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Christmas

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Original poster

Total Christmas overwhelm!!

28 replies

Bornunderpunches · 27/12/2025 21:53

We’ve done 3 houses in 3 days over Christmas visiting my in-laws, my mum and then my dad and I’m so knackered, I have a 2 year old and am 22 weeks pregnant so this week has just been too much! My son really hasn’t got the whole Christmas thing yet and was overstimulared most of the time we were away. He hated unwrapping presents, barely ate anything and was acting up so it was just really hard work especially as none of their houses are baby proofed so it was just me and DP chasing him around the entire time as no one was helping.

Anyway we now have to go back to the in-laws tomorrow because they simply must watch him open his gifts which we couldn’t have just opened on Christmas Eve. I’m feeling really irritated and I just don’t want to go at all now we’re home and peace has been restored as the whole experience has been utterly overwhelming and we’ve already spent a day with them and I just feel like it’s a bit unnecessary but I don’t really have a say! They don’t consider how much hard work it is with a small child as we had a family meal at a restaurant a few weeks back which ended up taking 4 hours and it was just awful! I never want to agree to another social event with them ever again!!

OP posts:
yolopp · 27/12/2025 21:55

Put a boundary in for yourself. Explain to your partner that you're tired and need a break. Tell him to take your little one to his parents and give yourself the afternoon off. Don't get in to the habit of going along with everything

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 27/12/2025 22:12

Agree, it is a easy solution. Your dp takes dc to his parents tomorrow. You are too tired and need to rest.

Cornishmumofone · 27/12/2025 22:22

Can your in laws not come to you?

menopausalmare · 27/12/2025 22:29

Agree above. Invite the in-laws to you for an hour or so. If they are that desperate to see their grandchild open his present, they'll make the effort.

Goldwren1923 · 27/12/2025 22:30

Don’t go and don’t invite them over.
feign an illness if necessary

Hoppinggreen · 27/12/2025 22:32

Try saying NO
We did when our DC weere small and have had lovely chilled xmases ever since.
We say that anyone is welcome to visit us but we will choose when and if we visit other people - do we get complaints? yes but we don't care
You do both need to be on the same page though

itsthetea · 27/12/2025 22:32

Oh isn’t it awful you have such a bad headache

MonsoonRainbow · 28/12/2025 06:50

This is exhausting!
Tell them your need to rest, you are pregnant and need some downtime.
I have done the running around to keep everyone happy over Christmas while I was pregnant and my daughter was a baby. I now stay at home at Christmas. In laws and parents can come to me if they wish. It's is not worth burning yourself out. It's your Christmas too and they should be more understanding and supportive.

MonsoonRainbow · 28/12/2025 06:52

yolopp · 27/12/2025 21:55

Put a boundary in for yourself. Explain to your partner that you're tired and need a break. Tell him to take your little one to his parents and give yourself the afternoon off. Don't get in to the habit of going along with everything

Agree with this - don't make a habit of going along with everything. Do what's best for your family not everyone else.

Justbreathagain · 28/12/2025 07:23

I agree with pp. You don't have to Insult them though just have you partner say that you are 22 weeks pregnant and you don't feel well.and need to rest. They are welcome to come to you for an hour to see your DH and DC but you will be in bed. Honestly if they don't understand then they are not worth your headspace anyway.

stolenpromises · 28/12/2025 07:27

Just say no. Your 2 year old probably needs a day at home as well. As soon as kids were on the scene here we refused to go anywhere at Christmas. Our door was always open to those who wanted to visit but doing what you have just done is and always was a huge no. Set your boundaries OP.

Treatingmyself · 28/12/2025 07:38

Why do you always do the visiting? People can come to you? Something to think about for next year.
Or, let your husband take your little one to visit his mum and dad and you put your feet up with tea and chocolate and have a day to yourself.

TheSandgroper · 28/12/2025 07:57

I wouldn’t go, my small child wouldn’t be going and I would be expecting dh to park me on the sofa and bring me food, drink and make sure I had peace for a day.

JM88Jen · 28/12/2025 08:02

Tell them you don't feel well and let partner take him over to see them if he must.

Fontet · 28/12/2025 08:23

Just say NO.

Parker231 · 28/12/2025 08:25

When you have little DC’s, everyone visits you rather than you do the visiting. Much easier in your own home.

Meadowfinch · 28/12/2025 08:28

Stop it. You are over-tired and risking your unborn's health, and your own. Plus your dc is not enjoying all the fuss.

They can come to you or cancel.

Fundays12 · 28/12/2025 08:32

Just say no. Tell your dh he can take him but you are staying home. Its his family he can pander to them.

Next year put boundaries in. Its your child's Christmas and any child dragged to 3 different houses on 3 days will get overwhelmed. Imagine dragging 2 little kids around for 3 days. Your the parent now and need to push back and do what's right for your family. Decide well in advance what your little family are doing and tell them. They can join you for Christmas or not. End of discussion. If you dont do this you have years ahead of you of Christmases from hell full of exhaustion and overwhelmed kids (which only gets worse as they get to school and have Christmas shows, parties, activities etc)

YellowCherry · 28/12/2025 08:34

Couldn't they come to you instead?

Tresd · 28/12/2025 10:24

You tell the in-laws to come to you or it’s cancelled today. You need to prioritise your health.

Next year, you do not go visiting. People can visit you. Your child will have some inkling of what’s going on next year.

Christmas is such a bloody awful palaver.

JetFlight · 28/12/2025 10:31

Op you need to prioritise your wellbeing. You being exhausted isn’t good for you, your unborn child or your toddler. Say no, you’re exhausted and you need rest.

Purplewarrior · 28/12/2025 10:59

Why can’t DH go without you?

JollyJadeEagle · 28/12/2025 15:36

We've just finished a very similar run around and will be on travel strike next year (three houses and an Airbnb with a 6 month old and 2.5 year old). It all ends up feeling like an extreme sport and PPs are right that you should opt out today without any guilt! x

TomatoSandwiches · 28/12/2025 15:59

They want to see your son open his presents, you are not required to be there at all especially since you've already seen them. Your partner can take him and you rest up at home.

SL2924 · 28/12/2025 16:02

You’ve already done in laws? Why do you need to go again? Just say no. This is easily solved.

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