Share with Aunt Bessie’s why family gatherings are the best - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We all know family gatherings can sometimes be a bit stressful but that in the main they are a great way to catch up with loved ones. The team at Aunt Bessie’s would love to hear how you make your family get togethers work for everyone - from the youngest member to the oldest. What role does food play in your gatherings - who does the prep (and who washes up)? What about location, do you like to visit your MILs or do you like hosting yourselves? How often do you get a family gathering on the go - once a year at Christmas or every week?

What’s the best thing which has happened in your family gathering and what memories do you have of gatherings when you were a child? Do you have any traditions you have stuck with or new habits you have come to enjoy?

Aunt Bessie’s say “a proper family gathering is about more than just food – it’s the shared experiences and the bringing together of loved ones that turn a simple meal into something truly special. So we’d love to hear your stories and traditions!”

Add your story for great family gatherings below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ
Standard Insight T and Cs apply

[gemima27]

we always stay sitting at the table and play a game, maybe a board game, or a random quick game

[Beeziekn33ze]

Be kind to people and keep your sense of humour! Remember Christmas is only a few days once a year!

[JayJay1874]

Getting the whole family together for a proper catchup over dinner is great - especially when mum doesn't cook because it's not her forte. Everyone pitching in to make sure nobody bears the burden of making the whole meal is extra special.

[CoffeeAndEnnui]

Our festive gatherings with our family of choice (friends as beloved as family) serve to remind us that no matter how much time we spend apart, no matter where life takes us, we have a bond strong enough to link us across the miles and down the years.

The stories we share and the familiar patterns we fall into - of teasing and taunts - echo down the years. Our DD is learning to finish the punchlines and join the laughter. Making memories alongside us that will outlast us all.

The smells of Christmas slowly coming together in the kitchen evoke my own childhood and I deliberately start the gravy early on Christmas Eve to fill the cottage with a hint of what's to come when we burst back in from the crib service full of anticipation and frosty breath.

On the day itself time spent in the kitchen is kept to a minimum through the power of fizz-fueled night before prep and Aunt Bessie's Yorkie puds! There are board games to play and old jokes to groan over. Culinary short cuts are the ultimate Christmas gift because they give us more time to simply enjoy being together.

[baconbap]

we had the most family together at my grandmother's 80th birthday party

[clarabella12]

we go my parents every sunday, would love to have them here but our living room is too small for everyone.

[Dan35]

For us its getting the whole family round the table and catching up on each others' lives. Don't invite too many people and keep the food simple. If you get stressed, other people pick up on it and then it's stressful for all involved!

[MAT12]

Our families gather often and lucky enough both families really do get on. We are supposed to take it in turns to host at each others homes but for some reason it mainly ends up at ours. Everyone brings a dish (usually their own signature dish)and my DH always gets the BBQ going (apart from xmas) and the evening is always full of fun and laughter and one thing i really love is that all the adults join in with the kids games and most of the time it ends up with a competition on the WII U either playing Mario carts or bowling.

[NoStraightEdges]

Our family time is precious. My mum had terminal cancer and we know that each birthday/Christmas/special occasion could be the last wonwe treat each one as a celebration. Long may it continue

[jazzitup]

Just me and my two girls will all dig in and help with the big meal and enjoy together.

[ozbird1]

My parents are 84 and 82 they come to my house and chill and relax while I do the majority of the preparation for dinner (dad has to be in charge of the turkey !)
We then go for a Christmas walk with my dog before we all sit down and enjoy our Christmas dinner.
Very predictable but fun with the family.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Family gatherings are a recipe for disaster with my lot, so we simply don't do them. Food is, unusually, a great divider in my family; one branch has a very restrictive diet, and nobody but me can cook - my mother has never cooked for me since I was a child .

[francislee1976]

my family only gathers on birthdays and Christmas with such busy lives, but it makes it even more special.

[strikingstarlet]

If you had asked me even 2 years ago what I thought of a family gathering was, I would have said nope, I much prefer shutting the world out and enjoying being in a little bubble with just my husband and 3 girls, hubby is in the Forces and every moment together as a family is very sacred .

However what is more precious is time, tradition and memories. The tears running down my mums wrinkled cheek as my eldest sings her latest song she has learned, my dad on his 4th malt telling my middle all about how he used to be a cowboy, my sister and I rolling eyes over the turkey over my husbands bad jokes.

Family gatherings are precious because you still have loved ones there to touch and love and argue with and to say “I’m never doing that again” but end up doing the exact same thing the next time as their is nothing more important then appreciating being together with the ones you love.

[lexy2009]

We love a family gathering and play games every time.
The food is the star of the show. A big roast dinner and all plates are always clean!

[sarahw2]

Our family gatherings are great - always fun! We have to basically 'build' a table out of several tables as there are so many of us! It's always lovely to see everyone, and the prosecco is always flowing!

[star1000]

I love holding family gatherings although they are hard work but worth it to see all the smiles and everyone together. My daughter loves to help me set the table and put nibbles out whilst I prepare the food. We tend to have bigger meet ups several times of year and it's lovely to actually relax with everyone and spend quality time together.

[Dessallara]

Because it's lovely to be surrounded by all your family and catch up :)

[angiehoggett]

I loved sitting around the table together as a family after school. At the time it didn't seem cool but I look back now and realise so many families don't do this now!

[VickyRsuperstar]

All our family meet ups involve food! Nothing like a lovely relaxing meal to have a chat and catching up session. Trying to match what everyone likes to eat isn't always easy, but a nice roast dinner including an vegetarian roast usually suits everyone and Aunt Bessie's roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings always go down really well and we have to make a lot of extras for seconds. The host usually does most of the cooking, but as a guest I always offer to help with clearing and washing up or dishwasher stacking.

[molly57]

Give everyone plenty of notice so they can get used to the idea.

[funnygirlthatbelle]

It makes you feel all warm inside and realise what's really important in life.

[hann24]

We only have a small family, but getting everyone in one place is still hard work!

[cathryn1]

unfortunately my hubby parents are seperated and we find it hard as it is as if we are made to choose every family gathering. We love to get together my my parents and sit down and enjoy a lovely meal together

[mumsbe]

Christmas is very interesting because no one gets on both sides of grandparents are grumpy speak their mind and try to offend everyone. But it's quite funny because the granddad can't hear very well and doesn't realise that anyone is being rude.