Advice for christmas day

[Peridot30]

Our kids will be 5 and 3 by Christmas time.Usually we go to my mums one year and then with PIL the next year. However my kids never get to play with Christmas Pressies As it is always RUSH RUSH RUSH. WE (sorry i ) was thinking sbout spending the full day just the four of us and visiting on Boxing DAy. What do you do or are you in the same situation. I feel as though i have to visit rather than stay at home.

Just explain - say you want the children to have time to open everything and calm down a bit before you go visiting. Are you expecting hassle? I used to do what everyone else in the family wanted until I had children - now I do what's best for MY family, IYSWIM. I just make sure everyone is clear early on - about now, in fact.

We do visit because everyone expects it and thats what i used to do as a child but hated it as never got to play with anything. My mum says its fine (but she would then be left on her own but if visit her have to visit PIL.) Why do we always try to please everyone but ourselves?

Peridot - your mum says its fine, so are you sure she wouldn't actually prefer a quiet Christmas Day while looking forward to having the grandkids on Boxing Day?

Think she only said it because i was moaning ...surely not me moaning!! bout the hassle. My mum stays herself think it is only that fact that's stopping me having christmas at our home.

We always have mum here for dinner although this year we are going to mum's for dinner as she has just moved around the corner. My sister and her dh come for tea so dd has all day to play.

Then we go to dinner at dh parents on boxing day.

Would this work for you. If you explain that you would like your dc to be able enjoy their news toys without rushing around.

Hi Peridot30,

I also invite my parents for christmas day then visit them on boxing day with the rest of the clan!

I don't have PiLs so that makes life easier and dh family are jewish so we visit at other special festivals instead but I'm sure both sets would be happy with a boxing day visit instead of christmas day, as long as you give them plenty of warning! Particularly if you play the 'wanting the kids to calm down a bit first' card!!!!

Use your kids as the perfect excuse - say they really want to be at home to play with toys. No one could really grumble with that.

Think will have Christmas day at home then go out after dinner so that kids can play with toys without rushing. Thanks for all your advice.

We had this for years, drove me mad having to visit everyone and no one would ever come to us. Last year we said enough was enough and stayed at home just the four of us. Funny enough my family decided to visit us for a change! The children was so much nicer being at home with their presents rather than being carted from house to house having to be nice to people!

We always sepnd Christmas day at home, the three of us (did when just me and Dh also). It is the one day that is for us only. We see both parents on Christmas Eve (gathering presents, visiting,e tc) and then both parents and our siblings come round Boxing Day afternoon to eat and see DD.

No way am I taking DD away from all her new presents on Christmas Day. besides it take smost of the day to open everything, as she likes to play with things between times.

It is so lovely doing exactly what we want, when we want to. We eat chocolate and drink champagne for breakfast. We eat lunch when we get round to it, and rarely get round to tea as we continue witht he wine and chocolates instead.

wangle think thats what annoys me the most is that we only stay 1.5miles from the rest of family brothers, sisters parents etc and its us with the youngest kids that do all the running about Rant over with LOL Hulababy you make it sound so great definately want to stay at home. Just need to persuade hubbie

Yes, peridot, do that. Even if we're going visiting, I say we'll get there for 12ish so we have time to enjoy the morning together. Much much better. Love having Christmas morning in our own house.