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That annoying guest - what is their christmas crime?

716 replies

MrsWhites · 14/12/2025 13:54

So everyone has a guest or someone in the family if you don’t host who will do something seemingly innocent that will piss everyone off? Who is yours and why? I’ll go first -

My sister because she uses all the gravy and doesn’t get off her arse to go and make more! No matter how much gravy we put out she will always use most of it! It’s got to the point now where we put the gravy boars furthest away from her so everyone else gets a go first!

OP posts:
KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 22:12

Bahhhhhumbug · 15/12/2025 22:11

One of my adult SSs always insists on visiting us in the very window of time ,usually 1-3 when DH and l are cooking/ having our Xmas dinner and pudding. We only do a few full roast dinners a year so really go to town and really enjoy and like to savour it.
We always tell the family they can visit any time except between those times. Everyone adheres to this except him and Disney dad DH will never say anything to him. I know he does it deliberately as he never liked following any house rules from me when he lived here. Year after year we ended up putting our lovely dinner in the microwave (which tends to ruin it) to warm up after the royal visit.
I lost it one year and said to DH if he allowed him to ruin it again and not stick to the small boundary we ask of those two hours and everyone else manages to respect. I said l was going to lock the front door whilst having our dinner and if he called at that time and DH let him in l was going out. He finally manned up and told him .
Just to add SS is an adult in his 30s with his own home, has a full Xmas dinner cooked for him either by his partner, in laws or gran We invited him one year and he just claimed he forgot. We waited and waited in vain, before we had ours. We found out from his brothers later that he hadn't forgotten at all, was just to windy me up.

Edited

He’s your dh’s son?? Why not just invite him to dinner?!

Mexicantortilla · 15/12/2025 22:19

MIL who says ‘don’t go to any trouble’ whenever I invite them! I’m not going to provide meagre offerings when I want to enjoy something, it’s like what we want doesn’t matter!

Bahhhhhumbug · 15/12/2025 22:25

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 22:12

He’s your dh’s son?? Why not just invite him to dinner?!

He doesn't want to come for dinner, he has been asked but has his own sorted and as l added in my edit l suggested inviting him as he turns up at that time anyway and one year he did accept . He just didn't turn up .

YourAquaLion · 15/12/2025 22:26

menopausalmare · 14/12/2025 14:02

It is very difficult to eat whilst MIL and FIL have a snotty dew drop hanging from their nose. Even when you offer them a tissue, they'll pocket it 😯

Ew! So gross. I wud literally be wiping their faces like kids 🤣🤣🤣 I have been known to wipe the side of my mums mouth from across the table because there is ALWAYS FOOD HANGING ABOUT THERE! Arghhhhhhhhh. She is only 69.

AInightingale · 15/12/2025 22:29

TryingToRecover · 15/12/2025 21:57

This has made me guffaw with laughter 😂

Me too. It 's like an Adrian Mole entry!

Puppylucky · 15/12/2025 22:51

Mexicantortilla · 15/12/2025 22:19

MIL who says ‘don’t go to any trouble’ whenever I invite them! I’m not going to provide meagre offerings when I want to enjoy something, it’s like what we want doesn’t matter!

I don't think you understand what she means. It's an old fashioned politeness not an order for you to change your plans.

fetchacloth · 15/12/2025 22:57

TFImBackIn · 14/12/2025 15:11

Oh my god, I couldn't cope with any of this! Who the hell are these people?

I couldn't cope with this either and most of the culprits seem to be male 🙄

Rhaidimiddim · 15/12/2025 23:02

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 22:12

He’s your dh’s son?? Why not just invite him to dinner?!

Did you read the post, or just knee-jerk stop when you got to the "step" bit? Because if you'd read it you'd know that the OP did invite him once, and how that turned out.

Ange59 · 15/12/2025 23:04

Fuckwit coming into the kitchen asking if he can help - when it's all been done

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 23:05

Rhaidimiddim · 15/12/2025 23:02

Did you read the post, or just knee-jerk stop when you got to the "step" bit? Because if you'd read it you'd know that the OP did invite him once, and how that turned out.

Op edited her post to include that rather pertinent fact after I’d responded.
I could hardly read what wasn’t there 🤷🏻‍♀️

Frumpyandfrustrated · 15/12/2025 23:14

SIL and BIL and their 3 children. When invited to stay over Christmas never commit. We assume they aren't coming then (usually with less than a weeks notice, but once with less that 48 hours notice) get in touch to confirm the plans (that we never had in the first place because they wouldn't commit). They will come for 2 nights. Never bring any of the bedding or towels we ask them to so we have to hunting through the attic for spare pillows etc. (And they inevitably complain they can't sleep with one pillow each. I don't know where they think we keep 10 spare pillows and 4 spare duvets all year).

One teen must have his own room, but insists it is the spare room with the double bed (further reducing bed space available). Then our three children end up in one room with two cousins. It is insanely hot with all 5 children in one room so one of their children moves to our office complaining about our air mattress and how much better their camp beds are (that they never fucking bring with them!).

They always say "you must let us bring something for a meal" so we say "great, bring lunch for one of the days- meat, cheese and some salad maybe" and they bring one loaf of bread, a small pack of cheese and some value tomatoes. This isn't enough for even their family, so on top of catering for 5 other meals during their stay (generously- roast Christmas meal, cooked breakfasts, another full dinner with options for their vegetarian etc) we have to rush to the shop to buy food for that other meal.

Their children gorge themselves. One year, one of then ate a whole giant babybel in one sitting causing our child to cry as they hadn't had any. (Luckily they were headed home after that meal as I can't imagine the aftermath was pretty).

The parents always have at least one full on screaming match. The mother usually tells the eldest scapegoat son that this is his fault (it isn't). Think standing in the street shouting and sobbing whilst we try to distract the children and have no idea what to say.

One of their children seems to manage to break some of our children's toys every time and will not listen to instruction. If challenged the parents say he is their youngest and so our children should let him have his way. But he is ages with our children. This child always gets his way. When he hits or bites his siblings and they eventually snap and hit back they are told off because he is the youngest. (He is 9).

Once they left the mother home whilst the others came, because as a mother of 3 children she really needed a break. So they came to stay with me. Also a mother of 3 children. Now looking after 6 of them for 2 nights so she could rest.

There is sooo much more (leaving dog shit all over the garden for example despite repeatedly asking them to pick it up). (And BIL licking his fingers then picking at food in the serving dish) (and BIL taking his socks off and picking his feet on the sofa in the evening 🤮)(and none of them close the toilet seat when they flush)

😡 I must stop.

And no I don't know why we do it, but I will say it means that DH is always very sweetly accommodating of my families crazy so it seems only fair.

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 23:17

Frumpyandfrustrated · 15/12/2025 23:14

SIL and BIL and their 3 children. When invited to stay over Christmas never commit. We assume they aren't coming then (usually with less than a weeks notice, but once with less that 48 hours notice) get in touch to confirm the plans (that we never had in the first place because they wouldn't commit). They will come for 2 nights. Never bring any of the bedding or towels we ask them to so we have to hunting through the attic for spare pillows etc. (And they inevitably complain they can't sleep with one pillow each. I don't know where they think we keep 10 spare pillows and 4 spare duvets all year).

One teen must have his own room, but insists it is the spare room with the double bed (further reducing bed space available). Then our three children end up in one room with two cousins. It is insanely hot with all 5 children in one room so one of their children moves to our office complaining about our air mattress and how much better their camp beds are (that they never fucking bring with them!).

They always say "you must let us bring something for a meal" so we say "great, bring lunch for one of the days- meat, cheese and some salad maybe" and they bring one loaf of bread, a small pack of cheese and some value tomatoes. This isn't enough for even their family, so on top of catering for 5 other meals during their stay (generously- roast Christmas meal, cooked breakfasts, another full dinner with options for their vegetarian etc) we have to rush to the shop to buy food for that other meal.

Their children gorge themselves. One year, one of then ate a whole giant babybel in one sitting causing our child to cry as they hadn't had any. (Luckily they were headed home after that meal as I can't imagine the aftermath was pretty).

The parents always have at least one full on screaming match. The mother usually tells the eldest scapegoat son that this is his fault (it isn't). Think standing in the street shouting and sobbing whilst we try to distract the children and have no idea what to say.

One of their children seems to manage to break some of our children's toys every time and will not listen to instruction. If challenged the parents say he is their youngest and so our children should let him have his way. But he is ages with our children. This child always gets his way. When he hits or bites his siblings and they eventually snap and hit back they are told off because he is the youngest. (He is 9).

Once they left the mother home whilst the others came, because as a mother of 3 children she really needed a break. So they came to stay with me. Also a mother of 3 children. Now looking after 6 of them for 2 nights so she could rest.

There is sooo much more (leaving dog shit all over the garden for example despite repeatedly asking them to pick it up). (And BIL licking his fingers then picking at food in the serving dish) (and BIL taking his socks off and picking his feet on the sofa in the evening 🤮)(and none of them close the toilet seat when they flush)

😡 I must stop.

And no I don't know why we do it, but I will say it means that DH is always very sweetly accommodating of my families crazy so it seems only fair.

Why do you keep inviting them?

TryingToRecover · 15/12/2025 23:35

AInightingale · 15/12/2025 22:29

Me too. It 's like an Adrian Mole entry!

My mum just passed away and I’m dreading Christmas without her, but OMG, this really made me laugh so much!

Frumpyandfrustrated · 15/12/2025 23:42

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 23:17

Why do you keep inviting them?

The children love most of it. And often times we don't actually extend an invite to stay, they ask.

They aren't coming this year though. (I mean... probably. There is still time.)

And once they leave our children tell us we are the best parents ever and DH and I feel pretty lucky not to be fighting and everything is right with the world again.

JudgeJ · 15/12/2025 23:43

Snowangles · 15/12/2025 17:27

@Scout2016 totally agree it's so important !

In laws can make or break a marriage

I hope that refers to both sets if in-laws ad not just hers. Often reading this site I feel sorry for the male is expected to tolerate her family's intrusions especially after a birth.

JohnTheRevelator · 15/12/2025 23:43

Macaroni46 · 14/12/2025 14:56

An elderly relative, likely autistic, but never diagnosed who doesn’t close the toilet door, splashes water everywhere every time they go to the bathroom, uses the shower over the bath rather than the cubicle drenching the whole bathroom, uses other people’s toothbrushes and towels, and last year, to top it all, put the bath rug into the bath tub in lieu of a rubber mat. Also leaves trails of tissue crumbs from where they reuse the same manky old tissue over and over again. Drives me insane!

OMFG you lost me at 'uses other people's toothbrushes'. How utterly grim! 🤢

JohnTheRevelator · 15/12/2025 23:44

RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazy · 14/12/2025 15:18

A relative who insists on commenting on every single persons portion size of everything we eat and telling us that she ‘couldn’t possibly eat that much’. No matter how much we serve her, it’s always ‘too much’.

Last year every time I gave her something to eat, my daughter got in first and said ‘yes we know it’s too much, we know you couldn’t possibly eat our piggy portions, but no one minds if the dog or foxes end up getting extra if you waste it so no need to comment.’ 😂 Loved her for saying it but I was cringing because everyone was smirking. 😬 My son said if she starts this year with dinner, then he’s literally serving her a tiny teaspoon of Xmas pudding.

Just give her an empty plate! 😂

Rhaidimiddim · 15/12/2025 23:47

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 23:05

Op edited her post to include that rather pertinent fact after I’d responded.
I could hardly read what wasn’t there 🤷🏻‍♀️

Fair enough💐

Openmouthinsertfood · 15/12/2025 23:49

KilkennyCats · 15/12/2025 22:12

He’s your dh’s son?? Why not just invite him to dinner?!

She literally states she's invited him before but he just said yes too keep them waiting and wind her up.
EDIT: Just caught up on the thread and read that the PP hadn't offered this information originally. My appologies.

Stayeduptoolateagain · 15/12/2025 23:49

EasyLifer · 14/12/2025 14:25

The person who stands right in the middle of the kitchen "helping" me but is really just getting in the way and chatting shit while I'm trying to conentrate on getting my timings right for dishing up.

My dad does this! 🤣

JudgeJ · 15/12/2025 23:51

IsThisTheWaytoSlamMyPillow · 15/12/2025 17:45

Good on your daughter! We’ve had one of those and in all seriousness, it hugely triggers all the feelings I had during a teenage/early adult eating disorder. I could barely eat around this person, knowing we were all being judged for our gluttony and every time I heard “just a tiiiiiiny bit for me” or “just one little potato…” and the killer “I don’t know how you do it, I won’t need to eat for a day/week/month…” I wanted to scream “WE FUCKING KNOW! YOU TELL US EVERY MEAL TIME AND HAVE DONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. YOU’RE RUINING HOURS OF PREP AND COOKING, JUST SHUT IT”

So much praise for your daughter @RememberHowYouMadeMeCrazyand I wish I’d had the guts to say this. Why do they bother getting up to the table?!

My late MIL thought that men should always have a larger portion, if i did something like pork chops or a steak she would remove some of hers and give it to him then look at me, expecting me to do the same, I didn't obviously and he hated her doing it because she watched to make sure he ate it! Men apparently need more because they work, he was a teacher not swinging a pickaxe all day, I was a teacher too but that was my 'little job' that he 'allowed' me to have!

MoonWoman69 · 16/12/2025 00:00

Sam9769 · 15/12/2025 19:19

That's hilarious😂

Me too! I was always told to hang from the waist, as the water disperses better and doesn't gather in the waistbands if you hang it from the bottom/s! Works for me! 🤷🏼‍♀️

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 16/12/2025 00:13

Father Chridtmas's reindeers who trample through our privet edge and then shit on the path every year without fail when they deliver the kids presents.
And to top it , eat our ornamental grasses

They could easly give that EVRI mob a run for ther money every time.

Louts!!!

IainTorontoNSW · 16/12/2025 00:22

@SingingSands

>> People who pick their dogs up and let them
>> sit on their knee at the dining table.

That should be immediate banishment from 'whole' dinner period for first time offence.

Any second offence means the b@5t@rd5 are NEVER invited to my place again.

I am a cat & dog lover but neither of these pet types ever comes to the dining room or the kitchen.

Mothership4two · 16/12/2025 00:35

That's so annoying @Mylobsterteapot! Had a similarly miserable lunch.

On FIL's last Christmas my DPs were staying with us (as usual). PILs asked if we all wanted to go over there in the morning. I felt I couldn't as had to sort out lunch, etc. DF told us to go and me to not worry about food as he'd take over - he is a foodie. DM came with us to pay her respects too. Came home to discover DF had basically cooked practically everything in either the turkey juices or goose fat and added sausage meat to my stuffing. The non contaminated foods were sprouts, carrots, swede and his chestnut stuffing - forgetting that I really don't like chestnuts. He'd also done braised celery and braised leeks - neither of which we typically have on Christmas Day (or ever really) which were chewy and stringy. I had to whip up an instant gravy for myself with plain boiled water. I was not best pleased.