Or is Christmas with small children just a bit stressful?

[Mylittlesandwich]

DS is 3 and this is the first Christmas he understood the concept of Santa. In the lead up there was lots of organising etc as usual. Last night he was wired to the moon and took ages to get to sleep. This morning he was up early to open his gifts. All day he's been overwhelmed and overexcited. He's been a lot 😅.

Pre kids we had the stressful lead up then on the day we would just chill. Eat good food and watch films. I knew Christmas with kids would be different and don't get me wrong seeing how happy he was with his gifts was amazing, but my goodness it's not even 6pm and I'm shattered. DH has taken him out for a walk so I could put my feet up for a minute before we tackle bedtime with our overexcited bundle of chaos.

I have an almost 3 year old and a 10mth old. Very surprised how good my 3yo was - didn't get overwhelmed by the presents and she even tried to give me her first gift to open and her second one to her dad ☺️.

All changed when we got to my mum's for Xmas lunch and she refused to eat in the same room as the baby (standard behaviour for her) so she went without lunch as she got herself in a state. She was whining the rest of the day and the baby was constantly screeching. I was so stressed I couldn't wait to get home.

My DP is working today and my SIL has offered to take my toddler out early this morning which I'm thankful for, but I just wish it was the baby she was taking instead as I need a break from the constant screaming and screeching. Would love some time to just play with my toddler and her new toys as my maternity leave finishes next month and I'll be back full time so won't get much time with her after that.

Everything with small kids is stressful and exhausting, not just Christmas 😂😂

But also lovely and magical, obvs. 🥰

Saying that, my 20 month old was an absolute dream yesterday, couldn't fault her. We even went out to a fairly posh place for Christmas dinner and her behaviour was impeccable the entire 2 hours we were there! I was expecting at least one tantrum, but nothing! She just kept wandering over the to Christmas tree and looking up at in awe, then sat nicely at the table "colouring" (scribbling), and chattering to us, taking in all the lights etc. A lady at the table next to us commented when we were getting ready to leave that she'd been fantastic and "you wouldn't have even known she was there". For an under 2, I was so proud of her! She has had some epic tantrums recently too so I wasn't sure how this would go, but very pleasantly surprised!!

I'm guessing it is too late now, but have you said that to your SIL? She probably thought she was leaving you with the 'easy' DC for a break. I would have swapped to take the baby in her position if I knew what you've written here.

@SkankingWombat No she definitely wanted to take the toddler so they can take her to the play park while they're outlet shopping. I made a joke about her taking the baby instead when she got here but got nowhere 😄.

She might have prefered to take the toddler, but would she really have said no to the baby instead if you had honestly said (rather than jokingly, which probably went over her head) that it would help and you would value 1-2-1 time with the toddler more? Or do you mean it was one of those 'favours' that was actually anything but, and primarily for her own benefit?