Tell me what your Christmas is like

[Choccymumma]

We've got into a bit of a rut in terms of christmas being the same every year and its lost its magic a bit.
We always entertain which we don't mind but some family have managed to spoil it the last few years with unreasonable behaviour, expecting too much and putting pressure on. We can't not invite them as they are main family but I fancy changing it up a bit so we don't make it about everyone else.
What are your Christmas's like?

Probably spend it in church - that is the whole point rather than food and a present fest.

It's your Christmas, and if that is what you want to do, I hope you enjoy your day. If it isn't what you choose, then there are some very interesting suggestions on one thread on how others spend Christmas day on their own.
Either way, I hope it is a peaceful and happy time for you.

@needhelpwiththisplease read your post with interest as both my DDs are young adults now and I expect won't be spending Christmas with us for too much longer ...do you mind me asking how old were yours when this started happening ? I'm kind of dreading it!

At the moment we have a fairly quiet one with DDs and DF lots of walks , sometimes games , TV & good food . See friends either side . Extended family live far away so try and see sometime around .

@rubyslipperss when they moved out.
So dd1 24&dd2 26.
I didn't want them to feel they couldn't do their own thing in their own home.
They normally come for Boxing Day brunch.
Although dd1 has asked if we would like to go to hers this year for Christmas lunch.
Which will be lovely.
Dd2 will be on holiday over Christmas this year.

We always start with stocking, nice breakfast, church, a walk and visits to family.

Then it depends on- if travelling "home", we have dinner at lunchtime with DH's family then presents before our walk, then presents and dinner with my family.

If we stay in our own home, turn on oven and throw in some M&S nibbles while we prep the roast. Light the fire, get dinner in the oven, open presents while eating the nibbles, and then enjoy a nice dinner before watching some tv together for the evening (or maybe playing a game).

Going to my elderly housebound parents on Christmas Eve for the entirety of Christmas Day and Boxing Day, cooking Christmas lunch and going to work for night shift. Haven't seen Dh due to shift working. been my last four Christmases.

does that help make you feel a bit better about your own Op ? I hope so because mine have been shite for quite a long time now and unlikely to change this year although I'm not working so there will be no reprieve from parents 😂

Plan it your way this year, don't invite those relatives that ruin the magic and spoil the whole event. A smartshow 3d video card would be enough, just say you're planning a small dinner for the immediate family and let them go kick rocks.

The same every year. Someone always manages to wind me up and I feel like the spare part being the only single one in the family.
I love the run up to Christmas but rarely enjoy the day itself