LtEveDallas it sounds hell to me. But each to their own. Glad you enjoy all the buzz. But accept that people are different, and it does not mean they are worse than you because of it.
Dh's will have a hard time spending Christmas away from his family.
But he seems to have forgotten that when we didn't have Dd they never invited us to spend Christmas with them and even when I was pregnant, and Dh and I were sharing a flat with strangers, we did not have money to buy the smallest Christmas tree and thanks God our flatmate feed us, they also did not invite us.
But as I said upthread, Dh is a better person than I am.
The only way I can avoid spending with them would be going to my home country but with only few days school holidays it is not very easy. Maybe when we have enough disposable income we can do that.
I have had worse Christmas with PIL before. They do offer to help with washing up and stuff, but when I accept, she keeps postponing to later and the piles get bigger, and then she decides she is tired and will do next morning. Stupidly I go and do it just for her to say it was her turn and I didn't let her do it.
So now, I just don't accept help, it is easier and quicker if I just do it myself. I know where the things go, and I do a better job IMO.
As for speaking up and communicating: as you could have guessed by now, English isn't my first language and usually sensitive subjects are misinterpreted as is difficult to me to say things the English way. In my culture, people are more direct and bold specially with family.
As for not liking them: I do like them but we are completely different when it gets down to the way we behave as hosts and guests, I accept this now and things are getting a lot easier over the years.