Every year my Mum's side (especially my mum and Nan) expect that I will be either at my mum's for Christmas or hosting everyone at ours.
On the years we have tried to squeeze in multiple visits to my sides of the family and DH's parents there has been uproar that we aren't spending enough time with anyone over Christmas.
MiL also gets very upset if we don't see her for long enough.
Problem is, my mum and the PiL live a good hours drive apart and DH doesn't drive so it falls on me every year to ferry us about to see everyone. When we host it, the numbers get stupid, last year we had 18 people over! The table literally took the whole length of the living room and I spent all day in the kitchen trying to cook for that stupid amount of people missing out on my DS' 1st Christmas.
Anyway, its only bloomin July and my Nan has already started asking what my plans are for xmas. I told her "we don't know yet" and she was all like "well surely you are spending it with your mum or at least hosting again so you can see me all day, you know I might not be here next year" - she says this every bloody year and about every weekend. Do not get me wrong, I obviously love my Nan and her company but she always guilt trips me.
I'm getting serious anxiety about it all already and DH is really campaigning for just us 3 to go away for Xmas. I love this idea as for once (since the age of 12) I might actually be able to relax and enjoy the holiday season and spend my time with DS too!
Guess this is the issue when there is 3 sets of parents to try and see in 1 bloody day!
How do I handle the drama caused by me saying "actually, it will just be us 3 this Christmas?" or AIBU by ditching family during the festive season! urghhhh
Sorry for such long post!