought it crazy how several women I know got in a ‘you or them’ with their dh’s. Then things went sour with my pil and I realise how it happens. Glad you’re having a lovely day though, and you didn’t sound smug to me, just gracious.

I do leave my family drama at the door. It's mil who doesn't. She's invited us to a Boxing Day meal because she has plans with her dc Christmas Day. We accepted and was looking forward to the meal. She then rang back up and asked if my mum wanted to come too, because my mum is visiting over the Christmas period. My mum has a raging cold. She can't go back home because she lives over 230 miles away and anyway we're all happy for her to stay (me, DH and dm). My mum kindly declined the offer because she didn't feel like having a second big dinner round a strangers house when she's ill. DH passed the message onto mil and then mil called her a liar and asked DH if she was honestly telling the truth. DH said yes and then she called him a liar too. She then proceeded to say 'if she wants to be that petty then she can be. We're the bigger people for making the offer' she then hung up. I'm now dreading the dinner and I know there's going to be a massive atmosphere. I have bad anxiety and in very early stages of pregnancy. I'm so worried about this meal it's given me nervous poo's (if that's a thing?).

I just want an event free life

Im hosting my in laws today, have done all the cooking, it's a total pleasure. I'm really happy to have them here. No drama with my own family either, DPs are with my sister this year.

It's nice to post when things are going well, I wouldn't normally think of it.

My FIl is absolutely lovely, a complete and utter gentleman. Unfortunately all the rest of them are just like MIL.

PILs have just gone home after a lovely day. No drama, thoughtful gifts, good food, family games and laughter.....Now must summon the energy to ring DM who is considerably harder work

MN is full of nightmare IL stories, it's nice to even the balance somewhat.

I’m having a wonderful Xmas at PIL’s. MIL is a wonderful kind lady, and I feel very lucky to have such a good one (esp as my DM is a bullying Narc). I love Christmas with the ILs!