Coping with Christmas when you don't get along?

[warriorwoman]

Hi
I wondered how you cope with Christmas if you don't get on with Step-kids or if they are badly behaved? I have posted in another thread about SD and her son. I have decided to be out when they come over, but they are coming over for Christmas and so I can't go out!
What have you done if you don't get on with Step-kids over Christmas? If we had a separate kitchen, I could be in there with my mum cooking all day! But we have an open plan kitchen/living area. I think I will do the cooking so I can still be away from things. It's a shame to think like this but I really find it difficult to be around SD & her son.
Has anyone got any good strategies, apart from lots of alcohol!
Thanks

keeping busy and/or watching something engrossing on tv with some chocs and a drink - when you're allowed to ignore people... you'd be surprised how easy it is to take regular half-hour timeouts in eg, your bedroom to do a bit of googling/reading without people noticing. slip away looking purposeful and return without comment. if anyone does ask you can mutter something about looking for something or just a distracted 'hmm?' while you get on with stuff

oh and you CAN go out - after-lunch walks are a tradition in my household. not everybody likes to join you, especially if you time it when everybody's looking particularly full and tired - even if they do, you can stride on purposefully or pair up with your partner.

I sit in my bedroom having stored up a load of stuff to watch on sky plus or do a project that I have put off for ages like paining a door or archiving photos. It is a pain as my step kids visit every bank hol and I work full time so these are my days to be at home for 3 days.

ooh just thought of another timewaster - as it's xmas, can't you spend an hour (or two) on the phone to YOUR family/friends?

These work for me:

Long baths (with a good book!)
Taking dog for a looong walk (to friends house where coffee/wine is on offer)
Ironing (in bedroom with TV on!)
Making phone calls (in bedroom with TV on!)
Tidying up (in bedroom with TV on)
Having a headache (in bedroom with TV on) !!!!!

As you can see I will be spending a LOT of time in my bedroom this Christmas

Thanks for all your replies, they really did make me laugh! I think things would have to be pretty bad for me to do the ironing on Christmas day! I have started to spend alot of time in my bedroom when they are over at other times though. My mum will be over and I will have my DD so I will have to consider them too. Maybe I will get DH to go for a long walk with them all and I can stay in with my mum eating chocs...

pick a film on TV you KNOW they'll hate and insist you have to watch it without interruption with your mum/DD as it's a family tradition.

and, if you were feeling generous, have a game you know they'll LOVE ready for them to play at the other end of the house while you watch said film.

Confession: I don't always DO the ironing... Just get it all out and look busy whenever anyone is nearby!!

Probably just suck it up for the sake of not falling out, fortunately I get on with my SS, it's my ex-partner and my DS's step mother that cause me the hassle on Christmas day. And yes, I tend to suck it up with them too.

I'm a sucker obviously.