Firstly apologies for the very premature post. I hadn't given Christmas a thought until today. My mother asked where/what we are doing for Christmas. Omg 😵💫
Up until last year I hadn't enjoyed Christmas for years. I felt too much pressure to keep everyone else happy - my family, in laws etc. I felt it overwhelming getting everything done, fitting all the fun stuff in leading up to the big day, work, kids school things! I found it stressful. On the day itself we'd spend half the day driving around visiting family to keep them happy. We'd come home too tired to watch any films or tv. Kids haven't had chance to look at anything. Then my mum expects us back again Boxing Day! After Christmas I'd think well that was a s**t Christmas. I sound awful I know. But I have a strained relationship with my family. I don't enjoy their company much at all. My in laws are a lot better but always wanted a Christmas Day just the 4 of us.
Last year due to covid I guess I loved Christmas. It was so chilled, I felt like we were going at our own pace. Leading up to Christmas we watched films, ate rubbish, we had time to bake! Every house on the street we live on out lights up which had never happened before. We would drive around looking for lights most nights. We spent Christmas Eve - Boxing Day fully at home. Covid was a great excuse for doing something I'd always wanted. It was amazing! Felt no pressure at all! I absolutely loved it and it was the best Christmas I'd had in years. I was so sad when it ended but so happy I enjoyed it compare to other years I've felt like Christmas was rubbish.
I appreciate Christmas last year was rubbish for many people who enjoy spending precious time with their families. Unfortunately it's not like that for us. We did visit them leading up to Christmas (tier 1, groups of 6).
But putting covid aside aibu to tell family we just want to spend it just the 4 of us again? I think both families would expect this own big happy Christmas after last year but I so desperately want a Christmas just the 4 of us again. No one in our families are alone or lonely. We are the only ones with kids though and I feel we are the ones doing all the travelling.
Thing is, our families are easily offended. Mil will be shitty and will likely just turn up at ours or something.. My mum will try guilt tripping me into going there. But I'm adamant that I want a Christmas at home!
Aibu? To add Dp is more than happy (probably more so than me) to stay at home. Dc are happy regardless of what we do but DS did tell he how much he loved being able to stay home and look at everything without rushing last year!
Again, apologies for premature post. My mhm seems to start mentioning Christmas going into September and it puts me into panic mode!