Christmas --bah humbug--

[Stevie77]

This moan could fit really well in the preggo rage thread!

How rubbish is Christmas going to be, being pregnant? No pâté, not Stilton or Brie, no alcohol to dull away annoying relatives .

On top of all that, it will of course be us who'll be cooking and hosting
because no one at DH's family will do it as we "have the space". (Not that anyone will want to eat his mum's cooking). No one even mentioned Christmas as it's just expected we'll do it, like its a given.

I just want to be a guest for once, and be able to leave when I've had enough of their company and not have to put up with their endless wittering, annoying giggling and not leaving DD on her own and them not buggering off home giving us time for ourselves.

I'm harbouring lots of resentment from when DD was barely 3 months old and we were expected to go through all of the above and cook for the bstrds whilst she was suffering from colic AND NO ONE LIFTED A FINGER.

They seem to manage fine if we go away (did it last year to escape) or decide to have the meal on our own.

Grrrrrrr

Why don't you go away this year...?

You're pregnant, no way should this be expected of u. Just say u won't be hosting this year and anyone that kicks off is quite frankly a selfish arse!! Think of yourself and have a nice little Christmas at home with ur own little family.

And if they haven't even asked u if u are hosting this year then really u haven't committed to anything, they shouldn't just assume.

we are avoiding this by having xmas dinner out at a local restaurant. I couldnt be arsed to cook and look after everyone this year, I just want to be able to turn up, eat and when its home time I will tell everyone I am tired and will be going home.to sleep (really just want to chill with dh ) that way his mil if she is annoying me can sod off back to her house and not bug me in ours!

I know your pain! I've been pregnant 2 out of the last 3 Christmases, and this year I'm breastfeeding! I miss my overindulgent carefree Christmases of years gone by!

Feel your pain. We are hosting

You have the option to say that you are not doing it this year.
To soften it up just say that you are tired due to the pregnancy and don't want to spend Christmas even more tired due to cooking a big meal for a lot of people.
If people don't like it then tough titty.

I feel your pain. It's horrible when people assume you'll do it. We are hosting too, but it's our choice as I don't want to travel far and dd will be better off here for napping.

I've got my inlaws, sil, my mum and brother. At least I'm planning in sloping off for a rest in our bedroom as needed, and THANK GOD nobody is staying over.
I will be having a glass of wine. Maybe 2.
Can you get your guests to bring stuff to lighten the load? I'm going to ask inlaws to bring pudding, my mum to bring a cooked ham, sil is bringing cheese and nibbles and bro is bringing wine.
Think I'll cook the turkey on Christmas Eve and get DH to peel & chop so on the day just need to do the veg and bung other bits in the oven.
Also fuck it, I'll buy ready made gravy, mince pies & all that jazz. Not actually making anything myself. Pregnancy had few benefits for me, being a lazy cow is one of them I'm going to maximise.

For some good news.....the NHS website now states that Stilton is safe to eat in pregnancy! Don't know if that'll cheer you up a bit!

Bezza you've made my day. Stilton me up!

Here it is! Hoorah!
www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/are-hard-cheeses-safe-to-eat-during-pregnancy.aspx#close

And you can eat Brie if heated through!

But odd isn't it seeing as Stilton is basically mould! But I love it! Lets hope my sickness stops by Xmas.

I will be 38 weeks at Christmas and I'll be indulging in whatever the chuff I want to!

As for travelling/hosting, I'm very lucky because we're going to my sister's and she lives on the other side of town.
If I were expected to cater/travel long distances, everyone could go whistle. I'd stay home and drink tea and eat party food and watch TV.

You have full rights to refuse. If the family dont understand it just proves how selfish people can really be. If they cared at all they would be queueing up to offer help!

Thanks everyone, it was nice to off load.

To be fair, it's only 3 of them and we (it is a united front, DH is totally with me on this) fully intend to have them contribute to the meal as much as possible. DH will probably do most of the cooking with me managing helping.

It's guess it's really the intensity of them and the inability to end their stay which I guess is worrying me most but I suppose we will have to be firm and maybe a little rude in our hint dropping.

Most importantly - I'm delighted to hear the news about Stilton, made my day!

I would (Will) have a couple of glasses of wine! Avoid pate and brie if not cooked. If they must come to your can Dh cook and family help him?

I am due boxing day and the family know we are not doing anything. They are welcome to pop in for tea andcake but that is all we are offering and they have accaccepted that.

It would be unreasonable for your lot to expect you to do anything.

If you still 'need' to host, tell them this year you are providing the table, they can provide the food. Get each member of the party to bring something specific for the group and the kids (if they are old enough)/young adults can do the washing and clearing up.

I would love Christmas dinner at someone else's house this year as I will be 35 weeks. Last year I was pregnantbut early weeks & did dinner for 12 but tthinking I would have a little baby this year.

Sadly lost the baby in February. Ive only got 10 for dinner this year...

Next year might be easier!