Anyone planning anything a bit different for this year?

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

Just what the title says really…every year I have my kids, my partner, my parents, my sister, nieces, and their partners and kids for Christmas Day, when we have a big roast and lots of presents. It’s lovely but SUCH a lot of stress (for me! I do all the cooking for 10+), and as my parents are in their eighties now, I do all their gift shopping, too. So…We’ve decided this year that we’re not doing presents, other than for our own kids. Instead we’re going to concentrate on the (hopeful!) joy of spending time together. I’m also not doing a big roast, and instead we’re having a luxury buffet, with cold meats, salmon, lovely salads, gorgeous puddings etc. so I can lay the lot out and leave them all to it! I’m hoping the lead up, preparation and day itself will be a lot less work for me, and we’ll ball enjoy it just the same. Anyone else changing things a bit this year?

OP that sounds absolutely delightful. We will be doing our usual (only me and my DH and two young kids) on Xmas day as I refuse to go anywhere. I don't want to travel, I don't want to make small talk or make teas, I just want to sit with my kids and put batteries in toys and have bucks fizz and croissants for breakfast without worrying about getting crumbs on someone's floor.

We are currently in a family wide discussion about whether to do our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve this year instead, and do similar to you just picky bits/party food/buffet style spread on Christmas Day!

We have young children and last Christmas just felt quite stressful and trashy trying to prep the dinner, get everything ready on time, while juggling Christmas presents, other family visiting, family arriving for the day who stay for dinner, playing with the kids and actually just enjoying the day- plus young children who have just opened a load of new toys (and eaten their body weight in Celebrations) don’t particularly want to sit down for a roast anyway. So we are thinking this year do the roast on Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day we can just relax, enjoy, have a buffet and a much slower pace!

We are usually the default option for caring for housebound MiL when the other 2 siblings are doing their own thing. They all live a long way away and we see MiL fortnightly throughout the year, both working 90% PT to accommodate this.

This year our adult DS will be in Australia, so we've booked a cottage at the opposite end of the country near my family & told the siblings that they need to sort MiL out between them as it's my family's turn.

We plan to spend Christmas Day with a fridge full of bits & bobs, go for a coastal walk and not take the car off the drive. We'll see my family before & after the big day. I think we're entitled after over 30 years of marriage.

Last year we did a Christmas Eve meal in the pub for 6 of us and then Christmas Day I made lovely boards with cheese and meats and puddings. Pinterest was my friend!!

The stress was zero we had time to walk the dogs and catch up on the day and it cost less venue with the meal out the night before, and there was hardly any waste as we just keep munching the cheese and meats for days.

We go out for a traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and it’s an absolute game changer.

First year being separated from h and will hopefully have moved out by then! So that will be different. I think it's likely that we will only be moving around the start of December so hopefully just have a chilled out day as it will be a stressful time. Dds are getting expensive concert tickets so not going to get a great deal else so hoping the day won't be too dull. Will have to think of some ways to make it special. Maybe a total change might be needed

Yes , just two of us this year and we are going out for a Christmas meal on Christmas Eve and the day itself will be a relaxing one . A champagne brunch , take the dogs for a long beach walk and home to a fire , candles , a picnic / grazing board and good films .

We are doing the opposite to everyone here it seems.
We haven’t had Christmas dinner at home in about 6 years (between being abroad, ILs and my parents) so this year we’re hosting my mum and her partner.
We haven’t 1 LO. DH will cook, I’ll lay the table, hand out drinks and sort out present opening/batteries etc.
I know it’ll be a bit of a faff but I’m really looking forward to not having to be anywhere

Yes, I spent last Christmas looking after rotating sets of elderly relatives and so this year we’re going away. No big shop, no cooking, no waiting on everyone hand and foot.

Thanks OP. You reminded me to check if bookings had opened for a renowned restaurant we were planning to eat at on Christmas Eve. Table now booked for lunch

Ah, this is the thread I’ve been waiting for. I absolutely hate the way we’ve done Christmas for the last few years. It’s usually us hosting all the in laws - they are all male and I don’t particularly like them, if I’m honest. Generally I’m looking after the children and trying to keep everyone happy. There’s no female company at all and I dread it.

I really need a plan this year - I cannot wait to breezily say to all of them “oh, we’re away this year” and just do a brief drinks reception before we go.

Inspiration definitely needed!!

Last year we went out to a local restaurant on Christmas Day and had a blast! Then went home to watch tv, our children to pay with toys and we relaxed. Probably we are going to do something similar this year. We made it crystal clear weren’t doing any hosting so no collecting, buying things, serving drinks etc
My first Christmas being a parent l hosted a dozen people for Christmas lunch, lots of offers were made but no one actually contributed apart from my husband. Second Christmas my husband was ill and was lying in bed, leaving me getting over being ill while caring for 2 toddlers. I’m declining to end up as the Christmas dogsbody

This is the thread for me! I have hosted for past 10 years sometimes up to 15 people with in laws etc. My eldest is 8 and I am ready to tell everyone I don't want to do it this year but I don't know how and I also feel like I'd miss having everyone round but I just don't have the energy.

Also end up hosting my mother in law from Xmas eve to the day agter boxing day. I feel awful but I really just want us a family of 4 on Christmas morning.

Following this thread for ideas and inspiration!

Absolutely! I will be single for the first time in 17 years so I will do something. Don't know what yet but I will.

I never cook Xmas dinner.
Dh and I are going to a coastal cottage for a week from 23rd where there are good pubs and restaurants, fabulous walks and scenery. We will take a couple of Cook meals for Xmas Eve/day...loads of cheese , charcuterie and wine.
We did it last year and loved it.

Yep, I'm not doing any of it...... I don't enjoy Christmas at all (wish I did & envious of those who do) - so I'm not pretending anymore just to please other people. Minimum present buying, no big food shop & no decorations. I might indulge in some new pyjamas...

Usually we see my parents and ILs at our house in the morning, go to the pub for 3 hours at lunchtime, then back to my parents for Christmas dinner.

Last year was my first year doing it with my baby and I hated it. This year I've said I'm not leaving the house or changing out of my pyjamas - I'm doing my own Christmas dinner for me, DH and DD. DH will probably still go to the pub for an hour or so but I can have some lovely one on one time with DD.

Already getting guilt tripped by the family, being told it could be the last Christmas spent with my GPs etc. But I just can't do another year of a miserable Christmas running around everywhere

Do it !!!!!
Book it soon and tell them well in advance and have a lovely time instead !

We usually have a cocktail party, but having had a baby that's going to change!

We always end up hosting and paying for everything. No one thinks to offer help or to bring anything. After it costing a Bomb the past few years I’m going simple this year and have an attitude of like it or lump it. Pate and oatcakes, frozen turkey crown (sorry mum you will need to eat breast meat), frozen roasties etc. I am working till 6pm
on Christmas Eve and I’m not knocking my pan in this year!

I’m not working for the first time in 4 years so am excited already.
I think I’d like a chill- ish morning with presents, croissants etc and a nice dog walk and hot chocolate. Then happy to host family here later for food. But I’d do a normal roast with the addition of sprouts maybe and not try anything too fancy… guests can bring deserts and drinks and maybe a cheeseboard. I will have a long lie on Boxing Day… bliss!!!

We don’t need to change as we all live together ( massive house) my mum owns it, we just pay her money for bills etc. so we are always together. Only thing different this year is DP has to work. He’s eating at work as works in a care home and eating with the residents. He’s done this once before except came home for food. Luckily the kids are older so don’t need anything built as we tag teamed between helping my mum with food and helping the kids. He’ll probs FaceTime whilst we are opening presents in the morning though.

Yes! I usually always host both sets of grandparents and aunt and uncle. Last xmas I found extremely stressful as normally I would have DH help (to be honest he does most of it and I help him!) but he had full blown flu so so unwell! So I had to host alone and I found it too much as I have a toddler and totally missed any time to sit and play with her. All my family are very much sit back and be waited upon, literally wouldn't think to offer drinks around or gather plates after the meal! So I suggested we go out to the pub this year for xmas dinner! Gparents both more than happy with this idea but Aunt and Uncle said no (after years of me hosting them I felt a bit sad they refused! (and they have loads of money!)) so will be a lot less of us and means we have zero cooking so hopefully a much more chilled day! We have booked the table and offered to pay for G parents as their Xmas gift so means less stress too looking for the perfect gift! win win!

We normally travel to family for a week over Christmas, but we are expecting twins in November 😱 and have a 2 year old, so I can't see that happening this year!! We will hopefully make it to church as normal, but who knows after that. I am not planning a big roast, maybe oven pizzas and a walk. Followed by hot chocolates, film and a snuggly blanket (and crying babies!) I'm hopeful this might become the first year of doing things our own way a bit more, rather than feeling obliged to travel to see family.

Don’t know what we’re doing yet but wanted to say I’m all for changing it up! Too many people on here feel obligated into doing the same thing regardless of stress, boundaries and level of enjoyment. Enjoy your Christmas!