to invite mil & sil for xmas & Boxing days and no longer?

[pigsinmud]

They'll arrive late morning on 25th and leave late morning 27th. That's ok isn't it?
Dh thinks his mother will complain. We have a very strained relationship (she didn't talk to us for 6 months after birth od our dc4 - don't really know why!) and I just don't think I can do any more time over Christmas. She lives a 3.5 hour drive away so comes most half terms and holidays for a few days.
His sister is not the easiest to get along with as she tends to wind the children up and then expect them to stop and behave impeccably at the table.
She was down in half term for 3 nights and is popping in in a couple of weeks as she is passing. We'll also invite her to dd1's christmas play and she'll probably stay a night then.

She is just used to staying 3 nights at a time and I don't think I can do it at Christmas. I think dh is just scared of telling her.
Am I being unreasonable??

no not at all. Just say you've been invited somewhere the other evening, so they'll have to to. I think you're doing a good thing by having them for 2 nights, especially if relationships are strained - don't think i'd bother myself!

NO, yanbu
I like my own space and was looking forward to christmas by ourselves, but my Mom is now coming (hopefully just for the days you have specified too). We have just had her up for 4 nights and too many Alpha females don't work
MI once invited my Dad, Stepmom, 2 DS's and my grandmother for Christmas. They stayed from 23rd Dec to the 29th!!! We also had DH's Mom, Dad, Sister and Grandmother for Christmas day as well. Thank heavens is was pre-kids.

23rd to 29th - argghhh! I'd rather be on our own, but I thought if I gave her Christmas I could make it shorter!! Have just found out my mother is having her hip replaced just before Christmas so had thought we could go down and visit her for the day on 27th. She'll be home by then. Dh thinks his mother will say can't you go on the 28th.

Oh Schilke, just be firm. Your Mom needs you too. Hope it all works out!

Sorry, just realised my 2 brothers not DS's in my original post, they were about 10/12yrs old.

My mil used to come for about 10 days, and liked to be waited on hand and foot.

I have managed to whittle it down to 5 days now, but this year she is going to bil, so I will not have her at all!!!

I may get to enjoy this xmas.