Hi I know it's early and we're only coming into half way of the year ! But I just want to spend Christmas with my partner and children have a nice relaxing time in our own comforts and not have to worry about others. My mother in law lives 6 hours away and also has her birthday on Christmas day and last year spent Christmas at our house and stayed for over a week. We are also in a 1 bedroom flat which we gave up our living room and changed it into 2 bedrooms so we can accommodate our 2 children and me and my partner so we have no space for us basically so whenever she stays there is literally no space left at all. So she's sat in mine and my partners bedroom all day with us .She also brings way to much stuff with her a giant suitcase. Clothes on hangers which she hangs up in my tiny hallway it's just a lot when we don't have space . Anyway I mentioned to my partner I want our own Christmas this year and he said what about my mum ? She's going to be on her own and I do feel bad but at the same time I want my own space and my own family traditions ect . I just hate feeling like I can't relax or be myself when I have visitors . She likes to try and come down every 2 months and stays for a whole week I would prefer this to be longer stretches without her visiting tbh but my partner doesn't understand he thinks I don't like his mum but I just like my own space and really feel like I have to put on a whole act when she's here and it's draining. I've gone on a bit of a rant but I'm wanting to know if it's ok to have Christmas without extra people! I don't mind every other year she comes down but every year without our own Christmas makes me feel so sad . Both my mother in law and partner hate Christmas which also makes it hard for me to get into the magic feels like I would if I was on my own with my children because I absolutely Love Christmas