[peking homunculu...]

I read threads like this and realise how lucky I am that my family is sensible about christmas.

The only suggestion I can give is that we act on the assumption that Christmas is a season, not just one day. I will not see my brother and his family on Christmas day, but will see them the week before at the family Christmas Carol function. We always see DH's family on Boxing Day to make Christmas day less stressful etc

Things like this make Christmas easier to organise

[custardtart]

The only suggestion I can give is that we act on the assumption that Christmas is a season, not just one day.

LOL Cookieluck, it was trying to introduce this 'sensible' suggestion that led to all the dramas! Apparently we are just not sensitive enough to other people's needs on the day.

[sebela]

My Father's family have mercifully taken the plunge this year and moved their christmas gathering to the last sunday before - so now we only have three events to attend/host on the day :-). Trying to do two dinners at once every year has been one of the challenges of my last 35 years....

[peking homunculu...]

LOL Cookieluck, it was trying to introduce this 'sensible' suggestion that led to all the dramas! Apparently we are just not sensitive enough to other people's needs on the day.

Wow, custrardtart. If you reject that piece of advice then I'm fresh out, sorry!

Good luck with Christmas, you insensitive beast

[Curly Wurly]

As soon as we had our daughters I put my foot down. We do not do any traveling on Christmas Day. If people want to come over and see us they are more than welcome. My priority is to my daughters, they do not want to be taken away from their christmas pressies and quite frankly, I like to sit down with a glass of something cold and watch them enjoy them.

[STB4]

MIL almost died last year when she found out some of her children would not be attending Christmas day, because "Christmas is for family." DH spent his very first Christmas with my family and we had a wonderful time. Apart from the stinky rat poop covered mattress they produced from under their bed, and the huntsman infestation in the house I haven't stayed over night there since I got my license. This year we are spending it with the inlaws and next year will depend on the baby making, but I'd like to go to England to spend it with my mother.

[STB4]

As soon as we had our daughters I put my foot down. We do not do any traveling on Christmas Day. If people want to come over and see us they are more than welcome. My priority is to my daughters, they do not want to be taken away from their christmas pressies and quite frankly, I like to sit down with a glass of something cold and watch them enjoy them.

DH have a deal that we will do ILs one year, my family the next, then one at home (with the occasional trip to England) so long as both of our family's live within easy driving distance.

[GWTW]

I have no idea how you sort these issues out custardtart! Good luck. It sounds like you need it!

Mind you, this isn't really about Christmas, this is about the mechanations of a dysfunctional family.

I hear you! We have 2 dysfunctional families to deal with!

LOL Cookieluck, it was trying to introduce this 'sensible' suggestion that led to all the dramas! Apparently we are just not sensitive enough to other people's needs on the day.

I got off the phone with FIL pretty annoyed last night as SIL told DH that we are doing Christmas for the ILs on Boxing Day. But the ILs are very upset as they will be spending Christmas day alone, so they want someone to go and see them Christmas just so they aren't alone even though we will all be there the day after. They are the most precious pedantic bunch passive aggressive dysfunction I have ever met in my life!

Oh and to top it off FIL said that he doesn't care about my family or SIL's ILs, it's all about them apparently Well they will be alone Christmas day and I hope they think about why!

[miami]

Oh tell me about it!! I wish the families would realise I have to share DD's xmas holidays with her father!

[Natahs_mum]

I sooo hear you.....

My inlaws are the same there is only 4 households ( 7 members) and they can't work a day to get together.

So they are holding it on the only day we can't make it due to DH's work and he told 4 time he could not make that date.... but they went ahead with it as it suited everyone else.....

He sent them a note (2 weeks ago) telling them he was upset..... and still has not heard back....

I am sick of the way they treat their only son.

At least my side of the familya re normal...

This post has been edited by nassie_gal1978: 07/12/2009, 08:54 AM