To request Xmas turkey served before 7pm

[askingaquestion1]

Going to Xmas at my Dad's. He wants us to eat our turkey meal at 7pm because I think he wants the kids to be in bed so his meal isn't disturbed by the cherubs. I'd like to eat with the kids as think it's an important family tradition plus 7pm is too late to eat such a heavy meal. Kids range from 5 to 3 months. He says not possible to eat 4.30ish as turkey won't be cooked before then. Has he got an exceptionally poor oven or a very large turkey? Or is it just an excuse?!

Any other day of the year is be with him but honestly, excluding the children from Christmas Dinner is extremely weird and mean. Could you suggest an adult only civilised dinner on Boxing Day or Christmas Eve if it’s not too late?

In your shoes I’d have to say that, sorry dad but no. Even if he is hosting this is too mean.

Gamerchick we have a hearty brunch between 10 and 11, and there's Brie en croute, hummus, and leftovers from brunch to keep the wolf from the door in the interval.

asking

If you are coming a long way , the oven is going to be tiled up from.3/4 onwards fir this 700 meal. What exactly is he planning on feeding the kids, and when?

Weird. It’s a family meal be that little ones, drunk uncles, elderly parents that may fall asleep before pudding or random cousins with poor manners.
That’s the fun.

I don't blame him to be honest. I always have it as a dinner. Kids have theirs at 5ish together. I spend a lot of time trying to stop the 3yr old flinging his everywhere. I have mine alone (single parent) at around 8 where I can relax and enjoy it. That's how we eat normally anyway.

When they're older we'll eat together.

What exactly is he planning on feeding the kids, and when?

Could I suggest a big trough of baked beans, and some ketchup.

7pm is really late to eat, and I imagine the atmosphere might be weird/flat without the children.

It dosn't matter what time it is...leaving the kids out is awful...don't go again op ..let him have a tantrum...his fault.

We eat late, but not on Christmas Day! We eat Xmas dinner around 5pm. Don't have small children but when we did, it started around 4. I wouldn't eat that late with small kids, and I wouldn't be going if that was the time.

@Pfefferkuchen I don't think your guests will be very happy about that! I'd be very cross. As if you'd make your guests wait until what is a lot of people's bedtime for their evening meal?! I wouldn't be coming again and would have to leave by 8 or I'd feel ill!

I just wouldn’t go, I’d want to enjoy the day with my kids and I wouldn’t be able to do that if I felt they weren’t wanted.

Why don’t you and your brother take some nice children’s food and give it to them at their normal tea time so there’s a children’s meal and then they go to bed, you can sit with them and they won’t know there’s another one later and you enjoy both meals?

@grisen Even my 11 month old doesn’t eat until 8pm most days. Should be tucked up in bed by 6....7 at latest. Fed at 5

I’m curious, do they open their presents at 9 or 10pm then go to bed?

Nobody is that much of a twat to little kids.

Gamerchick we have a hearty brunch between 10 and 11, and there's Brie en croute, hummus, and leftovers from brunch to keep the wolf from the door in the interval.

So a meal (sorta), snack all day then a big meal when it's bedtime? It's back to front. But whatever makes you happy. I couldn't do that. There's no need to feel hunger on Christmas day.

As if you'd make your guests wait until what is a lot of people's bedtime for their evening meal?!

I do not know any adult whose "bedtime" is 9pm, especially the day before a bank holiday.

I wouldn't be coming again and would have to leave by 8 or I'd feel ill!
sounds weird, most people won't arrive before 8pm anyway, and pretty sure no one expect to sit down immediately for food they minute they take off their coats.

I've never been invited by anyone for diner before 7:30/8pm! How do you manage when you go to a wedding, the last one I went to didn't see the cake until midnight.

Mind you, I've never been invited for lunch at 3 or 4pm either!

Should be tucked up in bed by 6....7 at latest. Fed at 5
poor kid? He's not in hospital, why feeding them so early? No one likes to be awaken at 5am

I just wouldn’t go, I’d want to enjoy the day with my kids and I wouldn’t be able to do that if I felt they weren’t wanted

Plus the dinner time is gonna be a nightmare I couldn't be arsed to deal with.

Serve at 4.30/5 kids can eat and get down watch a movie between courses and go to bed fat full and exhausted if need be after around 7 where adults are free to do wtf they want.

Now Half the adults are going to be eating cold xmas dinner whilst leggings it up and down stairs dealing with kids who wont sleep in a strange house in a strange room smelling a roast being cooked without them..

I've never been to a wedding where you don't get fed until the evening.

I've never been to a wedding where you don't get fed until the evening.

most weddings I have been to had drinks and nibbles before diner, that's the whole point

I can imagine the atmosphere would be much more pleasant and civilised without the young children .

Surely it’s a bit late to be discussing it now? If you are guests you eat at the time the host suggests - or you host yourselves next year.

@SarahTancredi has hit the nail on the head.

Serve at 4.30/5 kids can eat

can they? Mine have their afternoon snack at 4, not sure how hungry they would be for diner served 1 hour later
If i have lunch at 1 which I tend to do, I wouldn't be too peckish either...

Has he specifically said it's because he doesn't want the children there?
8pm is our normal dinner time but will probably have Christmas dinner as a late lunch around 3 or 4 pm

I see it is a fair distance away. I think I’d go and cook the meal and serve it at 5 or something. Stuff what your dad wants.

Who would want to be clearing up after a big meal late on Christmas day as well!