In a tent at Christmas?

[OhFortheLoveOv]

Would you, could you and ultimately should you?
Short story long… we are hosting two elderly relatives (70’s) this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They both need their own room and our home is teeny meaning we are out of bed space …we have as I see these options;
Us in tent in garden
or
the teenage kids in tent I don’t relish either but out of ideas. What would you do?

Sleep in with the teens

@OhFortheLoveOv

It has only really come about this year as it’s first year both of them will be without somebody or someone to spend it with after losing their partners… we are the closest location wise to both of them… nearest other family will either be across the globe or be around 250 miles away in UK.

@OhFortheLoveOv is a blow up mattress in the living room for the teens not do able? We do that on Christmas. Takes 5 minutes to blow up so wouldn’t be up all day taking space

Air bed in the hall then, you can get a portable electric pump and a double air mattress cheap and they can be deflated and out of the way in minutes so don’t even have to put up with them during the day.

I currently have all the kids on air mattresses in my room and they get shoved away quickly.

I have 4 bedrooms and yet my floor is where they want to be

Could the tree go in the hallway? And the kids in the living room? You can still have decorations- pine branches and fairy lights, without using the space a tree would take there. I grew up in a house where there was often no room for a tree but we hung decorations from Christmas tree trimmings stuck behind pictures and things.

Guests would feel mortified to see the family in a tent, I think.

You are very kind. I hope you all have a gorgeous (cosy) Christmas.

Teenagers on lilo's in you room. It's only for a couple of nights, surely the teens and you can manage that. I remember way back when me and my DB were teens - my parents owned a hotel and during really busy weeks me and DB would sleep on temporary bunk beds in my parents room. We survived.

How many teenagers and what ages/sexes OP? Could they fit on floor of your bedroom on air mattresses? Would be okay to all pile in together for one or at the most 2 nights. Or teenagers on airbeds in living room sounds absolutely fine, you know; they are surely old enough to treat it as a Christmassy aberration for one night.

Though tbh, maybe a nearby hotel / b&b for one or both the relatives might be better all round unless they are very hard up.

I’ve camped in the snow a few times and it’s fine. You do need a bloody good 4 seasons artic style sleeping bag and thick woollen thermals though. If you don’t have all the kit, by the time you buy it you may as well pay for some accommodation.

Yes defo kids on air beds in your room.

You sound lovely and I hope you have a fab Christmas OP.

When I was a kid my parents/aunts/uncles/cousins (13 in total) spent every Christmas together is s std 70's 3 bf tce. Grandparents lived around the corner & would come around early in the morning. I'm sure fitting in 2 guests is doable without going in the garden!

As a teen I used to stay at a friends & sleep on her bean bag! My choice over the camp bed

You haven't said where in the world you are OP. If you are in the southern hemisphere then a tent in December is great ( as long as you like tents ) (which I do)
Otherwise if you are N hemisphere then maybe not. (your house is too small for visitors let them go to a hotel)

Blow up mattress in the hall, yes. Why a tent? It won't be raining in the hall.

That's ridiculous. You'll be frozen solid outside in a tent.
Really daft and totally unfair on your kids.
You're setting yourselves up for this scenario for how many Xmasses in the future???
Bet they'll both live well into their late 90s too.

Can they not just stay for the day and be brought home in the evening?

I've camped in the British mid winter, but I'm a mad bastard, plus I have very serious camping equipment.

If you're talking about cheap camping gear, and people who aren't into winter camping and were expecting to sleep indoors, then it sounds very harsh and will be fucking freezing and uncomfortable for them.

Is your bed big enough to fit you and the kids, and put your husband on the sofa?

If either of the elderlies thought they were a bother or were imposing both of them would not come and spend Christmas alone as they have no family or friends that are going to be around, can bear the thought of that so come hell or high water am trying to squeeze everyone in.

That's very kind of you, but how do you think they'll feel when they arrive and see that people are sleeping in a tent to accommodate them? A tent in the hall is better than a tent in the garden in December, but still ...

Nearest Premier Inn. My house is tiny and my parents would never dream of staying here. They always find a nearby hotel. It's impossible to do anything else!

Single air beds x 2 on the hall/lounge/kitchen floor have GOT to be more comfortable than a tent at Christmas!

A good enough tent would be fine - I've camped in temperatures around zero and been fine - used to love my snuggly warm sleeping bag then opening the tent to frosty grass. Mind you, not so great if you need the loo in the night.

Probs best to have blankets/air bed on the floor inside. Everyone budging up to be together is part of the fun, isn't it?

Why agree to host people when you don't have room? Your kids shouldn't have to sleep in a tent in winter its freezing

You might be able to get some accomodation at a Salvation Army hostel,, and leave a good donation for them,, and they provide Christmas dinners too., for those in need,

You could freeze to death. You're not in a position to offer this hospitality.

Everyone budging up to be together is part of the fun, isn't it?

What hell have I entered?

If your loft is floored/is reasonably easy to access/warm enough you could put a tent up there for the teenagers. That would be quite an adventure.

I’ve bivi’d in winter in the U.K. and find it’s generally a warmer option than a tent unless you’re going high end with gear.

I suspect the teens would rather camp out in the living room/hallway but why not offer the option?

Why would u need a tent in the hall way?
Just get a couple of blow up mattresses and duvets?