Ayone else putting off the 'where shall we go for Christmas?' chat?

[2kidsintow]

DH is a bit of an arse a stick in the mud when it comes to fitting around other people. Some years we stay at home (not too bad now we have little ones of our own) and others we go to my parents for dinner. Then the children in the family (me and 3 sisters) take it in turn to host tea so the jobs are shared out.

2 years ago, we stayed at home for lunch as it was our turn to host tea. The DCs still got to see everybody and it was a happy day. DH was happy.

Last year, it was someone elses tea turn so we went to my parents for lunch. DH was a right pain. Moaned all morning (inc in front of the kids) about having to fit in with other people's schedules and refused to open gifts to each other on grounds that "there isn't time" despite having plenty of time to watch the kids open theirs, then have breakfast and a cuppa etc. He was polite and friendly to others at the christmas dinner, but hardly said anything to me. Upon getting home he loudly declared "well that's me done for the next 2 years" in essence saying that he had decided we are staying at home this Christmas.

It isn't our turn to do tea again and I'd love to go to my parent's again. Mostly I'm aware that the number of Christmases with them still around is limited. They are fit and well so that is a bit maudling to be fair.

I'm putting off the row discussion.

[QuickLookBusy]

I think your DH behaved like a twit last year, however I think this year you should do what he wants to do. It's only fair after all it is his Christmas too.

We just tell everyone we are at home and everyone is welcome to come for lunch. We have 11 coming this year and I getting quite excited about it already.

[girlywhirly]

Well DeckSwabber, looks like it's lunch at yours and Dmum will probably have to stay with SIL and B assuming they will have her and she won't be bullied by them.

I think that hostilities and rivalries are much worse at Christmas, so consider staying at home if SIL and B are going to your mums, and see her separately, and also SIL and kids on another day around Christmas, so that B can bugger off to a footy match or something and you won't have to see him. It also gets around the 'who makes the best Christmas lunch' competition.

[girlywhirly]

2kidsintow and TeaOneSugar, any better idea of how you will resolve your dilemmas?

[TeaOneSugar]

DH asked his DM today if she'd made a decision, and she's still wavering, I now know they definitely won't be coming on Christmas Eve as she's working that day, so it'll be nice cheeses and nibbles in front of a festive film, just the three of us.

Amazingly DH told her I needed to know because I want to plan the menu, order the right sized turkey etc. so at some point he has been listening to me. I think he probably wants them to come to us, however, as it stands my understanding of the conversation is that she's going reluctantly to BIL/SILs for lunch (where she will refuse to do any of the cooking or washing up as SIL never lifts a finger when she hosts - so lovely atmosphere there) and then coming to us for a light meal/buffet in the evening.

Again amazingly, when she mentioned about us going to BIL/SILs DH stood firm and said we wouldn't be going we are definitely eating at home this year.

This is the basis I'm working from, her last chance will come in two weeks time when I order the turkey.

She mentioned a few times about not wanting to upset/offend anyone, so I again made it clear that we really won't be offended, we don't mind either way, but we just want to know.

I'm not going to mention it again until the turkey deadline.

[Wiggy29]

Our dilema- last year we spent morning at home (ds7) then had Christmas meal at my parents (with my bro, SIL, aunty and uncle). A lovely time had by all. They only ive five mins down the road so came home on the evening and morning of Boxing day we went to in-laws (who live over an hour away) and stayed over night. BIL was there with wife (they spend xmas morn apart at own parents then she travels up on evening).

This year, oh seems to feel it is right to do the opposite BUT I do not want ds to spend Christmas morning away from home, nor do I want to spend an hour travelling (esp when SIL wanted even be there, she'll be at her parents). Is it unreasonable to just repeat the same thing that happened last year?

I know we could invite pil to ours but just couldn't fit them and BIL/SIL etc all over. The only thing I can think of is just to casually assume we're doing the same thing and see what happens?

I think it gets awkward as families grow!

[DeckSwabber]

Whistling, does your daughter feel the same?

And if you didn't go to your mums would she be on her own?

[DeckSwabber]

Wiggy it seem reasonable that you arrange things so that you see your SiL.

Agree things can get awkward - it can be hard for people to adjust when children and other families traditions etc have to be taken into consideration.

[MrsMiniversCharlady]

We tend to sort it out straight after Christmas for the Next Year when the horror is still fresh in our minds

[TeaOneSugar]

How are everyone's plans coming along?

I mentioned I was planning to order the turkey to MIL yesterday and she still doesn't know what she's doing.

She said "plan as if we're not coming, if it comes to it we can have ours at home" - this is after she's had two invitations to Chistmas lunch from two of her sons.

I told DH about it and he agreed it was unnecessary and her being over dramatic. Hopefully she'll mention it to DH when I'm not there and he'll be a bit firmer with her.

Anyway, I'm going to order a turkey big enough so if they end up coming so I'm not left in a last minute mess (I can always freeze some if there's loads left over) I'll be having a christmas eve food delivery so I can bump up the veg etc. at the last minute if necessary.

Is there something I'm missing here? should I be more sympathetic? is there some phychological trauma associated with losing long standing christmas hosting duties???

[Arithmeticulous]

Tea you are just doing what she told you to do, planning as if she's playing her sons off against each other not going to be there. You are shrugging your shoulders in the face of her indecisiveness .

[girlywhirly]

I agree, continue with your own plans Tea. Some MILS just like to play the martyr, and some find it genuinely hard to accept that others might actually be as good or better than themselves at cooking, hosting etc.

I would drop the subject altogether unless she raises it herself. I think that the more fuss there is trying to persuade MIL to come, the more she enjoys the attention and draws it out. When all said and done, if she ends up staying at home because she won't accept invitations to yours or BIL and SIL, who will she be able to show off to?

You're right in thinking that some matriarchs feel the loss of being the Christmas hostess, it makes them feel a bit redundant. I think it's good for the younger family members to take over before it gets to be hard work or expected of the parents or PIL year after year. I remember my cousins had to have the conversation with their mum after her hosting Christmas lunch for 45 years plus, because her health was declining and they decided to share it between themselves.

There are loads of options for using leftover turkey to make future meals to freeze. I used to make curry sauce or a red wine chasseur type sauce in advance that you can just stir all the bits of turkey into and then freeze. (A nice minimal effort meal for another time!)

[BiddyPop]

I am having a nightmare with this. The parents on both sides are pretty much letting us decide (although both would lvoe to see us and I think MIL is quietly putting some guilt on DH). And I would be happy to go down to them - but staying somewhere not under their roofs. Cos both families are INTENSE at Christmas, while DD really needs routine and quiet. And I've had such a bad year that I also need space to retreat to.

The house my parents own between their own house and PILs was empty in Sept (between tenants) but they've since rented it again. So that's not an option.

Holiday houses are rare enough (it's not the tourist side of the couty), so we either pay a fortune for 1 in the grounds of a hotel (but the hotel is closed so pool etc are not usable) or get one privately not directly between both houses and not in great shape (they're 15 miles apart).

Or end up staying with PIL (where at least there are 2 bedrooms for us to use) or my parents (there may be enough room, but there may also be people sleeping on floors depending on how many are home). And dealing with the chaos of both houses 24/7 for however long we stay. And also not having anywhere we can host DD's birthday on Boxing Day (so whichever mother is having us hosts the birthday - and they don't get on so there'd be oneupmanship all over the joint!).

We may yet just decide to stay put in our house (we do it regularly enough) - although we don't have a guest room for visitors after Christmas Day because the au pair has that room (but she will be away until 30th, so I could ask her to let people stay for a couple of days).

I'd happily crawl under a rock and have my own little Christmas Dinner alone this year (I could cook a guinea fowl for 1!!) - wishful thinking....

[TeaOneSugar]

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to order a turkey big enough for all possibilities and drop it.

I was really annoyed with the comment about having their lunch at home though, I think she's probably trying to guilt me into backing down and going to their house. TBH it's not like she even enjoys cooking, it's all pre prepared stuff from M&S so it's not like she spends time menu planning and preparing.

BiddyPop It sounds like staying at home is the best option, how old is your DD, won't she want some friends around on her birthday?

[BiddyPop]

Tea, DD will be 7. Because it's Boxing Day, most friends are busy doing family stuff, so we have her friends party on the 1st Saturday back at school. But if we stay up, there are a few neighbours and some of my aunts who often call in.

If we go down, on the other hand, there would be at least 3 smaller cousins (possibly 5 depending if the overseas lot travel), lots of her aunts and uncles and all 4 grandparents. (But if we don't have an independent spot, I am depending on 1 of those Grandmas to host rather than me, and that is tricky for sooo many reasons).

I am going to take some quiet time to myself this week (DH gone back overseas today so I'll have unfettered access to laptop) and see what options there really are. And think carefully about whether I could do it under someone else's roof (and for how long). And then present DH with a fait accompli when he gets back.

[girlywhirly]

Biddy, are your relatives really understanding DD's need for routine, quiet times etc, or do they see your wish to stay separately as trying to avoid them? I think it's a pity that you will have to spend a shedload to rent somewhere if you do go there. Will they also be aware that if you do have a party for DD's birthday there, someone will have to host at their home if you can't get somewhere else to stay, and would they then prioritise it? I don't think that I ever had relatives at any of my birthday parties, they were just for children, it's not essential for them to attend is it?

[BiddyPop]

Girly, they are not that bad, but tend to forget in the mayhem of celebrations. And as 1 set of cousins live next door (but the kids think they own Granny's house as well), there can be little enough respite unless we physically go out at times. We have had DD's birthday in both Gran's houses in the past, but the year we hosted it ourselves in "neutral territory" was the best one (and the one that my siblings and DH's sister all stayed on afterwards at, so DD went to bed and we all relaxed like grown-ups together). It's more about having a cake to cut on the day with someone around, as the party for friends happens after school is back anyway.

[girlywhirly]

I think then it's down to what you think you can manage.

[noyouhavehadawee]

Boxing day last year my dh slightly giddy on xmas invited the inlaws for this year for xmas because they always go to his sisters, i am seriously hoping they have forgotten. Were having a bit of a cross family get together this weekend and i just know my dad will say in front of everyone what are you doing noyouhavehadawee for xmas and i will want to go and hide. I want to stay at home with nobody to cook for but us. Miserable huh!