Can’t say it to those close to you? Come say it here. Judgement free zone.

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

I’ve 4 grown kids. They are all here for Christmas. Ds1 is going home today. I can’t wait. (Of all of them hardest to get on with, hates his brother-it’s mutual. He’s a lazy git.) I’ll be able to relax when he’s gone.
I am also looking forward to dh being in work tomorrow so me and Dd can sprawl on sofa watching shite.
I also hate Christmas cooking.

I can't wait for 18yo DSS to go back to university. He's been here for a week and hasn't lifted a finger to help despite the fact I've been prepping everything for Christmas and DP has been working bloody ridiculous hours due to being a key worker in an industry that's really really busy right now. He's literally sat screaming and swearing at his computer for a week, coming down to get food (and lots of it - including things he knows full well were for meals).

He rarely showers so the whole of the upstairs of the house smells of stale sweat. He didn't bother getting anyone Christmas presents or cards, he hasn't done any washing since he got back so his clothes are piled on the floor where I'm sure they'll stay when he leaves to go to his mum's for a week tomorrow. His room looks like a bomb's hit it, and I have no idea how the hell that happens when he literally sits in his computer chair all day and does nothing else.

We made a lot of progress teaching him respect and responsibility before he left for uni (I don't know if anyone remembers a couple of threads I made) but having his own space and no rules has undone everything and made things worse than ever.

It's put such a strain on me and DP over Christmas because we just keep asking him to do things that don't get done, so we have to then do them, DP's stressed with work anyway .. it's fucking vile.

I even said to him last night he needs to change his attitude before he comes back at Easter. I said he will always be welcome in my house as long as he's being reasonable, it's his home, but in return he has to treat it and us with respect - we have no legal obligation to put up with it now he's an adult. Treat us like shit and he's out. It's entirely up to him how this goes.

I do love my kids really I do. But honestly. Just fuck off. I think ds2 is like me, he made an effort Christmas Day, but barely seen him since. Ds3 and Dd are easy to get on with and I think without ds1 we’d be more chilled. And did I mention tight? And he vapes. And sniffs. Next year, one day only.

I don't know if I can handle another 6 days of people in my house. I'm already a complete mess.
I'm also not sure if my relationship is actually already over.

@CharityDingle

I enjoy my own company, so am almost peopled out by now. Looking forward to getting back home at this stage. Tomorrow beckons...

Me too. Too much time with others really drains me. Christmas Day + Boxing Day with ILs etc is more than enough. I don’t have my parents anymore and always miss them a lot at Christmas. I do love my ILs but it’s not quite the same.

No company today and I am loving the peace and quiet, as is the dog who got really stressed yesterday with so many people around and the bastard Christmas crackers which obviously sound like fireworks to him. I had to work this morning but have finished now and the rest of the day is for PJs, films, snacking and sofa snoozing. Just as soon as I’ve put all the guest bedding in the wash and made a veg soup.

My uncle sits peeling dead skin off his feet in my lounge and my dad will throw a fit if I ask him not to do it. It’s in a list of gross habits that he does in front of other people so it looks like you’re picking on him if you pull him up for it. Bleergh. Lovely guy but the vacuum comes out the instant he leaves.

I love my in laws but they have cooked the Christmas dinner meat on Christmas Eve and served it cold with hot vegetables on Christmas day for the 2nd year running, also cold Yorkshire Puddings. No cranberry, no mint, had to track down cutlery for my son and they didn't care that he didn't have a seat. Why invite us under threat of death if you can't be arsed? I want to stay home next year but they will cry again.

This is the worst Christmas I've ever had. My mam has been in hospital and is still unwell (and won't do a fucking thing to help herself - she'll leave it until she's practically dead then I have to sort everything out and I fucking hate it.)

I sat for five hours on Christmas eve wrapping gifts. Mentioned to my dad that I'd either have to wrap my own or just not have them wrapped and he went "well, you'll have to do your own". Bastard.

I've done everything and it's been shit.

My son came here last night with my grandson and made him some food. He washed up and cleaned the already clean kitchen when we were in another room. He went into the fridge and tidied it.

He took it upon himself to throw away the left over mushy peas.

The mushy peas I ask you.

Please please please DM when I say ‘No there is nothing you can do to help’ believe me. Don’t go looking for jobs to do. I really don’t want you doing the laundry or putting away the drying up. I just have to redo it and it’s created work that didn’t need to be done now. Sit down and be a fucking guest. Or maybe interact with your grandchildren who have desperate to see you.

Oh and while I’m at it DF, DD had had more than enough iPad time. Stop giving her your iPad and calling it educational.

I needed that.

Firstly we all tested positive for covid on xmas eve. This meant we couldn't go to MIL for Christmas day as planned .
My DH then got absolutely plastered and argumentative on Christmas day which resulted in me and grown DC giving him a
wide berth. But apparently I've ruined Christmas for him. All because I suggested that him drinking a litre of whiskey and a bottle of red wine to himself in 10 hours is a bit excessive.
Oh and I suffer with anxiety which has been very inconvenient over Christmas for him!!!

Having had two ops in 3.5 weeks could not sit in the car for long. Mil and fil invited up to celebrate. However they wanted to host and even when told three times by their son, my DH they said him and the kids could come. They went I was excluded. The hosting included not a cooked meal but cheese and cake, when asked what flavour my son said it was dry cake. Horrid. They are not nice people. They have told my dd they will come for their birthday, what 17 year o,d twins really want to share their day with grandparents. Anyway I’m not going to host them dh can if he wishes.

Our 3 adult DC have gone home and I'm sat here crying like a baby. Every fucking year. I miss them all. So much.

I feel so lucky for my relationship with my family . I love Christmas and going home, it's always tough to leave. Loved this year's family time.

@Ilovedogs1 - I think I might be seriously considering ruining more of his life than just Christmas. He sounds like a total dickhead and he'd not be around to spoil next year for everyone.

My lovely DH had a stroke last June. He has recovered partially but does his very best. My DS and DIL invited us over to theirs - her first time hosting - and they did a great job of it. She really did. I was so grateful.

My DSis came with us. And was her usual snippy self - it's as if she doesn't realise that the expressions on her face show how irritated and pissed off she is. All the time.

DH told me that he'd felt every sneery look at him (he is blind on one side, and a bit clumsy with cutlery - but he's my miracle and I love him with a fierce, protective massive love). He said she made him feel as if he hadn't the right to sit at the table with the "normal" people. I could have cried for him.

I'm not going to ask DS and DIL to invite her next year..... she can be alone and bloody like it.

My adult dc and dgs and exh were here for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I am so glad they aren't here again today. I'm shattered, it's been constant cooking and clearing away with minimal, if any, help as they all assume guest status. Dd and I are delighted that I declared the next couple of days no visiting days as we've had enough.

Stuck with in laws in the house til Wednesday. Which also means I have to share a bed with snoring DH alongside baby who wakes every 90 mins. I got about an hour's sleep last night and I am FED UP. Have been hiding upstairs when baby naps.

My DM panders to my Dsis. Always has done. DSis is over 50 now and still calls the shots. She has never emotionally matured beyond the late teens/ early 20s stage. This became clearly apparent each and every Christmas when dsis becomes even more childlike.

Under no circumstances will I be stepping into this role when DM is no longer with us. I will not be running around after her at Christmas or any other day for that matter!

I miss. My dd and ds so much. They both live in Florida. Christmas feels very quite without them. At least they live close enough together so they spent Christmas together. Sighs.

I have COVID. Been on my own over Xmas and has my DD rung me to see how I was? Nahhhh. Of course not because I am surplus to requirements as I am no use to her and the kids!!! I don't know where I went wrong.

I’m catering for 12 people for two days from tomorrow. If someone else (who has never cooked for 12 people) tells me again that I have too much food, I will walk out and let them cook the stuff themselves.

I can't wait to take the tree and decorations down. I stood between my drunk father and mother one Christmas as an adolescent to prevent him hitting her. He raised his fist to me instead but was so drunk ended up in the tree. I hate the fucking things, all they do is remind me. And when my children are ungrateful little sods I want to scream at them and tell them how lucky there are.

@Totalwasteofpaper, on the upside, golden child gets to do the elderly care when Mil is in her dotage. Them's the rules.

By that time your poor DH will have given up on her, moved away (hopefully) and be NC because he's decided that's the only option for the family scapegoat. Her loss, not yours.

My husband left home very early this morning to go back to work abroad. He won't be home for another 6 weeks again. I'm crying in the kitchen so the children don't see. I hate having to cope on my own.

Ooh, I've got another one....

BiL and his family are due over to ours today. Original plan was a 4pm arrival. Then it changed to 1.30pm. I got up early this morning to tidy and clean the house so it is presentable. DH got up early too and braved the local supermarket as he is doing all food for today. We are all done and awaiting their arrival.

They have just called. They will now be with us for 5. 30. I don't care as I have finished all my tasks and can put my feet up. DH is a bit disappointed but will put up with it.

They are good people and we enjoy spending time with them. But they are just so disorganised and faffy.

And they have form for this kind of thing. Lots of last minute changes to plans. Lots of late arrivals. Always v apologetic. But always late.

My side of the family are very different. We agree a plan and timings a few days beforehand and we stick to it. We organise ourselves accordingly. I will never understand BiL's behaviour but I would bet good money that in 20 years, this will still be happening because my lovely DH just accommodates it.