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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

The want to go abroad next Christmas?

24 replies

Escapenextyear · 25/12/2018 19:42

Away from it all.
im thinking of booking something as soon as I can .
Mostly due to petty family stuff. MIL being jealous of my parents coming over despite her saying she doesn’t celebrate Christmas and having always turned down my invite on previous years. I’m now the devil who doesn’t want her to see her son at Xmas and my DP won’t stand up for me.
DSIS crying because my mum and dad are coming over and she ‘wasn’t invited’ despite her living 100 miles away and already telling me , weeks ago she was having an Indian meal with her DP.
I can’t win and now I hate Christmas!

OP posts:

Whataboutbobbo · 25/12/2018 19:44

I would do it. Definitely. Christmas in the sun. Bliss.

Thehop · 25/12/2018 19:45

I used to love Christmas abroad as a kid. I’d love to do it now

Redtartanshoes · 25/12/2018 19:45

Yep thinking about it too. Don’t know where however.

I visited my sis in Dubai at the beginning of the month. Temp was lovely there

CrispbuttyNo1 · 25/12/2018 19:50

“DSIS crying because my mum and dad are coming over and she ‘wasn’t invited’ despite her living 100 miles away and already telling me , weeks ago she was having an Indian meal with her DP.”

To be fair that sounds like a hint for an invite from her..

MegFlyAway2 · 25/12/2018 19:50

I’m single and spent 2 christmases in a row in south east Asia. Think I’m definitely going back to that next year! Too depressing being at home when Christmas is family orientated and I would love to have one.

countrygirl99 · 25/12/2018 19:55

TBH anywhere with no phone signal or broadband would do right now.

FleurNancy · 25/12/2018 20:02

We've done the last two christmases abroad (me, DH and DC x 3) and have already booked to go away next year. It's a good time for us to get away but does typically involve either cooking your own Christmas meals in an unfamiliar kitchen without really knowing what supplies you'll be able to get or eating out. Good excuse to depart from the traditional turkey roast either way but can be a bit of a gamble. We eat out as I hate thinking about cooking and meal prep on hols but that does mean dealing with Other People. If we went somewhere suitable (ie skiing) then I would def consider a catered chalet. We did a skiing hol last year, non skiing snow hol this year and beach hol booked for next year. Might stay home in 2020 but who knows!!

Unescorted · 25/12/2018 20:06

We are having our third one away..... It is awesome. No stress or expectation. DC are currently doing the washing up for my present. Other than that no presents or turkey. Kids will get them when we get back.

glitterysparklesandthings · 25/12/2018 20:18

What do you do about Christmas presents for kids when you're away Christmas Day?

Unescorted · 25/12/2018 20:24

Do them before or after.

Number17 · 25/12/2018 20:27

I did that last year but don't think I'd do it again. I loved escaping family gift giving but it just didn't feel like Christmas and I missed our Christmas dinner. We also got the tail end of storm in SE Asia and Christmas day itself was a wash out which was pretty miserable.

FleurNancy · 25/12/2018 22:49

What do you do about Christmas presents for kids when you're away Christmas Day?

So my kids have pretty small stockings so they get those as usual with everything wrapped and sorted before we go and hidden in bland carrier bags in a suitcase. They also got a couple of small presents off their lists from us but were prewarned that we wouldn't be able to bring back any large presents from Santa due to luggage allowance so will get those when we get home. They had their presents from my family before we went as mostly clothes and activity things so wanted to bring with them. You just have to be super prepared and a bit more cunning than usual!!

Badmoonsarising · 25/12/2018 22:57

We usually go away but kids wanted to stay home for a change - and we did have a lovely relaxing day. Still missed the sun a bit.

IWantMyHatBack · 25/12/2018 23:00

I've got a really strong urge to take my kids and run away to a gorgeous place next Christmas. A lovely (v annoying) friend has just spent Christmas in Sydney..

Badmoonsarising · 25/12/2018 23:11

What do you do about Christmas presents for kids when you're away Christmas Day?

Be selective, we pack light anyway - we leave half a suitcase free for the kids presents. Helps that older kids presents tend to be smaller.

SushiMonster · 26/12/2018 00:16

Yeah do it. I’ve been abroad probably 1/4 of all christmases. Either hot and sunny, or skiing.

Love a sunny beach Christmas.

SushiMonster · 26/12/2018 00:18

What do you do about Christmas presents for kids when you're away Christmas Day?

Take a stocking so that Father Christmas can still come, and one or two small in size things to unwrap.

It’s easy if your children are older and wanted something small but expensive.

The rest gets opened on your return which helps cheer up the back to Blightly blues.

macmacaroon · 26/12/2018 00:40

We are definitely going away next Christmas. MIL only came round for 30 mins to drop presents off for DCs before going to visit DSIS. She managed to fit in two withering bitchy comments in that time which preempted an argument between DH and me. She is a venomous woman who seems to despise me so want to be as far away as possible. Thinking of Dubai.

ruby1234 · 26/12/2018 02:35

I’m currently Christmassing in Thailand. Fab weather, lovely beach. Definitely recommend!

Maryjoyce · 26/12/2018 02:39

I’m in Thailand too ruby

GemmeFatale · 26/12/2018 03:13

Do it

Leave DP with his mother though

NameChangeOhNameChange1 · 26/12/2018 03:33

Do it. This is my current view. (Albeit I'm here on a work trip)

chocolateavocado99 · 26/12/2018 03:53

Also in Thailand. This is our fourth xmas in a row abroad. Love it. I am not sure how I would cope with all the chaos that goes with a Christmas at home.
The dcs know that the trip is part of their present. We tend to not buy a lot for them, but do have a small tree that we take with us and set up a few presents. Stockings are put out for FC to fill. It helps that in this heat you wear a swimsuit / shorts everyday and you don't need to fill a suitcase each.
We also avoid a traditional xmas dinner as we know it won't be the same. Last night we had a sushi feast as ds loves Japanese food.

Mumski45 · 26/12/2018 06:18

This is our second Xmas spent skiing in Italy and I would definitely do it again. We were on the slopes from 8:30am - 5pm yesterday so no cooking clearing away washing up at all. Having a fab holiday having done all presents before we came away. However xmas has always been a bit low key for us as DH and 2DS are Muslim. I'm not however and have kept it going in a limited way but it is refreshing to be free of all the hype and expectation and also the over commercialisation such as Xmas eve boxes, elf on a shelf etc.

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