Is it strange that I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner at 36?

[Crouchingdragonhiddentiger]

When I lived at home my mum cooked it, now I’ve been living in my own house for 10 years with my 7 year old DS and my partner, we go to his parents or mine on alternate Christmases.
We also have a very small house so in no way big enough to host for family & friends.

Just wondering if I’m alone in this, because my Christmas memories were of my mum out doing the Christmas dinner from morning until we ate.

I’ve never cooked one and I’m 60. My DH does all the cooking.

I’m 5 years older than you and I’ve never done it either. I’ve lived in my own home for 20 years but it’s too small to host and we are invited to family for dinner every year. I do help out in the kitchen and always provide either a starter or the dessert but I’ve never cooked the actual dinner myself.

I am 50.
Never cooked a Christmas dinner (or even a roast) in my life ever.
Why? I hate them. Can't stand a traditional roast dinner.
Would you want to cook one?

Do none of you help in the kitchen when you go to others. I always end up getting roped in..😃

I’ve been cooking Christmas dinner most years since I had dd1 at 19. I’m a better cook than either my mum or MIL and so I tend to invite people to us!

but, no, it’s not really strange. You just have different circumstances.

Ditto. 53.

I could cook it, but I don't want to, and DH enjoys it, and is an excellent cook.

I think it's only strange if you haven't helped at all in all that time. You must have peeled a spud or two, or popped on the sprouts? I've never cooked a full Christmas dinner, but I have definitely been the sous chef/kitchen monkey.

I’ve never cooked one… my husband does all the cooking including on Christmas and new year.

I'm 55 and never cooked a Xmas dinner. I've only ever cooked one roast dinner. It was very nice.

45 and never done one either.

When I moved in with DH we’d usually go to my parents or occasionally to ILs at Christmas.

The last 10 years we’ve had at home but DH cooks dinner. I do, however make the cauliflower cheese in advance and I always do the Boxing Day buffet.

Do you cook roast dinners? If so, that's pretty much it with a bit more faff.

Do you give your parents a hand with the cooking?

I am 53 and never cooked one either. Husband cooks and I sous chef. Or more often, MIL gets in the way helps so I hide in another room with a glass of fizz.

46 and never done it. Only ever cooked one roast in my life and that was with DH leaving me instructions with precise timings.

This year we are at my parents but mum getting the year off. DH and SIL will cook, DB my dad and I will clear up.

I vastly prefer cleaning up to any aspect of cooking.

You're not alone.
I made my one and only at 39, we stayed at home, it was boring.
My house is a small terraced house.
I do help Dsis cook the dinner in her beautiful spacious kitchen, she rotates with Dbro as they both have big houses.

In my 60s and never cooked one. I can cook a roast dinner though.

Nope. Just relax.

I’m 41 and never cooked one.
always had one cooked for me at home and dh has done it for the last 20 years 😂
Everyone comes to us. It’s bloody tedious tbh, cries of “oh our house is too small to host” - well so was ours but we managed in a much smaller house and everyone still came to cram themselves in 😤
Dh enjoys the cooking and feeding of lots of people and the dc love it all. It’s only me who wishes for the covid Christmas when no fucker could come round!!

Yes. 😊 No, not odd.
46 yo.

I'm 40 and I haven't either, always went to mum's for Christmas.

47 and not done one yet.

I am sure I could, I do roasts. Just haven’t. Ex was the cook when we hosted, and we alternated with family.

I’ll probably do one next year though.

"my Christmas memories were of my mum out doing the Christmas dinner from morning until we ate."

Did your mum never get to enjoy Christmas morning because of the dinner prep? I find this quite sad actually. Did she not have any help?

I don't think it's weird not to have cooked a Christmas dinner but I think it's weird if you've never been involved in prep the day before and Christmas morning. (Maybe you have?)

I've never done any prep either but I hover about and wash up as much as I can as the cooks go then clear up everything else later.

39 and i've never cooked one.

I transitioned smoothly from eating my mother's Christmas Dinner to DH's. 6 years ago (when we moved to a house big enough to host) my mother made the same transition 😂

I'd never.made Christmas lunch until I was 33. I'd always had lunch with my parents. My mum did most of it. She hates cooking and is pretty bad at it, but wouldn't dream of letting anyone help. My dad was only allowed in the kitchen to carve the meat and make the gravy, and they squabbled all the time.

I had my son in November 2011, so we invited my parents for lunch as we didn't want to travel. We made it as easy as possible. Just got a turkey crown that you cook for a set time and pre-prepared veg with instructions for how long to cook. I didn't enjoy it, as I am not a roast/veg fan, but it feels as though it has to be done. DH and I now invite my parents every year and it's a joint effort but I secretly always wish we weren't having a traditional Christmas dinner, as I'd much rather a steak or some nice pasta. I get no joy from cooking at all - although I love being a hostess and setting the table, etc.

Have you never offered to cook or at least help when you're away at Christmas?