Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect AC to contribute to xmas?

331 replies

Sandygran · 28/12/2019 16:37

We've just had my adult daughter, her husband and 3 children staying for 5 nights over Christmas.
We provided all the food and drink for all of us for every meal, including the Christmas dinner of course. They were welcome to it and it was lovely to have them. It wasn't until they had gone that I thought "Gosh, when we used to say with my in-laws when our kids were young, we would provide the turkey and take drinks with us and we only stayed one night!"
Have times changed or should they have made a contribution or at least offered to take us out for a meal one night? (They are well off btw , and could easily afford to contribute).

OP posts:
NorthernLightsInWinter · 28/12/2019 19:17

My SIL did nothing and FIL the same. My SIL has never hosted Christmas- I don't think they have any idea of what it costs and how much effort goes into it.

hahahaha Yes they do. It's why they don't do it themselves.

AhNowTed · 28/12/2019 19:21

It has nothing to do with relative wealth. It's just plain common sense and manners, and not taking the ILs for granted.

As a DIL travelling from UK to Ireland with DH and 2 kids, yes my PIL provided all food.

But we provided all wine and spirits over the length of the stay, takeaways on the rare occasion my MIL didn't cook for us, and left flowers at a minimum as a thank you.

pottypotamus · 28/12/2019 19:22

I think if you'd like them to contribute in the future, tell them.

We all went to my sisters for Xmas dinner and stayed the night. But we'd arranged beforehand that she would do the veggies and side dishes, we'd being meat and dessert and my brother would bring cheese and nibbles for later.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 28/12/2019 19:23

I think it's about resetting expectations. You may have provided everything in the past but it's not like that is how it will always be and actually it can make Christmas quite special to feel like you are all helping or chipping in. In-laws hosted this year - we were in charge of puddings. We made a Christmas pudding which the children enjoyed doing at end of nov. We also bought a Christmas Colin caterpillar thing which the children liked and an another Yule log. My husband made some mince pies with the youngest to take as well.
My SIL and her partner was in charge of fizz and cheese.
They got a full cheese stack thing which caused much amusement.
We all felt we contributed and my husband and me helped on the day as sous chefs to the in-laws.
We visited my Dad and step mother on Boxing Day. Step mother cooked but we bought a bottle of champagne and the remainder of the puddings.
Money isn't tight for any of these families but it is polite

Ema39 · 28/12/2019 19:23

This is how the richer get richer. Smile

MondeoFan · 28/12/2019 19:24

I don't think they should provide anything, if you're hosting you pay for that yourself

Earslaps · 28/12/2019 19:24

Yes, they should bring something if they can afford to.

We went to PIL's this year and MIL got all the food, we did a shop there and bought lots of booze. Plus I did 90% of the cooking. And we took FIL to the cinema.

If they've had to come a long way though, there will have been petrol costs. Probably cost us about £40-£50 in diesel to get there and back, so it wouldn't necessarily be fair to expect guests to go halves on costs.

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 28/12/2019 19:24

I always offer of going to my parents or PIL, but it's always declined. I tend to take a bottle or two of champagne to have with dinner and will often bake or make dessert if going to my family as DF says he doesn't miss the mess in the kitchen but he does miss my baking. Of course we always take gifts.

AhNowTed · 28/12/2019 19:25

@pottypotamus

You were on an overnight and still went with something.

The OP is talking abut 5 nights and 5 people and they brought fuck all!

NomNomNomNom · 28/12/2019 19:27

It has nothing to do with relative wealth. It's just plain common sense and manners, and not taking the ILs for granted.

I think it does depend a bit on relative wealth and the closeness of the relationship. When I was just out of uni and had no money it was all I could afford to travel home for Christmas. If I had to share the cost of the meal too I just wouldn't have been able to come (especially since my parents would have bought everything top of the range from Waitrose which wasn't within my budget). I would know they would never accept it anyway and would rather not offer.

If I went to stay with Bil and Sil for Christmas I would definitely offer to contribute though (I doubt they'd accept money but I could offer to provide all the wine) - especially if they hosted every year.

NomNomNomNom · 28/12/2019 19:29

I do know a few people though who revert back to their teenage selves when they go back to their parents (but are well mannered and considerate elsewhere) - my brother and his wife being a prime example. Sit on their arse for all their stay and never offer to lift a finger or do anything useful at all.

ginghamstarfish · 28/12/2019 19:30

Rude, family or not. If they were brought up like this then a bit late to complain about it, if not then they need a sharp reminder next year, or ask them to host you.

MrsDilligaf · 28/12/2019 19:34

We stayed with my parents for four days over Christmas and I ordered a Waitrose delivery for 23rd, which was everything you could need for Christmas (foodwise) aside from the meat. It was our contribution towards an expensive few days.

There is no way I would have gone empty handed, and not been prepared to muck in.

It's been the other way too; We've hosted and DP's have contributed to the festive feast. On the other hand Dsis and BIL are tight arses...you're lucky if they bring a bottle of lambrini.

pottypotamus · 28/12/2019 19:36

@AhNowTed
That's why I think she should ask them all to bring something each next year. If this has been happening for years, people just expect it to keep happening.
Next year OP should say X, Y, Z would you mind bringing this, and that. Sorry but I haven't had time blah.
It's sad, but some people need to be told clearly and don't have the sense to think to be helpful in any way whatsoever. Doesn't have to be in a nasty way.
And if the 5 nights is too much, say that you've got plans.

christma5isover · 28/12/2019 19:36

It's very individual. My parents would absolutely not expect nor accept any sort of contribution. Perhaps your DC felt you wouldn't accept one.

heroineinahalfshell · 28/12/2019 19:39

We had in-laws and a friend over for Xmas. Friend brought a bottle of fizz, and ILs insisted on bringing the Xmas puds, as well as all of FILs special gluten free crackers and mince pies (we did provide GF cereal and bread for him). It's just good manners. I would never expect a financial contribution tho, I find that weird.

My mum on other hand, spent 10 days with us last Xmas/NY (she lives abroad). She didn't contribute to any groceries the whole trip (other than buying herself olives and a bottle of wine and not sharing either), and eventually I gave up waiting for her to offer and asked her to cook dinner one night (which I bought ingredients for). She's a really good cook but she just seems to treat us like a hotel while she's here, not cleaning up after herself or offering any help. Drives me potty.

peardrops1 · 28/12/2019 19:40

My parents would never expect me to bring stuff when I visit them, and never let me pay for anything! I agree it depends on family dynamics. And maybe if/ when I have kids of my own it'll be different.

Goatinthegarden · 28/12/2019 19:40

My mum always says no when I offer to bring or contribute anything, but we still always turn up with several bottles of wine, tins of biscuits, boxes of chocs etc.

Good manners should extend to your ‘rents.

sam221 · 28/12/2019 19:41

I had/have family over, provide all food and drinks-the younger adults who are all foodies, literally do all the cooking. It really is very lovely, they sort of take over, do all the cleaning,tidying as their contribution(if you see what I mean)
Your daughter should have at least taken you out for a meal or flowers-just something to acknowledge your effort!
If am invited anywhere I always take a hosts gift, flowers,champagne or chocolate.

CaveyWavey · 28/12/2019 19:45

I think that's rude and would never expect my family of 5 to be provided for even if parents had invited us. My DD and his DW live abroad and when we visit (once at christmas) we take gifts, things they can't get abroad. We pay for all the supermarket shops during our stay. They have never asked for this but are very appreciative. They do all the cooking and we do all the clearing up. They don't ask anything of us as they are so pleased to see us but we appreciate the hard work that goes into hosting. We have hosted regularly over the years and similarly have close relatives that do not contribute. In my experience, those that don't contribute or offer help do not host and take every invite they get! Does your DD host? if not, maybe they don't realise the cost and effort?

AhNowTed · 28/12/2019 19:46

@NomNomNomNom

I think you may have missed the point of the thread.

We're not talking about our in-uni or post-uni adult children. I have a 25 yr old in his first job living at home and a 21 year old still in uni. I wouldn't expect anything from them.

This is about a daughter/son with their partners and 3 children staying for 5 days and have contributed absolutely nothing. Not even a couple of bottles of wine.

edwinbear · 28/12/2019 19:55

They are outstandingly rude. We hosted in laws this year, they sent us a financial contribution via bank transfer (this was neither asked for, nor expected), MIL also converted her years worth of Nectar points into Sainsbury’s vouchers and sent them, plus they turned up with a dozen or so bottles of wine/champagne. Extraordinarily generous and we were very grateful as DH was made redundant in Nov. They also took us out for a pub dinner one evening to save me cooking.

We’ve invited ourselves to theirs for next year and assuming DH is back in work, I would look to do very similar. It’s basic manners. I wouldn’t dream of turning up to a dinner party without a bottle of wine, let alone a 5 day stay!

CanIHaveADrink · 28/12/2019 19:58

To those wondering if I asked in advance - no I didn't. We are not hard up and I wouldn't like them to feel they had to contribute

My parents are the same. I would never propose to participate to the cost because I know full well my parents wouldnt want me to. Probably for the exact same reason than you!!
And I suspect your dd knows very well you wouldnt want to feel they are proposing because they have to. Which is why she doesn’t propose.

Imo, you’ll have to decide what you want!!

Secnarf · 28/12/2019 19:59

Since having our own home, we generally host Christmas for whatever extended family do not have other plans.

We wouldn’t expect contributions to the food for the main meal, and in fact, I actually find it less stressful to not have other people clogging up the kitchen. Also, I’ve found that offers to bring things are not reliable, so you either end upward too much, nothing, or at a point in the day that throws your prep timings off! Less stressful and more predictable to buy yourself.

What is more helpful for me (and indeed is a a Godsend) is if anyone is happy to wash the roasting tins afterwards, or empty the dishwasher in between loads, or to keep people topped up with drinks/snacks so I am free to continue prepping and serving dinner or I can put my feet up afterwards.

What happened when I was younger, was that my Mum and her two sisters took turns to host Christmas. No contributions required from anyone. Someone else would host Boxing Day. Over a few years it just evened out.

We’ve sort of taken on the mantle of Christmas by default. We don’t mind the expense. We can afford it, and it is the best way to facilitate getting the whole family together. We always had crazy Christmases when I was a child with the whole extended family plus various friends with no place to go. The ‘core’ family (siblings and cousins) love music, and we always ended up singing round the piano. It was one of the few times in the year that we could sing things in multiple parts, as we had enough people. Even people who said they were ‘non-singers’ were often drawn into the fun.

That’s Christmas for me. We have one child, and will not be able to have another. My brother and my sister have emigrated abroad, as have two cousins. The ones remaining in the country now have family of their own, and are rightly building their own traditions. The generation above are not getting any younger. I am going to have to get used to quieter Christmases, so taking the opportunity to indulge in crazy big gatherings whilst we still can.

kmammamalto · 28/12/2019 20:05

It feels like lots of people on here have missed the fact that they stayed for 5 days!!! It's not just the Christmas lunch that was in need of a contribution! They absolutely should have taken you out or done a shop. There's no way that I would have done this to either my parents nor DHs.