Bah humbug: getting the narks aired before the big day

[ChipsnCheese]

Hoping that expressing a few narks will cleanse my soul and make me the happy christmas mummy that everyone will expect!

After years of travelling the country we're finally having christmas at home. ILs are coming. For 5 days. Have to admit that I'm not looking forward to re-washing up everything that they 'helpfuly' wash up in cold, greasy, water even though we have oodles of hot, and plenty of fairy liquid!

Not looking forward to FIL pissing on the floor simply because he can't be arsed to look where he's weeing.

But mainly narked as we have been best christmas uncle and aunty for years and years and years. And now we have our own children and are not travelling, our DCs won't get to see any of their cousins or uncles and aunties at chrimbo. sob.

There. feel much better now.

Well at least your venting now and not over Christmas.

Bees in butterflies out!

So practical things - buy a cheap mat for the toilet. Give PILs jobs that don't involve washing up, or just get it started and ask them to dry up if they wouldn't mind?

Can you invite the cousins for Boxing Day, or a NYE visit?

Seems a bit rude that people aren't prepared to travel to you now your kids are little. Still, get skype intstalled and arrange for a session on it midmorning with the cousins.

Write a full list of everything that will pee you off, and things you are going to do to overcome them. Make sure you have an exit plan for letting off steam - you are incharge of dog walking, delivering friends presents, popping into see neighbour (actually you are just walking round the block).

Make sure you all get out and get fresh air, it's amazing the difference it can make.

Is your DH realistic about his folks? If so prep him about the things that will drive you crazy. Then he can step in if necessary.

Can I join in?

We alternate between christmas with my parents and my dp's.

1st nark: I wish dp would stop moaning about spending Christmas Eve and night in a hotel, as there's not enough space in my parents' house. Especially as when we stay with his parents from Boxing day onwards we'll be squeezing 6 adults into a 2 bed house.

2nd nark: My MIL likes to give me the thankless 'job' of rooting around under the xmas tree to hand out the pressies. I wouldn't mind, but she constandly criticises the order in which I give them out, how many I give out at once ad nauseum!

I do feel much better now

Can I join?

We are still travelling the country with kids. So we are opening presents on Christmas morning, then jumping in the car for a 250 mile drive to spend Christmas Day with family. At least kids can watch their new DVDs on the journey up.

I fecking hate it. We travel 250 miles to one set of parents, empty car, have Christmas dinner, exchange presents, pack up car, drive 70 miles to next set of parents, empty car, have Christmas dinner, exchange presents, pack up car, drive 250 miles home, empty car, go back to work, wonder why I'm stressed out and not at all rested. Get pissed on NYE instead.

BUT, the silver lining is that all this hassle has made Christmas Eve our special day, so I'll be putting loads of effort into making it magical for us all. Sometimes Christmas Eve is better than Christmas Day!

oh Sod that for a lark Singing you must be a Saint! I so could not be arsed with that, no matter what the occasion was! I'd go in the summer and stay over with them or nearby for a few days instead and phone or skype on Christmas Day. You deserve a medal! and a large and so do your DCs and DH

Thanks Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 for your grown-up and sensible advice re PIL. Yes, I know there are ways around it, but pisses me off still the same!

Would love to have cousins over for boxing day but even though we have often travelled the 3-5 hours journeys, over the holidays in fog and blizzards, others seemingly won't.

And yes of course Greenknowe and SingingSands. Join me, do! The more the merrier.

Ho ho ho.

singing you have to stop doing that. Put your dc's first.

Our Christmas day is lockdown now, just us no-one else. There are plenty of other days around the season.

Hope you all get some time together that's nice. x

I agree. Hope for extreme snow so that you can't travel, those who do. Grossly unfair that you should have to do all of it because others won't make the effort.

Chips, I think you can get Christmas themed toilet mats. You could tell FIL that you bought it especially for his visit! (And then soak it in bio detergent after he's gone home) Just an observation, is FIL's carelessness because he's drunk, or could it be because he has a prostate problem? I only say that because prostate enlargement makes it really difficult to aim properly, no excuse for not mopping up spills though unless he's nearly blind. Failing that, get DH to clean up after him or have a word with his dad. Make sure there are always cleaning materials to hand so there are no excuses not to mop up.