Help - newborn + 10 adults coming for Xmas Dinner!

[Wills]

Hi, firstly I bet Mary didn't have to put up with this! Both sets of grandparents and their entourage are coming for Xmas dinner. They don't like each other but since there is a new baby in the house they've decided to all descend. Naturally both sides are offering to help. So now how to I utilise them sensibly and keep the peace without doing myself in!

My mother has offered to take us out for Xmas dinner, but his parents think she's way to flash with her money and will be insulted (especially as they really don't have any money whatsoever). His mother has offered to cook Xmas dinner but is extremely frugal even when there are loads of veg already bought etc and I KNOW everyone (excluding her husband) will leave the table starving hungry still.

We don't have 10 plates, his mum has offered to bring hers down and mine has offered to buy some. Are you getting the jist?

REALLY looking forward to this NOT!

By the way, just to be clear, the kids are all mine including the newborn who will be 5 weeks. Just to brighten my evening ds1 and dd2 are currently singing twinkle twinkle little star to dd3 who obviously has woken up

Oh gosh, that sounds odd I meant that on top of everything else there will only be one set of grandchildren and that both sides will be competing once again to give attention. My mum will come with more presents than we can afford to give our children but his mum will spend the day on her hands and knees playing with them which the middle two will adore and therefore not give my mother the kind of attention she feels her presents warrents her and so she'll say they don't love or appreciate her.

sounds like a nightmare!

How about your mum buys the plates and main course. You MIL brings the pudding and pudding bowls. You do the starters and nibbles.

Get the kids a film and show it in a different room. That way one or both sets of Grandparents will --bugger- go off and watch it with them, leaving you to read the papers/squabble/sleep in peace.

Hmm, like that idea. BUT the Turkey/bird needs to be here first thing in the morning to have any chance whatsoever of being ready in time.

Other way round then, you could do the main course ie turkey and accompaniments and your mum does starter and/or alcohol. Good luck on keeping them both out of the kitchen!

Neither drink very much..... Would alcohol make it easier or worse. Could be a scene straight out of Gavin and Stacey

If anyone offered to take us all out for Christmas lunch I would grab the opportunity graciously accept and ignore those that were offended.
Offended by someone buying them lunch? Are they barmy?

Hmm, my husband's ability to bite off his nose to spite his face came from somewhere.....

Wills, you've just answered your own question. Get your husband to do the cooking after all the grandparents have brought the food with them. You'll have to get the turkey in advance though.