Changing plans for Christmas day

[Duggeehugs82]

So obviously i dont know what going to happen for Christmas day , i just dont think much is going to change, so instead of having 9 at our house then we will just have our 4 so my husband and i plus 3 and half year old and 18 month old. Is everyone thinking the same and how are u making it speical if much smaller scale day than usual?

We are. I'm pregnant so have stopped visiting family and friends so Christmas will be just me, hubby and the cat. We've never done one on our own before unless we have gone away which we have a couple of times so quite looking forward to it. Gets the family used to a new normal ready for next year when we will want one of the days at home. We've planned our menu so basically filling it with food, games and TV!

Yes iam actually looking forward to not hosting as i was beginning to get stressed at the thought of hosting especially as i have 2 veggies and 1 vegan, and alsp my older daughter has autism so can get overwhelmed with big family gatherings , ive just always been in mindset that its not Christmas unless its big family gatherings

Just me and 2 DD’s here, tbh I like it like that, both my dad’s have autism and we have had many stressful Christmas’s either hosting or at relatives houses. It’s much more relaxed with just the 3 of us.

It happens to be our year hosting MIL. She’s in our bubble.

It means there will be her, DH and me and our 7yo. TBH I prefer it. But I’m from a quiet family.

We’ll be decorating the house, having tasty food that we’ll probably spend all of November deciding upon and playing board games.

There’s a heritage railway near us, so we’re all going on that on Christmas Eve.

Much the same here - I have a 3.5 year old and a will-be 1 year old. Hoping to go to family but very much preparing to spend the day at home.

Honestly I think the best thing you can do is play with your kids and give them as much undivided attention as you can. It's too easy to get distracted by all the other things that need doing every other day, but let Christmas Day be entirely about playing with them, however boring their games may be 😂

Will get everyone's favourites in for breakfast and we'll have a traditional Christmas dinner. Selection of desserts should please my eldest 🙄

I think the way to make it special is to just make every moment of it more festive and a bit of a celebration than normal.

E.g. If they are too little to have a richer breakfast and would prefer what they normally have, cut toast into the shapes of stars or reindeers, serve juice, milk or smoothies with a Christmassy cocktail stick. Decorate the table. Put on some Christmas music.

Have a structure to the day. Stocking opening, then breakfast. Then presents. Put aside time to help them set up presents and play with them. Go and feed the ducks or birds on a walk. Watch a film together. (Frozen or Grinch or Home alone.)

Make sure there's a planned time to Zoom/Skype/Facetime family so DC can say Happy Christmas and maybe open presents in front of the people who sent them.

We do Christmas dinner in the very early evening so DC get all day to play with things, and then they are tired and go to bed. Loads of twinkly lights on the table, crackers to pull and a simple game to play like racing wind-up penguins.

@dolphinpose

I think the way to make it special is to just make every moment of it more festive and a bit of a celebration than normal.

E.g. If they are too little to have a richer breakfast and would prefer what they normally have, cut toast into the shapes of stars or reindeers, serve juice, milk or smoothies with a Christmassy cocktail stick. Decorate the table. Put on some Christmas music.

Have a structure to the day. Stocking opening, then breakfast. Then presents. Put aside time to help them set up presents and play with them. Go and feed the ducks or birds on a walk. Watch a film together. (Frozen or Grinch or Home alone.)

Make sure there's a planned time to Zoom/Skype/Facetime family so DC can say Happy Christmas and maybe open presents in front of the people who sent them.

We do Christmas dinner in the very early evening so DC get all day to play with things, and then they are tired and go to bed. Loads of twinkly lights on the table, crackers to pull and a simple game to play like racing wind-up penguins.

Those ideas sounds lovely, love the breakfast ones, i think its a little different for us as a family as our 3 and half year old has autism and is non verbal so has no understanding of Christmas and wont really tale part in any of it. And 18 month old wont really know what's going on so just me and husband

It's just going to be me and DH. It's our first married Christmas so I'm actually quite please about it.

We've got a bit of a savings pot and we're going to throw it at M&S, have a fantastic breakfast and lunch with picky bits in the evening. Plus some good wine and champagne, card games and dancing in the evening.

We made a decision to stay at home by ourselves a while ago. I hated the idea of last minute changes to restrictions affecting our plans. We're already planning the menu and there will be a few new board games, books and switch games under the tree so plenty to occupy ourselves on the day. We always fancy a Christmas Day walk but never have time for it, so I have everything crossed for a brisk clear day so we can do that this year!

OP, in that case, I'd make it as relaxed as possible - stay in PJs all day and do exactly as you please. But do decorate with electric candles, fairy lights and sparkly stuff. Your autistic DC might love the twinkly lights and tinsel. Have a lovely time.

@dolphinpose

OP, in that case, I'd make it as relaxed as possible - stay in PJs all day and do exactly as you please. But do decorate with electric candles, fairy lights and sparkly stuff. Your autistic DC might love the twinkly lights and tinsel. Have a lovely time.

Yes she loves the Christmas lights, i plan to take her for walk around our area to look at people lights in gardens , hoping more people will make effort as the illumination light evening at local english heritage isnt on this year, gutted as last year it was cancelled on our night as high winds! Yes u too 💗🎄