To be disappointed with Christmas this year

[Northtosouth]

Usually DH and I have always gone to my parents for Christmas dinner.
My parents are excellent hosts and we always have a great time. We usually see in laws either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day.

This year in laws asked us to go to theirs, we didn’t have any issue with this as we’ve never been before so accepted their invite.
It was really terrible. They hardly had any food, we literally ran out of Christmas dinner. Nothing left for supper later on. No effort made to provide any of the usual Christmas festivities. We ate dinner in near silence, no background music or much chit chat at the table. They also pretty much just followed us around all day which I found quite idd
(for example both of them coming upstairs with me when I needed to change DS nappy). We popped out for a walk with DS for some fresh air while they were cooking and they insisted on coming with us which delayed dinner. We were all starving as we’d been offered no food since a bowl of cereal at 8am and this was 3.30pm. We didn’t end up eating until after 5pm.

DH dropped in that we’d be back with my parents next year as usual and they then suggested we start to alternate.
I think also feeling a bit miffed (on DH’s behalf) that they seem to only be interested in spending Christmas with us now we have DS. Feeling a bit sad really that we spent our first Christmas with DS like this, it was nothing like I thought it would be.

@RawBloomers I actually wasn't trying to be nasty. I think you're bringing more nastiness to the thread than my comment. Sorry OP for not reading the thread first, my comment about what did you bring comes from many years of Xmas with parents and in laws and experience of how other people do things differently. I brought things to mums this year even though she said don't worry, I insisted and I did but probably wouldn't have done that in my younger years when I first had my children (I'm older with a big age gap and current toddler)
Sorry if I caused any offence.

If that doesn't go down well, don't ask if you can bring food, just do. Cheese and charcuterie plates, chocolates, some canapés. Keep some in reserve and bring them out when you're starving so they don't hord them for when you're gone.

No you don't have to alternate. That just sets expectations you don't want.

I'd offer Boxing Day and bring some food and fun. Lives to short to be miserable.