Two Christmas Days?

[Confusdworriedmum]

First year separated from my husband. He has demanded to have the kids from Christmas Eve afternoon until Christmas Day night. I have given in because I can't deal with the drama. I'll probably be on my own Christmas day which is okay.
But I'm wondering about doing a second Christmas day when the kids come back. So stockings, Christmas lunch and presents but I'm not sure.
The two oldest are teenagers and youngest is ND but I think they'd enjoy it. Eldest was enthusiastic about the idea but the friends I've mentioned it too think it's too a bit weird and OTT..
Do you think it's too much and if so what should I do to make Christmas special for us (me and the kids)?

We did two Christmas Days last year, as my DS and his wife were with her family on Christmas Day. We had a rerun of the day but we changed the food around, as we'd all had a Christmas dinner the day before we had a more buffet style dinner on Boxing Day, which took a lot of the stress out of the day.

Yes have a second celebration, call it a Boxing Day one. The whole tradition of Boxing Day began about giving presents (albeit to servants in large houses), so you can say you are restoring something from times past.

Hopefully in time your DC will come to realise how nasty their dad is being to you with his demand, especially if it is other than a one-off.

I think I will go with two Christmases but probably without the roast, as it's not their favourite meal and they'll have had one the day before.
I could do Christmas before they go but there are lots of reasons why that would cause stress, drama and arguments if I did.
Thank you for not thinking I'm mad. After the way my friends reacted I thought maybe no-one did two Christmas Days. Mind you they do have partners that live with them so I suppose they've never thought about it.

I think it is more odd that your friends reacted like that, do none of them do their family one day / in-laws the next, have separated parents or other separated families in their close circles etc.

We always did roast, because the whole family really enjoy it - but if your family don't, then absolutely go with a different meal. Indeed why not make that your Christmas standard every year regardless of the specific day you celebrate if you would all prefer that.

I hope that things settle down for you all and things become easier, it is always difficult at the beginning.

We used to do this as kids! Not like, pretending it’s Christmas again but doing all the same things. We loved it and felt so lucky!

Not the same situation, but last year my son was going away for Christmas, so we had Christmas before he went away-the whole shebang including usual Christmas Eve shenanigans and full on Christmas dinner, we had guests round and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. On actual Christmas Day we went out for a pub lunch.
Two Christmases is nothing unusual for me, I was a forces brat and if my dad was away then Xmas was pushed to when daddy came home, or a small celebration was had on the day and the big fat Xmas was had when everyone was home. Now that my siblings and parents are parcelled out all over the globe, there are still times when we have two or more Xmases in a year :) and yes sometimes that means we are eating a big fat roast on steroids multiple times in a short space of time... We end up. Like Michelin men.. But it's all good fun, and diet always begins jan 1st eh ladies?

We always had two Christmas dinners.

We do take always Christmas Eve, everyone gets their favourite it’s the same every year papa johns and McDonald’s. I’d probably do something like this, no dishes to clean up and kids get their favourites while we hang out playing games or watching Christmas movies.

We do two Christmas days. Santa delivers some gifts to mums house and some to dads. X

I asked my kids how the wanted to spend their second Christmas with me this year (it's my exes turn), and they've chosen pizza buffet and board games in PJs (and the extra presents!). We are happy with that. I'm spending Christmas Day in the Caribbean!