Just the 4 of us for Xmas Day and I'm thrilled

[Itsonlybridget1]

Not really an AIBU but this year we've finally managed to get xmas dinner just the 4 of us. I have nearly 6 year old twins and previously we've hosted my mum & dad, or brother has had everyone over (around 13 people). DH's family live a couple of hours away and SIL has 2 kids. We don't want to go to theirs for xmas and they don't want to come to us - all amicable and we see each other boxing day or the day after.

My brother & SIL have a spectacular house, it really is the stuff of dreams. They love my kids but I'm on tenderhooks all the time, I feel like I'm constantly telling them off and to be careful and not to touch anything (DB does have 2 children but they're pretty much grown up now)

I'm almost giddy at the thought of us having xmas day to ourselves, I've ordered some bits from M&S, the kids can chill all day, maybe we can go out for a walk in the morning and eat a bit later on (Mum always wants to eat before 1pm).

I suppose is my AIBU to be this giddy about it 😂

I’m actually quite jealous😂

We always go to my mums for dinner which is lovely but this year we have our baby girl and all of a sudden that means PIL want to see us on Christmas Day (haven’t been bothered about seeing us any time in December nevermind Christmas Day for 10+ years!), aunts and uncles on both sides who again we haven’t seen on Christmas Day since we were kids want to come to us to see our daughter on Christmas Day, so I’ll have a revolving door from 7am🥲

Lets just hope they realise when they arrive that actually 8 month olds don’t have a clue it’s Christmas and they don’t hang about too long!

Sounds lovely! I honestly hated my childhood Christmases, spending 10 hours in a car to be in a rowdy house with family members I didn't know well and having to sleep on an air mattress or top and tail in a bed because "it's your cousin".

I love being home at Christmas. We will travel under an hour now max. Any other visiting we do much earlier in December and book a hotel if there's no room.

I swore when I left home I'd never do another 12 people to 1 bathroom visit again, I fucking hated it. Call me a Scrooge, that's fine.

I love this post.

We managed a Christmas with just the 4 of us once, during Covid. It was the best Christmas ever. I didn't have all the stress of preparing the house, cooking for the masses and hostessing. It was so relaxed.

Enjoy your wonderful Christmas.

I was just about to post pretty much what you said.
Christmas 2020 was just the four of us, our sons were 23 and 20, and it was the best. No stresses, no obligations. Just the four of us having a fun, relaxed day.

Yes I think it’s great to do just as you please. We are at the other end. We held huge celebrations for years which we loved. Then when the kids got their own places we would meet with one or two of them. Sometimes all three.

We are so lucky with our family that everyone respects the right to do the thing that make you happy.. For us now it is staying home with just the two of us.