Anyone else have a nice family but find staying with them over Christmas stressful?!

[Christmas2474]

I love my family but I hate staying at their house! No privacy, treated like a child, no time on my own etc.

I live too far away to for for the day so as a minimum need to stay for a night.

Anyone else feel like this?! Coping strategies?!

How long do you have to stay for? Could you stay in a hotel or b&b?

They’d be so offended if I did that. It would be even more stressful. I had considered it though...

Have to stay at least one night really. Wish I lived closer so I could go home and come back the next day!

Yes can you stay at a hotel? I use to have to sleep on the sofa which resulted in being woken at 6am then not being able to go to bed until 12am. Paying for a hotel was worth it!

No they have room. It’s just the sleeping over I hate. I can deal with it when I know I get to go home the same day haha

We have been together 20 years and have never stayed in someone else's home. We have had just 2 overnight guests here for a total of probably 4 nights. We love friends and family dearly but just feel its invasive having guests (we are both a tad controlling tbh). Currently debating whether to have a family member stay on Christmas day. I really dont want to start it as it will be the same for the next 30 odd years then. Dh doesnt want to either but we feel we should. It will spoil boxing day for me, which is my absolute favourite day of the whole festive period. I totally sympathise with you op

It’s rubbish isn’t it! I’m totally fine with sharing lunch and the general day and staying late, just not actually sleeping! Argh wish i could magic us back to our place

We will be doing 4 nights in a small space with a well meaning but very different MIL...

I love my parents, no problem there. And I do love my sister but I find her kids really really hard work!! We just parent very differently and they are always arguing!! I'm hoping for not much of an overlap of our visits home to be honest!!

I feel the same, but I just think it’s obly one night, so just get on with it .

We’re off to see my brother in Australia soon. He has plenty of room for us to stay but we’re off to a hotel, only a 10 min walk away, because I just couldn’t stay with him for that length of time.

Every Christmas I am grateful that I live around the corner from my parents whereas my sister lives 4 hours away. It may mean that I'm on call for everything they need during the year and no doubt I will do more than my "share" as they get older, but at least I don't have to stay overnight when I visit!

They're lovely. You couldn't ask for more supportive parents but...

I wouldn't like it .. like my own space but could you go next weekend and have the visit over so you can enjoy christmas itself? I went to in-laws for Christmas dinner and it was awful. No music no tv no crackers and dry leftover meat and overdone veg. Bisto gravy tub was the centrepiece.
So I have them here now. I do like them but christmas should be enjoyable and happy.

I love my family and I do stay over regularly.
But Christmas..!!??
Nope - I book into a hotel nearby.
I need to get away from it all for the night so, hotel, then back the next day. I need that bit of breathing space and as I'm 'old' I do as I please and they accept that.

Me too. I really do love them all, but it nearly kills me. I'm not far off 50 and can't quite believe I still do it. My nearly grown up DC, think it is insane!!!!!!
No one is happier than me on 27th December when it's all done for another year.