How long are your step-kids visiting for over Xmas?

[copcake]

That's it really - just wondered what was happening in other houses...!

My kids are with their dad 21st - Boxing Day morning, here until 30th then with dad again till 2nd.
We split school holidays 50/50 and alternate Christmas Day / Boxing Day with various splits of the overall time over the years.

DP is hopefully having a meal and gifts with his children a few days before, but I'm not involved and won't be there.

This is my 2nd proper Xmas with DP (we had only been together a few months the first year so I'm not counting that year).
Last year we had my kids Christmas Day - I do wonder how hard he finds it being with my kids when he doesn't get to see his own that often, it must be especially hard at Christmas.

That's a really good point MumsRush .... I personally feel that for kids, anticipation is a huge part of Christmas, and it's a great idea to try and replicate that, build up the excitement a bit. I've never really thought about it quite like that before but quite possibly that might be one of the reasons why I get annoyed with our Xmas setup re: the stepkids because it really does feel as if they walk through the door and almost immediately have a pile of presents thrust upon them. Whereas it should be about relaxing together and having fun and a bit of seasonal indulgence as well as gifts. Unfortunately, I'd probably get accused of being mean were I to suggest such a thing!

That's as shame you would get accused of that , it really is about anticipation . We will have Xmas eve on the 26, family time, festive film ect, then kids to bed and get stuff ready it's my baby's first Xmas so he will open a few on the 25 but most on the 27. The dsc's mum dose the same thing when she hasn't got the kids foe Xmas

DSD's DM, DStepDad and half siblings, and her of course, are staying with us for the week, and her DM/DSD are taking us all out for lunch on Boxing Day. We alternate each year. We're all very close and are all like friends so it's wonderful for us to have her parents etc; coming to stay with us, and they stay with us other times in the year and come over to ours for a drink and a moan a lot. I'm very lucky, Imthink.

On the other hand, DS and DD1 are going to be spending Christmas Eve with their dad and will pop round for a few hours after Xmas Lunch, and then will be with him until Boxing Day evening. I miss them a lot knowing everyone is with us but not them but they love it and love the special, magical time with their dad, so I guess it's good.

Wow, that's very modern WhatTheHell!

Blimey - that would cause carnage in most households!!!!