Anyone not seeing family over Christmas?

[MeowMeowPowerRangers]

This year unfortunately it will just be us and MIL. DHs sister and family can't get up to visit as they usually do.
Unfortunately can't visit my own family as MIL will be left on her own.

Meaning my DC won't see any of their cousins or other kids over the hoildays which they love at Christmas.

Any ideas how to make it special for them regardless? DS is 11 and isn't into Santa and pantos anymore and ds is 6.

Every year as always :)

Ok to Christmas Eve and Day but why can't you go to your family late Christmas Day or Boxing Day for a few days and leave your DH with his mother?

We moved away from our home town 7 yeqrs ago, and are now 6 hours away from our families too, they won't ever come to us, so we don't see them. My parents moved to be near to us, so we have them over for Christmas, and they then travel up to see the rest of the family on Boxing Day.

We never see family over Christmas. Just me, DH and 3 DS.

Before kids we used to travel to spend Christmas with in laws. Since kids we spend Christmas eve with my parents. They love to travel over Christmas so works for them meaning we have Christmas just us and the kids its sooo lovely and stress free.

However we now travel to in laws for new year and spend a few days with them and kids also love it as they get to spend this time with their cousins. So think for us its the best of both and it does seem to work for everyone

Are either you or DG working the holidays? If so, could you put the kids in holiday club? Ours do some fab xmas activities and trips over the xmas holidays.

Other than that, I'd enjoy the family free peace. If you have days where you and DH are both not working, you could plan a theme park trip or a walk round a town/city with a good xmas light display.

You dont say why MIL cant travel, but I would say if she cannot travel you need to plan some quiet days at home with her too (assuming she is staying the whole holiday)

DH and i have always worked across the holidays, so we do an xmas eve walk across the local common to get the kids out because otherwise they're pretty much having to be left to their own devices whilst DH is out at work and I'm WFH.

It is always just DD and me... we absolutely love it!

I think she will always come home for Christmas, we have the best one ever and it is all she knows! Adapted every year as she gets older... She is 14 now, such fun.

Can you invite your family to visit in turns over the holidays? They can stay at a local hotel/B&b if you’re pushed for space. It will be a good compromise and I’m sure the kids will love it.

Why don't you go to see your family after Christmas Day? We live spread all over the place with some family further north and some family in the south. So we share the days out so the kids could see their cousins etc.

My old mum always told me whenever I settled down to not start the carry on of visiting family every Christmas (on either side,) or it'll become a tradition. Just have your own Christmas in your own little house.
Some of the best advice I ever received!

We only ever see my Mum - my brother doesn't want to see us & nor do DH siblings or parents. We tried when children were little to see people & they always had their own plans.

I think people who say they have to see people and don't like it don't realise how lucky they are to have people who want to see them.

Nomally have a big family Christmas but last year Covid hit so was just four of us. However made the most of it by eating together over Zoom (two laptops each dinner table so could see everyone, dinner timed for same time) then games and presents together (had split up the games and sorted present drop beforehand). Also have DH family across the country and always go a few weeks early and do presents and family/ friends time early Dec (sometimes end of Nov!). Over Covid also did this on Zoom with help of presents via Amazon. Perhaps you could adapt either of these ideas so it's not so lonely? I know what you mean. I know some people like just immediate family for PJ Christmas etc but for me it's all about the wider family.

Poor you. I loved Christmas 2020 when it was really just us four. It irritates me when MIL gets added to the equation!! But she’s anti-helpful, super fussy and a pain in my ass.

This year we’ve got MIL coming and thankfully my family to keep the joy and fun alive!!