Christmas with just your family

[Shesuitsblue]

Does anyone do this? Christmas with just your immediate family as in just you, Dh, Dc, pets maybe? Is it nice or a bit lonely? Would you feel sad to do this?

We've done it a couple of times, just me, DH and 1 young DC. We loved it, it was very relaxed. I still cooked a full Christmas dinner but I didn't feel rushed the way I do when catering for other people. We floated through the day, eating, playing with toys, watching TV. Just lovely.

I wouldn't do it every year, because I also love Christmas with my family, and with my PIL, but it made a nice change and I would do it again.

We always try and do this, it's so nice and relaxed. Then we see various family in the days after, so it spreads out celebrations and presents.

We do it every year. As a family of introverts we actually prefer it and it's lovely.

We don’t have much in the way of extended family, so it’s always been the 4 of us at Christmas. While I would have loved to give them the big, messy, noisy family Christmas that’s just not possible. So it’s not sad, we have a lovely day!

I like the idea but in reality it is a bit sad (we just did it in lockdown). We are a family that love being just us and Christmas day is often 18 people and pure mayhem. I just couldn't help thinking it was a bit quiet. There's plenty of days in the year for that.

I don't feel sad or lonely doing this. I'd much prefer it to having a house full of people and wouldn't have a clue how to cater for more than 4.

As a child we only ever had me, sister, mum and dad so maybe that's rubbed off on me.

This year it will just be me and OH. We'll visit daughter and family earlier in the week but they don't have room for us to stay with them and we don't want to spend Christmas Eve and Night in a Premier Inn.

This is us every year. Just me , DH and two DDs.
we don’t have extended families anymore so no Boxing Day meet ups or big New Year’s Eve family get together.

it’s actually quite nice but I do feel like we’re missing out on some of the magic.

But it is what it is, and Christmas is still very special in our house.

We did it for years. All family in another country, and we weren't able to travel because DH's job always involved working on Boxing Day. I have very fond memories of those years as cosy, stress-free, and having lots of funny little traditions involving going to get the tree, wind-up Santa figurine races etc.

We've done it sometimes, but often end up in a big extended family xmas instead now. I much prefer the quiet ones.

Yes, just me DH, DM and DDog. It's quiet, but stress free!

I do this every year, I haven't spent Christmas with my mum since I became a mum, we've always spend Christmas with me, husband, DD and the cat and that's just how we like it. No running around after people wether thats hosting or driving around travelling. We see people before christmas.

We have done it a couple of times. We did it last year was just me, DH and 3 teens. Whilst it was fine and it just felt like any other rainy weekend where we stay in, have a roast, watch films and play board games. DH and the Boys thought it was fine but both DD and I said we much prefer it when we have other people to stay - more of a party atmosphere. It was also the first year that we have not had at least 1 child (either mine or staying with us) that belives in father christmas so we had none of those sorts of rituals.
We have MIL, SIL, BIL, Aunt in Law coming this year so again no believing children but I am going to make christmas cockatils etc and we always play lots of games etc.

I had big Christmas’ growing up, but now, due to deaths and family estrangements we don’t really have any extended family anymore.

so Christmas is now just us and two young kids.

I would prefer it to be bigger with extended family but obviously that’s just not possible.

we do have a lot of friends and we get invites to join in other Christmas celebrations (fhe type of families that just invite anybody to join them) but the thought of tagging along on some other families Christmas when you are not a close part of it is utterly dismal. Our small Christmas for four is just fine.

We do it every year and its great, we started when the DC were about 8 and 10 and we got fed up rushing around trying to make other people happy. We have had some lovely Christmases just the 4 of us
Last year we thought we would try something differnet so went to SIL's on Xmas Day, it was fine but we all agreed we would go back to it just being us 4 this year. We see family around that time but not Xmas Day

It's all I've ever done, growing up with a small family where the extended family are overseas.

Personally I think it's brilliant. Why would we be lonely? You are with people/pets you genuinely love and want to spend time with.

We're taking the opportunity to have it just us this year. With one 2yo, it's nice to have a relaxed day together before he's aware of the day itself, and we spent the first two Christmases alternating with grandparents.

Much nicer at this age to have the usual routine plus a nice roast rather than host or travel or faff.

Did for about 10 years after all grandparents had died. Four around the Christmas table, all pleasant.

We have always done this. Can’t really imagine it any other way to be honest.

Every year, absolutely love it and wouldn't have it any other way. We do family stuff the days before and after, but the big day is just us.

Only done this once in 2020 (and my DM came as she was bubbled with us). Wasn't great.
I usually have at least 10 on Christmas Day. I love the mayhem. Hoping there will be 14 of us this year. The more the merrier.
Its fun, crazy, and party like..we start off with just us 5 (Dh, and 3 adult/ teen DC) and my DM, who stays over Xmas eve, then are joined by my brothers family and sometimes my other brothers family too..the PIL dont travel anymore but did used to come down.
I didn't want to travel at Christmas so having everyone here is better for us. I feel sorry for DH and PIL who haven't seen us much, but they cannot put us up. DH seems happy to get slowly drunk with my family around. Its great!

Only did it that one lockdown year. It was OK but far from my preference. DH loved it and would prefer it. Doesn't seem like Christmas to me.

I am a big party type of person, but I enjoy it very much when it is just us. We don’t have to rush and tidy up. We aren’t exhausted catering and caring for everyone and can eat when we like, and most importantly we don’t need to entertain afterwards. We can just relax by the fire and sleep.
If you like company I would suggest a drink at the pub or a Christmas Day church service.

Every Christmas of mine was spent with my immediate family. As was my husbands growing up. They were fabulous Christmas's with very happy memories. Why on earth would it be lonely?

Me, dh and ds2 for Christmas Day at home as ds1 and my niece are at their respective in laws this year. All together Boxing Day at my sister’s which will be extra special as ds1 has a new baby. Both days will be great in different ways x

We’ve done this for years now. Think the last time we went to my parents was 13 years ago, have never been invited by the in-laws. My parents always declined to come to us as my dad only wants my mums cooking…. We had my grandmothers here a couple of times since then. Brother in law came a few years ago after getting divorced and wasn’t having the kids that year. We had the in-laws here in the past, but stopped making the effort when we realise they literally never made any effort with us (in 21 years of marriage, they live 20 mins away, we were invited once to their house).

We have enjoyed it being just us - no timetable to adhere to, the kids could sit in pj’s all day if they wanted and play with new toys, no stress of hosting… i definitely recommend it.