Best Xmas memory and worst Xmas memory...

[Primadonnagirl]

Best...I loved Christmas and as a kid the best part was when all the family had arrived safely and I knew nothing could spoil the day..
Worst...Dad making Mum cry in front of everyone and she was gently sobbing as she passed the biscuits round..we all took one not knowing what to say.So ashamed of that even 20 years later

The best was last year, in our little cottage with a roaring fire. My DP's came, DS and I had been ice skating on Christmas Eve, we had friends over, went to church and the pub etc etc. DDogs were happy and well behaved and DCat didn't have to go to cat prison while we went to my DP's.

The worst was when I was about 13. I had asked (unsuccessfully!) for a puppy for the past 10 years but still lived in hope. On Christmas Eve my atrocious bastard of a father "let slip" how difficult it had been wrapping a puppy- much laughter and merriment followed and I truly believed that that was the year.
Lo and behold, Christmas morning proved it was just his warped sense of humour- I was devastated, and that was really the beginning of the end for us

Best - lovely dinners made by my mum and then snuggling down with my dad and watching the only fools christmas specials on an evening nibbling on buffet food or seeing family and playing with their new toys.

Worst - when I was about 10 and my older sister phoned the police and told them my mum chased her down the street with a carving knife (she didn't!) so the police had to come and I had to sit on my own in my mum and dad's bedroom most of the day she only did it to ruin it for everyone.

Best- My fourth year of university when DH's (at that point we had only been going out for a few months) family were all busy so he spent Christmas at ours. His traditions were very different to ours so we mixed them together that year. I remember one of my brother's instantly bonding with him and the two of them found so much in common!

Worst- The christmas my dad was in hospital fighting for his life when I was eleven. I spent most of the day crying and wishing he was at home.

Best - any with my family all been there and extra special if it snowed especially when I was little :)

Worse - when I was 16 my parents had split up in July and my dad phoned on Xmas day it broke my heart when I spoke to him, first ever Xmas as a broken family :(
Also when I was 19 my mum was diagnosed with cancer 5 days before Xmas, she had a major operation and was discharged from hospital on Xmas eve, didn't really feel like celebrating Xmas that year :(

Best: Pretty much all my childhood ones with family... 23 people around 2 tables (fertile family is an understatement!)

Worst: 2004. DD was 11 days old, we'd not been home from hospital a week, ex-P did nothing because he'd suddenly decided that Xmas was a crock of crap, and if I wasn't going to make any effort neither would he....