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

Nope, we've just had a family zoom and agreed who is joining up with who and everyone seems happy. Its not perfect but everyone gets to see some people in their family or inlaws.

Also talked about rough idea for for possible next meet up (Easter? ) and next Christmas... So people that don't get to see each other this year will next if still in some type of lockdown if allowed.

This is where I'm glad I'm not close to my siblings and neither is DH. We'll have MIL and her partner here on xmas day then see my parents another day - same as every year.

Sobthe choice is either this, so you can see at least some of your family, or nothing and imagine the moaning about that

If people can’t make up their mind, will hurt other family members etc then the answer is not to mix this year and just spend it at home with your family

Like everything to do with this pandemic not everyone is going to be happy

not arguments im more bothered by another lockdown because boris wants to be seen to be nice

Just open everything up and get back to normal.

We've had enough of this nonsense destroying jobs and the economy.

You don't have to see anybody
You can stick to one other household
Or you can discuss rationally and calmly with family who is going to spend time with whom and assume they are all adults who will understand you can't all see everybody

I’m not sure everyone has grasped that the 3 households is exclusive? So you can’t see two other households if one of them is then going to also see someone else. It does make it tricky.

@bigbirdsmate

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.

Can't your mum be in your bubble, I believe I person living alone can form part of your 'household' now. So you can discount her as an additional household and still see your dad.

I feel for you OP. Lucky for me I only have my oldest mate, mum and sister to worry about. In laws are too far away and for various reasons wouldnt see them Christmas in normal times.

My other friend I normally see weekly outside of covid times so we will catch up eventually one day.

But elderly parents? Not so easy is it? Not sure my mum will want to risk my kids 😭

And surely this happens every year anyway people deciding whose parents to spend the day with theirs or their parents ? My Dh doesn't have any parents or family apart from me and our boys so my family is his family ,but lots of others have to make the choice ,my Grandma got married again at 60 she had three children of her own and my (Step) Grandad had two they always had to choose.

DH and I have decided it’s not worth the risk and we’re just going to stay at home with the children. It’s better that way rather then starting an argument over who gets together and who doesn’t. Like others have said it’s 1 Christmas and won’t kill us to be sensible and stay at home!

Not a massive fan of the government but they really can not win can they!

We're not seeing anyone from either family. My in laws are vulnerable, my brother is a single parent so will see my mum. Dh and I will stay home. I don't want to risk infecting anyone. We have a friend who has a support bubble with us and they may come over, but that's it.

I think if you need to see people, for health or mental health reasons then do what you need, if you don't, don't. Regardless of government guidelines we need to be cautious. They've not exactly shown themselves to be making good decisions.

Arrange a big summer get together instead.

Enough of the dramatics- anyone 'hurt for years' because of visiting restrictions has already got problems .....government policy is odd enough as it is without expecting them to incorporate consideration of dysfunctional family dynamics......

It's one freaking year. How are people whining this much?? Imagine 50 years ago? Or heck, even 30 years ago. Not everybody saw every single family member at Christmas or New Year's. They couldn't afford to travel that far or take off work to do it. Why are people being so entitled now?

I’m happy to be honest, obviously would be better if the virus wasn’t here but relieved to have a little normality.

It's depressing as 3 exclusive households means there are a lot of people who are going to be lonely. And they've been hanging on for this Christmas possibility of which they won't be seeing each other and then another month of lockdown. 😭

In think it’s going to be the beginning of something much worse than a few family rows.

We're looking at four households, but as two of those are single people I'm willing to take the risk.

@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

I'd like to be in that situation. I lost one parent this year and the other parent has said she won't be seeing us because she's too concerned about covid. I won't be seeing one of my adult children because they will be at work.

Not a massive fan of the government but they really can not win can they!

Did they do any research on this to find out what the UK actually wanted for Christmas?

I can see very few sticking to 3 households anyway and it'll be unenforceable due to sheer numbers of people moving around

If it’s honestly too hard then just don’t Christmas bubble with anyone.

We will only see my parents outside for a walk as both are older and themselves support really elderly/vulnerable friends.

We always have small nuclear family only Christmases anyway, so it should be straightforward - just me, DDs and foster DS, and foster DS' mum. My parents are dead, the rest of my relatives are abroad so it isn't hard for us. I feel for people with big and complex families, but everyone has to be adult about this.

@JingsMahBucket

It's one freaking year. How are people whining this much?? Imagine 50 years ago? Or heck, even 30 years ago. Not everybody saw every single family member at Christmas or New Year's. They couldn't afford to travel that far or take off work to do it. Why are people being so entitled now?

heres a though they should allow you to do what you like especially as the second wave is well and truly over