Worried I won’t be able to make Christmas fun for the kids this year!

[differentchristmas]

This might sound a bit silly but I really don’t know what to do! Me, DH (both mid 30s) and two DC (7&8) have never spent a Christmas at home. We’ve always spent it either at my mom’s or his parents house. Unfortunately his parents passed away a couple of years ago and my mom has plans away this year. This will be the first Christmas we have ever spent at home just the 4 of us. I normally absolutely love Christmas, I was bought up in a big family and Christmas has always been about everybody getting together, good food, lots of games etc. DH’s upbringing was very different, he’s an only child and Christmas was very much for the adults, they never would have thought of games etc. Obviously I know how to cook so Christmas dinner will be fine but I’m just worried that it will be quiet and boring and the kids won’t enjoy the day. I’m going to buy a couple of board games but what else can I do to make sure it’s an extra special day that they enjoy? Or am I just being ridiculous?

You may find they love being able to spend the day at home enjoying their new presents.

dont put yourself under pressure, just enjoy the day!

Don’t pressure yourself to make Christmas like it is elsewhere, just have your own Christmas.

Give them stuff that you know they’ll want to open and play with on the day. Remote control cars are good for that. Get board games if your family like them. Watch a film or go for a walk. Give open access to the chocolate box!

• they’ll love waking up to a stocking at home
• we used to do presents after lunch - I found that really built up anticipation
• have crackers with hats in etc
• Make a big thing out of sitting down to watch a film together

a lot of stuff just comes together really - you don’t have to over engineer

Not being ridiculous at all. Definitely get a couple of board games, put some music on or movies and just have a lovely chilled out day. Your kids will love the fact that they can stay at home all cosy, playing with their new toys.
We used to do the big family Christmas, but everyone does their own thing now. So it's just me, OH, our 2 boys, the cat lol and my MIL. My mum and her partner prefer to stay at home for a quiet Christmas (probably because my mum is 1 of 8 and has had many crazy chaotic Christmases lol).
Get some nice party food and enjoy the peace 😊

This year we're even having Christmas Dinner on Christmas eve, then the day itself is pizzas and party food 😊

I thought this the first time we stayed at home just the four of us but actually it was lovely and a lot of fun.

We’ve always spent it at home. We just open presents, get a bit drunk, eat some lovely food, DC enjoy playing with their new gifts, we put some rubbish on TV in the evening. I say rubbish, it’s always the Julia Donaldson special which is great and last year’s Wallace and Gromit was brilliant.

I’m like you, prefer a busy Christmas with extended family. But after our first Covid induced Christmas as a family of 4, it turned out the kids much preferred it. No pressure to get dressed, they can just spend the morning enjoying their presents & eating everything from their stockings. Dancing in the kitchen to Christmas songs & generally enjoying each other’s company without the pressure to be ‘doing’ something.

Christmas is exciting for kids wherever they are. Have stockings full of little treats snd surprises, give them time to play with their presents, if they show signs of restlessness (they won’t) send them into the garden or take them to the park to let off steam. The thing that determines how enjoyable Christmas is the atmosphere. So many people fall out at Christmas. Don’t stress or worry, stay chill, it will be lovely!

Id try to get out of the house for a bit...walk in the park...any nice pubs open near you? I know it's not the most kid friendly thing to do but a nice one might have a good atmosphere and kids could have a hot chocolate or something. I totally understand how you feel.... Christmas doesn't feel special to me if there's not lots of people