Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Do I invite the neighbours

44 replies

stoptheridenow · 22/11/2025 23:04

Been in my new forever home three years this year. The elderly couple next door are lovely. The wife is especially nice and I’ve struck up a good bond with her, she’s living with her H who’s health is very much failing him and she can’t wait to pack him off to a care home - her words.. he cheated on her many moons ago and she absolutely can’t stand the man and rightly so. They muddle along together as best they can living quite separate lives.. I walked out of a similar situation and she is very much a person in my corner ☺️ I’ve two teenage boys. I see her today heading off to the supermarket and she was quite negative about yet another Christmas pending with bugger all to look forward to. I feel the need to switch it up, open up my home - cook dinner for them both and take the pressure off. It’s just the three of us, we can certainly take another two.. should I take that leap and extend the invite? They have no family members close by and neither do I, so it will be just the two of them.. don’t want them to feel obligated but kinda feel the offer might break the norm and change it up a bit - my two teens are on board.

OP posts:
Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 23/11/2025 08:31

Aww, how lovely of you, this is what christmas is all about. X

Allthings · 23/11/2025 08:51

Amy8 · 23/11/2025 06:32

They’re now friends . You trust friends

Edited

OP and the wife yes, but not the husband who the wife doesn’t like and OP thinks rightly so. As I said I don’t think there is anything fundamentally wrong with extending an invitation, but I am not so sure that I would want to take the risk of possible poor vibes for all of Christmas Day and spoil thing for my family.

Allthings · 23/11/2025 08:58

AppropriateAdult · 23/11/2025 08:02

Like most people in this sort of set-up, they will likely behave themselves for the day and put on a show of being a normal happy couple. My PILs detest each other and lead completely separate lives, but a casual observer would never be aware of it; the way MIL might describe some aspect of their lives to an ‘outsider’ bears no relationship to the reality of it. Long-established couples tend to be very good at putting on a front.

I think it’s a lovely idea, OP.

They may, or they may not. A friend has a similar situation with their parents and every Christmas is ruined due to the undercurrents. I personally would not want to take the risk of spoiling my family christmas due to bad vibes. My priority would be to put my children first. I would however consider a shorter visit rather than the full day.

juicelooseabootthishoose · 23/11/2025 09:03

Would it be better to ask her to join you at tea time for nibbles and drinks so she can come on her own and have it to look forward to?

Walkerzoo · 23/11/2025 13:06

Lovely idea but I would set parameters.

TheLurpackYears · 23/11/2025 13:10

This sounds like the plot of one of the insubstantial romances I love listening to in Audible.
You are about to have a whirlwind romance with a man who turns out to be either her child or the husbands child from the affair. You will take solice in the beach hut.

BeaLola · 23/11/2025 13:18

I say do it

I once had my Dads elderly neighbours join us for Christmas Day - it was great

Pandersmum · 23/11/2025 13:25

OP you sound lovely … as do your teens. Real friendship and understanding often come when you are least expecting it. Your female neighbour sounds lovely.
Invite them …. You’ll make their Xmas extra special, and you will also most likely enjoy something different.
Play some games …. have some fun and if it’s terrible, it’s only a day (but I don’t think it will be!) and you don’t have to do it again!

stoptheridenow · 24/11/2025 11:28

I bumped into them this morning and blurted it out! A resounding YES! So we will all spend Christmas together, she’s going to help with cooking and the boys can plan board games which my two love. They will have breakfast at home and we will do token gifts for £10 and under at dinner time. I’m thrilled that they are coming - our little family just grew a bit more and I’m certain we can all get along well for a few hours. No pressure, stay as long as you like ☺️ is how I’ve left it.

OP posts:
MeganM3 · 24/11/2025 11:31

That’s really nice.
I bet they’re really chuffed to be invited.

Cadenza12 · 24/11/2025 11:33

That sounds good, I'm sure you'll all have a great day. Of

Bayroot1 · 24/11/2025 11:35

Aw how lovely 😍

noidea69 · 24/11/2025 11:38

Your teens say they are on board, but i can gurantee after an hour they will be up in their rooms on their phones as they have had a enough time with the old lady form next door.

You dont mention a partner, are they on board?

mbizzles · 24/11/2025 11:46

This has honestly brought a tear to my eye... you'll have made her day. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Day together xxx

stoptheridenow · 24/11/2025 12:09

noidea69 · 24/11/2025 11:38

Your teens say they are on board, but i can gurantee after an hour they will be up in their rooms on their phones as they have had a enough time with the old lady form next door.

You dont mention a partner, are they on board?

Oh they’ve been planning to get the old boy onto the oculus 😆 show him their 3d printer and thrash him at rummy cub. If they get bored after dinner so be it.. no pressure on anyone to perform. I’m a single parent now - I moved into this house with two boys and an empty shell.. one of the main things that connected us was the story behind me leaving my ExH, hence her opening up to me as it was the same scenario although she never had the guts to leave. They are good neighbours, I’m just trying to spread a little Christmas cheer.

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 24/11/2025 17:28

This is so sweet, have a lovely Christmas op!

Daytimetellyqueen · 24/11/2025 19:58

Sounds lovely - have an amazing Christmas!

Maverick66 · 24/11/2025 20:21

I would be very cautious .
You only have her word and her side of story.
If life is so miserable why is she still there.
Perhaps it's him that can't leave.
Perhaps she's controlling him .

itsmeafterall · 24/11/2025 20:38

Awwwthis is lovely. Have a smashing time 🥰

New posts on this thread. Refresh page