Page 12 | To think Boxing Day is for family and not football?

Felicityfennel · 2023-12-17T19:38:47+00:00

So sick of it! Every year, DH and DS want to go to DH’s hometown to watch the Boxing Day game. Plans have to be worked around this and given it’s an 8 hour round trip, it’s pretty much an overnight stay. If we’re with the in-laws for Christmas, fine, crack on. But when we’re in our home town and have other family to see, really?! It also means an early night Christmas Day as they want to be up and out to get to the game on Boxing Day the next morning 😭

usernother · 18/12/2023 17:42

Boxing Day is football day. Always has been. It can't be cancelled just because you don't like it.

Smorgs2014 · 18/12/2023 17:47

Let them go without you and treat yourself to whatever would be a fun day for you

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 17:48

Your mistake for pairing up with a football lover.
My lovely DiL had two important questions for DS when they got together; How important were his family , and was he into football?
Fortunately he replied ‘Vey important indeed’, and ‘No, no interest in football at all’.

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 17:57

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 17:48

Your mistake for pairing up with a football lover.
My lovely DiL had two important questions for DS when they got together; How important were his family , and was he into football?
Fortunately he replied ‘Vey important indeed’, and ‘No, no interest in football at all’.

Mine was what team do you support. Wrong team but I still married him.

Your inference that you can't be family loving and be a football fan makes your post so laughable, it won't be taken seriously by anyone with a modicum of reasonableness.

So that's good.

DitheringBlidiot · 18/12/2023 18:00

Felicityfennel · 17/12/2023 19:42

@TinselTitts - exactly! That’s what I want. It was never an issue when the DC were younger as he just didn’t go. Now one DS is old enough to do the journey, they head off and I’m left with the other two. We can still have a nice day but I just want a family day with us all lounging around in PJs and eating chocolates!

So you haven't got any plans, just a day lazing about? Can't the ones who want to laze, laze and the ones who don't, don't?

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 18:00

Smorgs2014 · 18/12/2023 17:47

Let them go without you and treat yourself to whatever would be a fun day for you

PJs and chocolates apparently....... I mean who wants to go to football with such an interesting and entertaining alternative?

UsingChangeofName · 18/12/2023 18:11

it's hard to argue that it's too far to go to watch football at the expense of family time

It's not 'at the expense of family time' though. A man and his son (ie, family) are going to go to spend the day together, doing something they love. They are also going to visit / spend time with his parent...... who when I last looked, would also count as family.

UsingChangeofName · 18/12/2023 18:16

LenaLamont · 18/12/2023 10:18

YABVU - you want DH and your eldest to miss out on an event they want to go to so you can have forced participation in a PJs lazy day?

In old fashioned Mumsnet parlance, give your head a wobble.

DM and I (and occasionally one of my children) liked to go to see a ballet on Boxing Day. It was not DH’s idea of fun, he liked a family walk.
Those who fancied the ballet did that, those who fancied the walk had a lovely long walk. Everyone got what they wanted out of the day without compelling attendance from people who’d rather be elsewhere.

This.

My Mum used to love it when my Dad took us dc off to football on Boxing Day when we were little and she had a peaceful day after all the busy-ness of Christmas Day.

Equally, when my dc were children, I'd often take them to places without dh, or he would take them and give me a few hours peace.
Or, most often one of us would take one of them somewhere and give them some really lovely 1:1 time with a parent.

It' a really positive thing for your dh and dc to do together. I am amazed almost 1/3 of the vote disagrees.

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 18:22

UsingChangeofName · 18/12/2023 18:11

it's hard to argue that it's too far to go to watch football at the expense of family time

It's not 'at the expense of family time' though. A man and his son (ie, family) are going to go to spend the day together, doing something they love. They are also going to visit / spend time with his parent...... who when I last looked, would also count as family.

And OPs family live in their hometown so can see them at other times ...

cardibach · 18/12/2023 18:22

I don't like football and exDH was a fan, but Boxing Day football isn't something I could get worked up about.
I'm also an expert at lazing about but even I would find it tricky to do that and eat chocolates for a whole day after not going out the day before either. Surely that's an activity that wears itself out in a few hours?

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 18:23

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 17:48

Your mistake for pairing up with a football lover.
My lovely DiL had two important questions for DS when they got together; How important were his family , and was he into football?
Fortunately he replied ‘Vey important indeed’, and ‘No, no interest in football at all’.

Your DIL sounds utterly controlling, I would've advised my DS to run a mile!

Hesma · 18/12/2023 18:24

Boxing Day is definitely about football if you’re a fan ⚽️⚽️⚽️

skippy67 · 18/12/2023 18:43

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 18:23

Your DIL sounds utterly controlling, I would've advised my DS to run a mile!

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Agreed!

Digestivechocolatebiscuit · 18/12/2023 19:10

My ex husband insisted going put all day on a pub crawl on boxing day with his friends .. l hated it .. glad he's my ex.

UsingChangeofName · 18/12/2023 19:49

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 16:23

@MargotBamborough which team do you support?

Stressedmumoftwoteens · 18/12/2023 19:59

Me and my Dad were massive football fans but one year my Mum put her foot down and told us that we couldn't go and see our beloved team on Boxing Day as they were playing away. She only said we couldn't go and watch our team .... so we found a local non league game and went to that instead 😆 she knew she was beaten. Sadly both parents have now passed away so I really miss those days.

Stressedmumoftwoteens · 18/12/2023 20:01

Definitely... its a massive sporting day. For us it is ice hockey and that always comes before family

TheSleepingGiant · 18/12/2023 20:03

I'd be sad if my team were at home Boxing Day and I had to stay at home. I go to lots of matches throughout the year (support my local club in League 2) but the atmosphere at the ground over Christmas is very special. I have tickets for myself and DS for Boxing Day and the 29th when they play under the lights. Very excited.

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 20:12

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 17:57

Mine was what team do you support. Wrong team but I still married him.

Your inference that you can't be family loving and be a football fan makes your post so laughable, it won't be taken seriously by anyone with a modicum of reasonableness.

So that's good.

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Mo duch infetence; the two wuestions were completely separat.

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 20:13

@Pottedpalm WTF?

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 20:13

Oh dear! Many typos, but you get the gist!

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 20:14

No such inference; the two questions were completely separate.
there, all better!

Goodlard · 18/12/2023 20:16

Pottedpalm · 18/12/2023 20:14

No such inference; the two questions were completely separate.
there, all better!

What were your DSs questions before he married your DIL?

What did she have to not enjoy? Dancing? Cinema? Going out with friends?

MrsMitford3 · 18/12/2023 20:22

We are 100% Boxing day footie family. Various permutations over the years but eldest DS (now adult) and DH are last men standing.

Tickets got harder to get and DD lost interest. We stay home and have our own lovely traditions-including watching Ballet Shoes.

The footy tradition is generations old in DH family and I love it for them/us.

I agree with poster above who posted the AIBU from your DH point of view...

Mediocrates · 19/12/2023 06:14

YANBU to want a lazy Boxing Day with pyjamas and chocolates. From what I understand from your posts, you’re getting this regardless of what your husband does. YABU to want your husband and child to give up the thing they want to do so that they can do what you want them to do.

If there was some reason that you and your other DCs had to get up, make the journey, and tag along then I’d see your problem. But no one is asking you to do anything different. It’s no more reasonable to ask your DH and DC to stay home in pyjamas when they want to have their own trip than it is to ask you to travel 8 hours to sit in the cold for 2 when you’d rather be at home.