Elderly Mother

[Lindylou1980]

Hi,
I have my elderly mother and father in law every year for Christmas (I also have this year 2DD 21 &19)
And I would like ideas on how to make it special. These last few years it’s felt like they have come had a lovely dinner and then left. It’s felt abit well flat. Any kind ideas welcome. Mother is 74 Father in law is 82

You could do one of those fun secret Santa games. You all buy a gift for £5 or £10. If they can’t go shopping then you buy some random gifts and wrap them - some funny, some good and some rubbish!! You can get the games online or on here. You pass them around according to the story/whatever version you are playing. We did it with my elderly aunt and uncle on what turned out to be my lovely uncles last Christmas. It was fun. Could you find some old family Christmas photos from over the years and enlist your DDs to put them in a video you can show on the tv.
we’ve also done a family quiz which everyone likes but have found board games have become a bit too much as D Parents become older.

If you do stockings, make sure they get one!

Watch the King's Speech, if you think they would be interested. Watch the Christmas edition soaps, again if that is what they would do at home.

Play games. Not necessarily board games, but ones you can do without having to have super hearing/eyesight, or mobility.

I too have this feeling. I have an 80 year old mother and 78 year old FIL, and two children in their early 20s.The parents come to us every year as there is no one else. Mum is active but FIL prefers to grab the remote and hog the TV. For the last few years I've bought a murder mystery game and my DD, Mum and myself undo the packet and solve a murder - lots of chat ensues along with Christmas snacks and it's good fun. The men then get to hog the TV or join us if they want to - they never do! I had to do something to change the dynamic. The evening is so flat otherwise.