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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

It’s a Christmas one! -including managing expectations and division of labour

62 replies

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 10:14

I’m doing Christmas this year -we have young children and aren’t that transportable right now. I am fine in principle and do a good roast if l say so myself. BUT the last time l did Christmas the guests drove me mad. Lots of expecting to be waited on, turning up empty handed, monopolising the TV etc. I planned, purchased and cooked the Christmas lunch but then no one wanted to clear up or wash up. Needless to say l didn’t! So l am keen to manage people’s expectations from the off I.e. l won’t be be laying on entertainment and 3 meals a day for the duration. Including driving people here, there and everywhere -that was requested a fair amount last time

I don’t feel like l should have to say anything -everyone knows l have 2 under 2 but instinct says l need to or it will be a re-run of last time 🙄. I’m thinking something breezy on the family WhatsApp group. Some thing that makes clear people will need to contribute and actively make some meals -l know this needs finessing so lm trying to get advice. I am keen for the vine not to be “asking” as it’s not a debate, it’s just what’s happening

OP posts:
Peony654 · 31/08/2023 12:42

honestly I’d try and go to someone else’s. I don’t see how transporting two kids is more hassle than hosting!

Fraaahnces · 31/08/2023 12:57

Write a list and designate. Let them know they can swap amongst themselves but to let you know who’s doing what by Dec 01. Advise who can stay at your home and for how long. Let them all know that no guests will be accommodated after x date and that tea and coffee will be the only beverages provided and all alcoholic drinks are to be brought by those wishing to indulge. Also advise them that you will be writing a cleanup roster, and those who are not cooking WILL be cleaning up.

Soverymuchfruit · 31/08/2023 12:59

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 12:33

Good point! I’m now wondering if l can buy some leave for Christmas Day stickers?!

Might be easier to get a big box / tray, to put all the things that are for the free-for-all lunches. Also then you get out lunch by pulling out that tray and shoving it on the table.

After all, everyone else is going to be excited about cooking their special meal that they're responsible for, and will have their own special ingredients in the fridge. 😉

Actually, unless you have a massive fridge: are there no-effort lunch options that don't take up fridge space?! Hmm can't think of many.

NotMadeOfStone · 31/08/2023 13:04

Is this some kind of multiple-day visitor extravaganza? Can they not just come for Christmas dinner and bugger off again?

Like hell would I have had people staying for days on end when I had little kids.

MadamePickle · 31/08/2023 13:08

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 12:17

@headcheffer not really. But the alternatives are we have to drive their tut around and be at the whim of other people’s timings -lm still perplexed about why my ex MIL wanted to started cooking a turkey for 20 people at midday and wanted the children to open presents after dinner. What could go wrong?!

Or we do Christmas at home just the 4 of us which l would love. But would cause lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth, our 2 are the only grandchildren on either side and always will be

Honestly, let them wail and gnash, and do Christmas just with you. GP's can see children xmas eve/boxing day. We put this in place when our eldest was about 3 (after an absolutely awful Xmas day with my parents - we stayed at theirs, OH did the cooking for everyone, mother started drinking at breakfast and was pissed by lunchtime, and you can probably guess the rest). There was some whining but we ignored it and stuck to our guns and have had lovely xmases ever since.

You do not have to entertain/serve/wait on your family, or pay for the food, or give them xmas day access to your children. You are allowed to have this day just for you. All it takes is 2 minutes of courage and 1 whatsapp message.

fluffysheeparewonderful · 31/08/2023 13:09

OP don’t do it! It sounds horrendous! You have 2 under 2 which is hard enough without all this hosting. They all need to bugger off with their expectations, this is your time to have Christmas with your small children.
I have done similar when mine were younger to try and find the right balance so everyone could see the kids but now we see my family Xmas eve instead so it’s less stressful on Xmas day. We do see dh parents on Xmas day because they live up the road. Luckily all family members are happy with this but even if they weren’t it would be tough, we had to prioritise what worked best for us and our kids as you don’t get this time back!

Jackienory · 31/08/2023 13:20

I'm not going to start thinking about Christmas at the end of August. I work for the NHS so I'll worry about it when I see the off-duty.

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 13:22

NotMadeOfStone · 31/08/2023 13:04

Is this some kind of multiple-day visitor extravaganza? Can they not just come for Christmas dinner and bugger off again?

Like hell would I have had people staying for days on end when I had little kids.

Correct. Distances necessitate staying, plus not helped by a family mentality of not wanting to drive -they obviously don’t apply that to me though. Literally to the extent lm waiting one day for a party to kindly suggest l pick them up from their house and then take them back which is 26-28 hours driving in total. I am planning on chuckling and saying what a great sense of humour they have!

One brave party last week “advised” me which days they are staying. I told them l would get back to them with convenient days that people will be able to stay.

OP posts:
EL8888 · 31/08/2023 13:23

Jackienory · 31/08/2023 13:20

I'm not going to start thinking about Christmas at the end of August. I work for the NHS so I'll worry about it when I see the off-duty.

I am NHS and Christmas requests had to be in a few weeks ago so this brought it to mind with me

OP posts:
Jackienory · 31/08/2023 13:38

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 13:23

I am NHS and Christmas requests had to be in a few weeks ago so this brought it to mind with me

Everybody requests Christmas off because they have kids and family. Well, we all do, but Intensive Care patients have no respect for the calendar. Generally speaking, if you worked last year then you should get some consideration but there are no guarantees. I'm a grade 8 and I've worked the last two which is why I'm not thinking about it because if there is a staffing issue I'll be expected to step in.

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 13:47

Jackienory · 31/08/2023 13:38

Everybody requests Christmas off because they have kids and family. Well, we all do, but Intensive Care patients have no respect for the calendar. Generally speaking, if you worked last year then you should get some consideration but there are no guarantees. I'm a grade 8 and I've worked the last two which is why I'm not thinking about it because if there is a staffing issue I'll be expected to step in.

Well, obviously. I worked a fair amount last year -including Christmas Day and lm community. So lm not very worried

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 31/08/2023 13:49

Don't leave anything open to interpretation. Send a friendly but firm WhatsApp soon. Don't use words like maybe, could etc but stronger words like Not, no and won't. Be crystal clear. There needs to be no way people can say things like, "Oh because you said maybe we could bring xyz, we haven't done' etc etc.

TheSandgroper · 31/08/2023 13:58

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 12:33

Good point! I’m now wondering if l can buy some leave for Christmas Day stickers?!

Here is where you buy a beer fridge for the garage. (Good Aussie tip).

JenniferBarkley · 31/08/2023 14:34

Some of these messages are a bit prescriptive, and might get people's backs up.

I'd go with something more like "You're all more than welcome to ours for Christmas this year, but things are hectic here at the best of times with the little ones so I won't be "hosting" like I did in easier times! It'll be a more casual affair this time, everyone can just make themselves feel at home and muck in, I'm not precious about other people using the kitchen. We're a bit tied to the house with nap times etc so you might want to bring your car this time if you want to get out and about."

Hopefully they'll take the hint, and if not you can breezily but firmly clarify once they're there.

billy1966 · 31/08/2023 16:05

OP, you are getting great advice.

As the only grandchildren are yours, it sounds as if itvcould be you hosting indefinitely.

I would think about this, because when people are as selfish, lazy and entitled as some of your guests appear to be, a lot of women crack at some point and either really blow up during the actual visit, go on holidays or just refuse to host.

There are precious few Christmases that your children are fully engaged with it and beside themselves with excitement and each one is to be cherished.

Spending these days tolerating selfish people, even close family, gets old very quickly when you would rather be enjoying your children.

In your place I would think about this and the possibility of a decade + of this and how you will feel (of course no one ever knows I realise).?

I would then perhaps firm up your tone.

I say this as someone who has listened to the regrets of others that exhausted themselves for some pretty thankless family when their children were young.

Take the good advice on here.

If take out food is an option then have people cough up for it.

Do not allow anyone dictate how long they are staying.

Some will say 2-3 days is long enough when bad weather can keep people inside.

Remember this is your life.

You are perfectly entitled to put yourself first in all of this.

No one is entitled to impose on you so much that Christmas becomes an annual ordeal.

You have agency.

My friends uncle was a very rude grump one year and the following year she just refused to have him.
Her bossy mother decided to have a strop and my friend booked the sun for 10 days.

Her mother couldn't believe it.
They had a great holiday.

She gave her mother space for a good while and a new understanding was borne.

Her Uncle was a lamb the following year, not least because her mother ended up completely blaming him for everything and he had to listen to it for months.

No one owes anyone a lovely family Christmas day IMO.

Anyone who offers up such a day/holiday should be exalted from the roof tops😁.

Whataretheodds · 31/08/2023 17:11

Soverymuchfruit · 31/08/2023 12:59

Might be easier to get a big box / tray, to put all the things that are for the free-for-all lunches. Also then you get out lunch by pulling out that tray and shoving it on the table.

After all, everyone else is going to be excited about cooking their special meal that they're responsible for, and will have their own special ingredients in the fridge. 😉

Actually, unless you have a massive fridge: are there no-effort lunch options that don't take up fridge space?! Hmm can't think of many.

Yes better idea.

No-fridge options: pot noodle, baked beans, canned soups, pasta and pesto.

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 18:24

billy1966 · 31/08/2023 16:05

OP, you are getting great advice.

As the only grandchildren are yours, it sounds as if itvcould be you hosting indefinitely.

I would think about this, because when people are as selfish, lazy and entitled as some of your guests appear to be, a lot of women crack at some point and either really blow up during the actual visit, go on holidays or just refuse to host.

There are precious few Christmases that your children are fully engaged with it and beside themselves with excitement and each one is to be cherished.

Spending these days tolerating selfish people, even close family, gets old very quickly when you would rather be enjoying your children.

In your place I would think about this and the possibility of a decade + of this and how you will feel (of course no one ever knows I realise).?

I would then perhaps firm up your tone.

I say this as someone who has listened to the regrets of others that exhausted themselves for some pretty thankless family when their children were young.

Take the good advice on here.

If take out food is an option then have people cough up for it.

Do not allow anyone dictate how long they are staying.

Some will say 2-3 days is long enough when bad weather can keep people inside.

Remember this is your life.

You are perfectly entitled to put yourself first in all of this.

No one is entitled to impose on you so much that Christmas becomes an annual ordeal.

You have agency.

My friends uncle was a very rude grump one year and the following year she just refused to have him.
Her bossy mother decided to have a strop and my friend booked the sun for 10 days.

Her mother couldn't believe it.
They had a great holiday.

She gave her mother space for a good while and a new understanding was borne.

Her Uncle was a lamb the following year, not least because her mother ended up completely blaming him for everything and he had to listen to it for months.

No one owes anyone a lovely family Christmas day IMO.

Anyone who offers up such a day/holiday should be exalted from the roof tops😁.

I won’t be repeating it again anytime soon at least for the next 3 years or so. I’m not into getting into set plans that “always” happen at Christmas

Last development is some bright spark has suggested l set up food orders with a “few supermarkets” and people tell me what they want ordering. Funnily enough l will be delegating that little idea back

OP posts:
TurkeyHolidayPlanning · 31/08/2023 22:02

What about offering to host on Boxing Day but leaving Christmas Day as just the 4 of you? Then do the same ideas as above with everyone having tasks

TedWilson · 31/08/2023 22:22

So you sent the WhatsApp and they said that?!

Cheeky fuckers.

Say if you want it you bring it.

Goldcircle · 31/08/2023 22:25

Spend it with your little family 🫶🏻

EL8888 · 31/08/2023 22:51

TedWilson · 31/08/2023 22:22

So you sent the WhatsApp and they said that?!

Cheeky fuckers.

Say if you want it you bring it.

Yep. This is why l knew l needed the help of you lot! It’s lots of laziness and self absorption

OP posts:
EL8888 · 31/08/2023 22:52

TurkeyHolidayPlanning · 31/08/2023 22:02

What about offering to host on Boxing Day but leaving Christmas Day as just the 4 of you? Then do the same ideas as above with everyone having tasks

Logistically still difficult due to the travel. I might offer it up in future years as a none offer!

OP posts:
TedWilson · 31/08/2023 22:53

Ok do the Xmas dinner.

Ask for donations of pudding and wine.

Buy loaves of bread and cheese. Leave them to it for the rest.

Paper plates!

Also look at the Taming Twins guide to making Christmas easier - it's great!

babybird123 · 31/08/2023 23:23

Enjoy your children whilst they are young.... spend Xmas just the 4 of you. Arrange to see family the weekends either side. Why do you have to host again?

babybird123 · 31/08/2023 23:24

Jackienory · 31/08/2023 13:20

I'm not going to start thinking about Christmas at the end of August. I work for the NHS so I'll worry about it when I see the off-duty.

How is this relevant to the original post?

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