To think that the government's idea will start family rows that will go on for years?

[bigbirdsmate]

Having to choose r families to spend these precious bloody days with. So people will have to hurt each other all over the place. Choosing between spending time with one partners parents or the other. Choosing which kids to spend it with. It's bollocks, I'd much rather carry on with lockdown. I don't want to call any of our families because I can't bare the hurt and the aftermath of saying maybe we can't choose them.
Fuck off virus

Agree completely. Keep lockdown and January will not be shit which it will be if everyone gets together 24-27th December.

I don't doubt that it will.

Though probably won't affect Mr Johnson as his older children apparently are 'team mum' as it were.

It’s literally one Christmas. Don’t you normally have to choose between families anyway? It’s not like you’re making a decision that will stand for the rest of your lives, there’s just no need for the dramatics!

Probably right. People should be grateful they have so many loved ones to pick from if they are in that situation. And maybe think of those who have none. But likely they won’t be feeling fortunate and grateful, will fall out with each other all over the place!

It’s a bloody nightmare already.

I wish I could be less dramatic about it Wicker. It's not quite the same though is it. We'd usually see everyone over a few days. Haven't seen my dad since May but mum will be alone if we don't see her. I don't even care and don't want to see anyone but it's all the bloody feelings being hurt.

So what do you suggest than ,this virus is a nightmare for everyone ,but at least there are some positives now with the vaccines hopefully life will start getting back to normal once they are rolled out.

Not here, we had a sensible adult discussion with our family, who like us agree that forgetting the months of restrictions we have had and will have after Xmas, in order to make believe that the virus will go to sleep for a magical 5 day period is stupid.

So we will be meeting people outside for a socially distanced walk and present exchange.

We will still laugh and smile, talk to each other, tell them how much we love them, enjoy spending time together. We just won't do it in a way that puts them at risk.

Just do what you were going to do anyway. If you want to stay at home invent a nice 14 day isolation for yourself starting 20th December.

Dressing great idea!!!

Haha, I thought that.

It wouldn't actually be a problem for us as we only ever spend Christmas with my sister's family and my parents anyway, but I can see this being very difficult for some families.

Ironically, even though it will be permitted under the rules, we won't be mixing with anyone anyway as both parents and dsis are shielding!

Nope. My parents are dead and we had already invited PIL to us for Christmas this year. I'm pleased that we can still go ahead.

People need to be sensible. If there’s four households, do two and two and Zoom each other, instead of leaving one out. I don’t see the need for drama and hurt feelings.

It's been like that for me ever since my parents separated. I'm an only child and once did the two dinners in one day. One of my parents even has a birthday right next to Christmas to make it harder.

My family is o/s but I was pondering it today as we are quite a big family. I reckon we’d not get together as leaving someone out would be hard.

My mum is trying to get me to wade in on a family argument, I've told her no!

My thoughts exactly. I know my brothers family will choose to see his in laws because they always get priority anyway and given that we’re likely to be in a tier 3 area we won’t get to see them at all in December. My young son won’t get to have any family over for his birthday let alone a birthday party. Covid sucks massively!!!

Well since I’ll be on my own the whole time, I’m afraid I can’t be overly sympathetic to people who have too many people who want to see them I’m afraid.

You’re all adults. Have a sensible adult conversation to make sure everybody sees somebody. Or tell them you won’t decide so aren’t going to see anyone. It’s only a drama if you make it one.

I'm with you, OP. I'm also worried that those 5 days are going to cause a huge rise in the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths. I'd rather everyone was just told to write off Xmas this year and stay home.

My Dad is in his 70s and I don't want to risk his health, even through I've not seen him since February. This year has been miserable, hasn't it.

I don't think this is enforceable and I think many people will just ignore it. How are they going to keep track of people are mixing with different households.

I do think some people like to create drama. I also suspect the vast majority of people will completely ignore it.

What do you suggest then, my kids who I haven't seen since September stay for Christmas in a bedsit? That they can't see their dad and their mum (they are 19, barely adults). We will be having dc around because their mental health trumps everything, and for longer than 5 days

I can well imagine the arguments / discontent / AIBU posts already. People are under such prolonged stress that for many the decisions surrounding this will be the straw that breaks the camels back. Even just in my own family I can see the difficulties that will arise when my parents are faced with the choice of which adult dc they should bubble with under the new eligibility criteria (we both have children under the age of one). As objective and mature about it as I try to be, I will certainly be sad / hurt if they choose to bubble with my sibling, just as my sibling will be sad if they choose to bubble with me. I guess the fairest way would be to bubble with no-one, and I know it is a small complaint amidst the wider devastation that this virus has caused, but still a source of potential distress or arguments. And that is just one example.

Honestly, adults can surely pull their socks up and behave like adults!!

I'm about to have a conversation with my sister in law to work it all out. We will go with the flow.

If my brother and his partner come up they will see my parents and then we will probably see in laws and my sister in law will probably see her in laws.... Who even knows hut one thing I do know, none of us will be falling out about it!!

You do know that they arent forcing households to mix dont you?

Just stay at home.

The fewer people that traipse in and out of each others houses, the sooner life might get back to normal...

Im fed up of people who bitch about the virus, and then bitch that they can't go and visit the 100 people they normally see over christmas. Its one Christmas.