The annual ordeal of figuring out who’s going to be going where, with whom, and on what day to celebrate Christmas is underway.
I call it an “ordeal” because that’s how it feels to me…it causes the most family-related anxiety I experience all year long, and it’s my very least favourite part of the Christmas holidays.
Two of my step-brothers are visiting from out west, and will be leaving by Christmas night. Celebrating Christmas with my mom on any day other than December 25th is simply out of the question as far as she is concerned. Graham has been hoping to have Christmas dinner with his family on December 25th at some point in our married lives. All of us kids have spouses and thus in-laws, as well as kids of our own in some cases, too.
The year is swiftly coming in which we simply won’t be able to satisfy everyone. I’d really just like to tell everybody that we’re staying home, that they’re welcome to visit us at our place, and to have that be that. And because we don’t have children, it sometimes feels as though it is taken for granted that we will be the most flexible of everyone.
I love my family but I hate the stress.
Oh I remember those days. It sucked. Rush from our house (we used to have a 10 minute alone time in the morning). Then off to my parents for lunch then off to his for dinner, then off to my grandma’s for night. It was exhausting and not too much fun.
When we had kids, we decided to stop that all together. We now go to my sister’s house on Xmas Eve until about 7pm then we go home. We don’t leave our house again until after boxing day. Everyone is welcome to come to our house and I will cook a Xmas dinner for anyone who is here. We love it. Put your foot down and make your own traditions Amy (just don’t tell your mom I suggested it lolololol)
Kolleen Brunton’s last blog post..October
We did that for years and when you’re carting kids around – NOT FUN. I hated spending the entire holiday on the road and by the time you got back home, you were too exhausted (emotionally because you know, it’s family) to fully relax and enjoy the rest of the day.
I finally put my foot down and said, enough is enough. We worked out a deal where we spend all day Thanksgiving with his family and all day Christmas with my family – end of discussion.
My MIL, throws a fit every year because we don’t come over and I guess she’s expecting us to suddenly change our minds and show up. This year is not any different. In fact, she’s moved her “party” to 5:00 so she can accommodate everyone. Great! But we still won’t be showing up because it’s not fair that we spend all day Thanksgiving with her and STILL have to split Christmas up for her; my family gets the short end of the stick (and actually has for years). We’ve told her we’ll be more than happy to participate in a family party on any other day than Christmas day but nope, she won’t budge.
Well then I say, get over it, those are the rules, toots.
Sorry, but my MIL … *sigh* … drives me nuts.
Good luck!
Write From Karen’s last blog post..Thankful for Mom
I can so relate to this. All I want to do it stay home this year. I dont think I can do this if we have kids, sleeping on floors, packed houses, long car rides. No way.
Liz’s last blog post..Pre-Holiday Lull