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Christmas

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Original poster

First christmas as parent... big or small affair???????

12 replies

teen01 · 04/10/2006 20:29

Baby is due end of this month and not sure whether 2 do the big family day at mine, i.e inviting parents and in laws over for the big feed or just being baby, partner and myself. family r very easy going so they will all respect whatever decision we make. what experiences have u guys had?

OP posts:
NastyNemo666 · 04/10/2006 20:34

For DS first xmas [he is an october babe] we had some time to us in the morning, went to pil for xmas dinner and to my mum for buffet tea/to stay over night..to be honest wish we had stayed home alone.

With DD [16th dec] we went to pil for dinner but then came home by around 5pm so wasnt as stressful and will do the same this year

CountTo10 · 04/10/2006 20:37

I agree with NN - we grandly went travelling all round the family so they could all see bub on his 1st xmas (only 3mths old) and it ended up with us being absolutely shattered and both bub and I laid up for several days after with a nasty cold!!! We stayed at home on our own last year and it was great. If you do want to see your family on xmas day itself I would suggest they come to you for light drinks/snacks but would let yourselves enjoy the big day without all the hassle of cooking a big dinner etc.

nikkie · 04/10/2006 21:15

On dd1 1st xmas we went to my Mams the xhs parents (she was 10 days old) dd2 I went round everywhere with her at 3months and dd1 at 2(I had sort of split with xh then) and was knackered!
Don't visit everyone

sunnydelight · 04/10/2006 21:27

Only invite everyone to yours if you are absolutely sure that they will pull their weight, otherwise enjoy your first Christmas just the three of you. Some years back when DS2 was 6 weeks old at Christmas I ended up sobbing downstairs in the kitchen as I prepared, served then later cleared up after Christmas lunch for my in-laws as they sat on their arses and cuddled my baby upstairs in the living room. To be fair DH was spending all his time looking after/playing with DS1 but my deep seated hatred of my MIL definitely started that day

LaDiDaDi · 04/10/2006 21:27

DD will be nearly 8 months old at Xmas and we have said to everyone that we are happy for them to visit us and have dinner at ours but we will not be leaving the house on Xmas Day .

lexiemum · 04/10/2006 21:31

have at least one day when its the three of you (xmas day our first year), don't do the visiting, let them come to you. its exhausting. and get family to take the baby out for a couple of hours etc so you can rest and watch the sound of music without worrying about the next feed!

next christmas is a different ball game and probably will be more child orientated and worth having family over and doing the big cook.

Original poster
teen01 · 04/10/2006 22:06

Thanks guys. Its all very exciting. Can hardly wait now. think the special day wil involve the 3 of us not leaving the house and family coming to us later in the day. roll on xx

OP posts:
bottomburp · 04/10/2006 22:40

Teen thanks for starting this thread, am ridiculously excited about DDs first christmas now!!!!she will be 9mths and i think we will be going to my parents for lunch then in laws on boxing day. usually we do everyone but am taking MN advice.my parents help loads whereas in laws (live 1 mile away) and see them once a month so think they can wait.

Original poster
teen01 · 04/10/2006 23:00

Bottomburp i dont blame you, i think we should remind ourselves that this is our new familys special day and we should go and do what is going to be convienient for us and try not and worry to much about our much appriciated families, cos there are gonna be loads more xmas days. Iknow im having a little boy so i went and bought him this little santa outfit for xmas day. How sad!! Who cares, cant wait to see him in it. MERRY CHRISTMAS X

OP posts:
Pinklaura80 · 20/10/2006 15:39

ds is 3, we spent his 1st Xmas at parents house but it was a lot of work, trying to put him down for a nap with other kiddies screeching around the house never works, lol, so since then we have stayed at our own house for Xmas and visited everyone on Boxing Day.

Iklboo · 20/10/2006 15:42

Noooooo. DS was born Nov 6. My parents came round Xmas eve for a sandwich tea, boxing day we went up to MIL's. Xmas day, we stayed in ours, just the 3 of us, DH cooked chicken dinner. You'll still be too shattered to attempt big do, especially of you plan to bf

sassyb · 01/11/2006 09:34

I think Christmas at home just the 3 of you is just the perfect way to spend Christmas. I agree with all of the above. If you think others coming round will pull their wight then let them come, but otherwise, just chill, enjoy the quiet moments and just be together, because it won't be anything like the same next year. If you want to see family, see them on Boxing day or over the new year. This is also the best time to set your own family traditions, as you are new family and so don't feel guilty about starting out with a new tradition.

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