Christmas Eve (and day) on crutches

[Monr0e]

Morning everyone. Just looking for some tips and advice on getting through the next couple of days. I had a hip operation 10 days ago. I thought I'd be well on the mend now but unfortunately I am still very much struggling to get around and reliant on my crutches.

There will be 5 of us for dinner tomorrow, not a massive amount but I want to try and prepare today and do as little as possible tomorrow.

So what make ahead tips do you have that can mainly be done sat down (need to kerp my weight if it) thank you

My advice is to think about why you are putting your recovery at risk in order to provide dinner for 5 people.

Get some of the other 4 people to do the standing up parts, under your supervision. You could make stuffing balls in advance, get someone to parboil the veg if you chop it, but no way should you drain them.
Hope you get better soon - been there myself.

Argy, you are right, I don't want to put myself at risk. I am here with DH and ds, 10 and dd, 6 who I plan on putting to work as much as possible. And tomorrow DM will also be here who will muck in with DH (who absolutely cannot cook) to get the meal ready.

But I still want to get as much done today as we can so I can sit back and relax as much as possible tomorrow

Agree pass the ball to dh and mil this year. Just tell him he's in charge of food and drinks etc this year, if he wants you to help, get him to bring items to you.

Thins you could do from sitting:

• peel and chop potatoes into cold salted water in pan ready to be taken outa nd roasted tomorrow. Get Dh to bring all items to you and you do at table and he takes back

• drink mulled wine whilst watching and pointing

Also get kids to bring their stockings into your room in morning. Can open gifts whilst your still in bed. Then get Dh to make basic breakfast like juice and bacon rolls you can all eat from your bed with Xmas music or a
Xmas movie in bed. Kids will love it, and your all together for memories etc, but your resting more still.

Your dh can cook, honestly, even if you tell him what to do step by step. It is turning on an oven and putting things in it. Don't go for trimmings unless your mum can bring them with her, keep it simple.

I was on crutches and 37 weeks pregnant 3 years ago, I didn't do a thing. We had a nice roast chicken dinner provided by my dh who couldn't cook. Now he does a roast whenever he can.

Thank you, I am sat here with a to do list on my knee which I will be duly delegating.

Artandco we do this every year anyway 😊 It's my absolute favourite part of Christmas day. The DC'S bring in their stockings and clamber on the bed, DH makes a mug of coffee and the DC's sit and open all their very well wrapped stocking presents. By the time they've finished we've usually had a couple of mugs of coffee and feel a bit more human and ready to face the day

Also suggest Dh and mil take kid sout for a local walk maybe Xmas day an hour so they get rid of any excess energy and you can rest an hour. Then when back they can settle down to a puzzle with you, board games with you sitting, or a movie under blankets with you.

Your children are at a decent age now where they are fairly self sufficient now which also helps. I also have 6 year old and he can get snacks and basic drinks and dress and bath etc which obviously helps. I would encourage both to help you where possible by bringing stuff and helping in kitchen Over the next few weeks also. Maybe at the end of January you can treat them somewhere for their help

Agree with having DH do stuff. He can surely follow instructions like "peel potatoes, stick in boiling water for x minutes" etc. Get the kids making stuffing ball (make sure the mixture is cool enough).

Write a list of what needs doing and delegate it with step by step instructions

No one taught me to make a roast dinner, it's really just following various sets of instructions for cooking the different bits and being aware of timing. DH absolutely can do it, with help from you sitting down telling him what to do.

Your dh can cook, honestly, even if you tell him what to do step by step. It is turning on an oven and putting things in it.

^^ this.
He's an adult who has watched 30+ Xmas dinners being cooked.
He can read instructions on the turkey and you can sit and peel veggies if you must.