AIBU to ask for help to make Christmas dress shit...

[Fruitbatdancer]

So our family get together is down the toilet.
Me, DH and DS 6. I’ve managed to add a turkey to the Tesco shop, let’s hope it delivers!
Our lovely family Xmas can’t happen, but I want to make it fun. I’m thinking a breakfast that DS wants (pancakes!) but any other traditions/ fun you can suggest? After an awful year (and another family friend passing away just today) I need some light in the dark and can’t think straight.
Thanks.

Less not dress. Obvs! Sorry!

Bucks Fizz for breakfast for the grownups

Family walk after?

Do you have some good family games in?

Given your title typo maybe you could do a fancy dress day?

Charades for kids, other xmas games

Sorry for your recent losses

Go for low labour (on your part) - being fun is easier if you are not too deeply invested in high effort (usually thankless) matters. Think about you - not just about everyone else.

Pancakes sound great - the batter can be made and in the fridge. Agree on Fizz for grown-ups.

Dressing up - is great for giving everyone permission to laugh :) The funnier the better. Re-enact scenes from favourite Christmas movies/stories... or re-play the Christmas nativity with your own children in the roles they really wanted!

My son did tell me to “keep the change you filthy animal” earlier! Maybe I can do something with that. You’re right low effort is good, want to spend maximum time with him and DH.

Maybe not the sliding down the stairs on a tray scene :)

I have booked a couple of online shows to make things a bit special. Have you seen Christmas at the Snow Globe with Sandi Toksvig? We saw it live last year and it was a hit with everyone from my Dad through to my 6 year old nephew. They have put it online for this year. The National Theatre are live streaming a pantomime on YouTube for free. The Royal Opera House are doing the Nutcracker online. Google Charlotte Holmes- it's a theatre in a box for £30 which I have ordered to do after Christmas Day. They only send them out on Mondays, so you would need to order it tomorrow. There are probably lots more like that.

We’ve done Christmas Day on our own with our kids since my daughter was born 12 years ago. We love it! It’s so relaxed, calm and happy. No stress, no pressure.
We open stockings in our bed, then all go downstairs together to see what Santa has left. Open some presents. Pause for hot chocolates and coffee (with Baileys in instead of milk). Continue with presents. My first rule is that the kids have to have something breakfasty before they can have any sweets or chocolate. Usually do pancakes or crumpets.
Have a morning playing with new toys. Our Christmas dinner comes courtesy of M and S and is all the ready-prepared, shove in the oven type of food, so other than checking cooking times, there’s no food prep.
My second rule is that everyone needs to be dressed for lunchtime.
Have lunch, go for walk, back into lounge pants, collapse on sofa for some films, leftovers for tea. Kids have usually been up so early that they’re ready for an early night.
I know for a lot of people this year is disappointing, but honestly, Christmas as just your own family can be really really lovely.

@ChazP I read that wrong and thought you were making hot chocolates entirely with baileys instead of water or milk 🤣

I was a little shocked and impressed 😆

[quote sparklefarts]@ChazP I read that wrong and thought you were making hot chocolates entirely with baileys instead of water or milk 🤣

I was a little shocked and impressed 😆[/quote]
Now there’s an idea...!

We have always done the 25th just us anyway. saved having to worry about turn taking with the grandparents.

Never been shit.

Presents and new things to play with and games and excitement.

Just do whatever you want all day with some nice FaceTime calls to others thrown in.

We love Christmas on our own and we started having Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve because whilst we love Christmas dinner we love the left overs and sandwiches more.

So xmas day the kids open presents while we eat chocolate and drink coffee. ( grandparents normally pop in on the way to other houses to see our siblings)
Then we make a nice big breakfast, usually bacon croissants, smoked salmon eggs or salmon, or ham, poached eggs and muffins with hollandaise and of course Buck's Fizz

After breakfast by which time it's normally 11/12 ish we are done with cooking and the rest of the day is to play with kids new toys, make lego, watch films and eat left overs and various Xmas desserts. No one is stuck in the kitchen and we have proper family time.
By Boxing Day the kids are ready to go out and have a nice walk and meet up with family

If the adults are having Buck’s Fizz, make some for the kids with shloer- the novelty of something fizzy for breakfast is always a good start!
I make mocktails for them too, there’s loads of ideas online. 2 of their favourites are ginger beer mixed with apple juice, and appletizer with a couple of haribo bears at the bottom of the glass, and a cocktail stick with some more bears on it! Easily impressed
I’ve started prepping dinner already so I won’t spend all morning in the kitchen. Veg, potatoes and Yorkshire puddings are all done, pigs in blankets are ready made so not too much left to do, hopefully!

Thanks guys all good ideas I love the appletise and haribo bear idea! As well as the baileys coffee! We have lots of Lego coming from Santa! So there will be plenty of building!