TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lindley · Guru

Christmas

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I have no traditions any longer. Too much is dictated because of the divorce, it is sad. So things are scattered. I do see most of my siblings on Christmas and that is nice. But DD won't be there this year. A few days before Christmas some of my siblings and Mom are coming up for the day to see DD and DS. DS will be here the week before Christmas. I am planning on taking DD to OH next year. Only thing is we can't fly there until Christmas day due to the parenting plan.

Divine Geek · Guru

We have the same dinner every year on Christmas Eve: ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls. Then we go to candlelight service and drive around to look at Christmas lights on the way home. Before bed we open 1 present. It used to be new pajamas, but since adulthood, my mom has branched out.

Christmas Day is pretty low key these days. Mom, dad and I just kind of hang out until sister and her family arrive. It bums my mom out a little, but I think it's nice to have some downtime before the chaos begins.

Lindley · Guru

That stinks Ikwtd. Your dd will enjoy spending time with your family and DS just as much before the holidays.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Divine Geek wrote:
We have the same dinner every year on Christmas Eve: ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls. Then we go to candlelight service and drive around to look at Christmas lights on the way home. Before bed we open 1 present. It used to be new pajamas, but since adulthood, my mom has branched out.

Christmas Day is pretty low key these days. Mom, dad and I just kind of hang out until sister and her family arrive. It bums my mom out a little, but I think it's nice to have some downtime before the chaos begins.

I think I know where I will be for Christmas eve! Or at least want to be.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lindley wrote:
That stinks Ikwtd. Your dd will enjoy spending time with your family and DS just as much before the holidays.

It stinks for DD. I can handle it. Just want the kids happy.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

You are a good mom, IKWTDS. Your DD will have wonderful memories of your Christmas's together regardless of the parenting plan. :)

We get little man this year for the whole weekend. His mother's side will be celebrating the week before, so we get them this year.

Extended family soup supper on Christmas Eve. Cards, games, and general fun. It's always a good time.

The kids will open presents in the early morning. We will have a light breakfast, late. Traditional meal around 1:00, then naps, more games and open grazing.

I have a feeling the parents will be abandoning me with all their kids..

We get little man for New Years as well. Parents want to party kid free. I'm good with that. ;)

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

just Czech wrote:
You are a good mom, IKWTDS. Your DD will have wonderful memories of your Christmas's together regardless of the parenting plan. :)

We get little man this year for the whole weekend. His mother's side will be celebrating the week before, so we get them this year.

Extended family soup supper on Christmas Eve. Cards, games, and general fun. It's always a good time.

The kids will open presents in the early morning. We will have a light breakfast, late. Traditional meal around 1:00, then naps, more games and open grazing.

I have a feeling the parents will be abandoning me with all their kids..

We get little man for New Years as well. Parents want to party kid free. I'm good with that. ;)

Shirley Temples are great! Get the cherry juice and cherries and gingerale! Oh and vodka for the adults. wink

Divine Geek · Guru

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
We have the same dinner every year on Christmas Eve: ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls. Then we go to candlelight service and drive around to look at Christmas lights on the way home. Before bed we open 1 present. It used to be new pajamas, but since adulthood, my mom has branched out.

Christmas Day is pretty low key these days. Mom, dad and I just kind of hang out until sister and her family arrive. It bums my mom out a little, but I think it's nice to have some downtime before the chaos begins.
I think I know where I will be for Christmas eve! Or at least want to be.

You are always welcome. This year I'm making soup on Christmas Day. Something easy that can simmer all day and we can eat whenever.

We have the big family Christmas on the 26th. This year it's at my uncles. Next year we will be hosting. (Extras are always welcome!)

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Your ex is a turd, IKWTDS.

Our traditions are changing.

When I was growing up we went to mawmaw's for dinner and presents on mom's side, then drive around looking at the lights till my brother and I were asleep.

Christmas day we went to granny's for lunch and presents with dad's side and we would visit the great grandparents, I was blessed to have 3 sets, on the way home.

When I had kids I didn't want to do all that, so Christmas eve we went out to see Christmas lights and Christmas day we didn't leave the house.

From the time I was a kid, we had a big family party about a week before Christmas on mom's side. It was mawmaw's brother and sisters and about 100 cousins. Pawpaw and my uncles played their guitars and we ate and talked until everyone just couldn't stay any longer. I have a picture of pawpaw the very last time he played.

Anyway, with my kids, we stayed home Christmas eve, made rice krispy treats and watched movies and that night go see the lights.

But things are changing.

All the kids are older, 2 work, so we are figuring it out.

1 thing that has remained the same since I was a child was Christmas morning.

Every Christmas morning, before anyone touches a present, we talk about the meaning of Christmas and say a happy birthday prayer to Jesus and we thank God for sending Jesus to us.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
just Czech wrote:
You are a good mom, IKWTDS. Your DD will have wonderful memories of your Christmas's together regardless of the parenting plan. :)

We get little man this year for the whole weekend. His mother's side will be celebrating the week before, so we get them this year.

Extended family soup supper on Christmas Eve. Cards, games, and general fun. It's always a good time.

The kids will open presents in the early morning. We will have a light breakfast, late. Traditional meal around 1:00, then naps, more games and open grazing.

I have a feeling the parents will be abandoning me with all their kids..

We get little man for New Years as well. Parents want to party kid free. I'm good with that. ;)
Shirley Temples are great! Get the cherry juice and cherries and gingerale! Oh and vodka for the adults.

Sounds like a good idea. Only DH and I will have all the kids. DS is sending little man to us for four days. They are staying in Omaha, lol. Bigger parties there.

DD will send hers over so the kids can all be together. Parents will get an alone night. wink

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

just Czech wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
just Czech wrote:
You are a good mom, IKWTDS. Your DD will have wonderful memories of your Christmas's together regardless of the parenting plan. :)

We get little man this year for the whole weekend. His mother's side will be celebrating the week before, so we get them this year.

Extended family soup supper on Christmas Eve. Cards, games, and general fun. It's always a good time.

The kids will open presents in the early morning. We will have a light breakfast, late. Traditional meal around 1:00, then naps, more games and open grazing.

I have a feeling the parents will be abandoning me with all their kids..

We get little man for New Years as well. Parents want to party kid free. I'm good with that. ;)
Shirley Temples are great! Get the cherry juice and cherries and gingerale! Oh and vodka for the adults.
Sounds like a good idea. Only DH and I will have all the kids. DS is sending little man to us for four days. They are staying in Omaha, lol. Bigger parties there.
DD will send hers over so the kids can all be together. Parents will get an alone night.

When I build my retirement home on the lake in OH I plan on having the Grandchildren, you and your family can come and stay. :)

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
just Czech wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
just Czech wrote:
You are a good mom, IKWTDS. Your DD will have wonderful memories of your Christmas's together regardless of the parenting plan. :)

We get little man this year for the whole weekend. His mother's side will be celebrating the week before, so we get them this year.

Extended family soup supper on Christmas Eve. Cards, games, and general fun. It's always a good time.

The kids will open presents in the early morning. We will have a light breakfast, late. Traditional meal around 1:00, then naps, more games and open grazing.

I have a feeling the parents will be abandoning me with all their kids..

We get little man for New Years as well. Parents want to party kid free. I'm good with that. ;)
Shirley Temples are great! Get the cherry juice and cherries and gingerale! Oh and vodka for the adults.
Sounds like a good idea. Only DH and I will have all the kids. DS is sending little man to us for four days. They are staying in Omaha, lol. Bigger parties there.
DD will send hers over so the kids can all be together. Parents will get an alone night.
When I build my retirement home on the lake in OH I plan on having the Grandchildren, you and your family can come and stay. :)

Oh, that would be lovely!

Right up until you throw all of us out. The little munchkin's can destroy a house in less then 3.8 seconds. biggrin

Go ahead, ask me how. wink

Psssst, the two year old and four year old are the best at remodeling. wink

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I make curry for Christmas Eve dinner, and we go to my friend's house for Christmas dinner when we are not traveling. We do new Christmas PJs and a new Christmas book and movie on Christmas Eve. Stockings are a must and often the favorite.

We normally do Christmas Eve candlelight service, but this year, Christmas is on Sunday, so we'll go to service in the morning.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Both Caitlyn and Jesse are working this Christmas eve, till 6 and 7 respectively.

So we will see how that affects things.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

My goal this year is to sit down and shut up. Following the family from venue to venue and then home in between. I've also EMDR'd some targets around family Christmas, so hopefully I can do that. At the very least, I can duck into a bathroom and do some tapping. That might help bring down the anxiety and annoyance.

FNW · Guru

What is EMDR?

Traditions have changed over the years. Growing up we would host Christmas Eve (it's my mother's birthday) for the grandparents, cousins, aunts/uncles on my father's side. Christmas Day we wet to my other grandparents' house for a brief visit then on to my aunt's house. (Same cousins from the night before).

Once I moved, everyone stopped getting together. I guess I was the glue. Anyway, if I could make it back, I would fly to California where we would go out to the Golden Spur (a nice restaurant in California that was open) and hang out on Christmas Day. A few years I spent Christmas Day with my ex-boyfriend and his family. He would hitch his horse up to a carriage and we would ride around town and visit people. Then we'd either have dinner at his mom's, sister's, or we'd go out for Chinese. (It was the only place open).

Shortly after DH & I got married my parents moved to be closer to us. After that, we did Christmas Eve with my parents at our house and then we'd all go up to PA to spend Christmas with the in-laws.

Once the boys came, we remained home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Early on, we would invite the in-laws down for a few days, but it was very stressful for DH because he had to choose which parent to invite. Then the other would come back-to-back. I ended up having to take care of two toddlers (with no help, only judgment from the in-laws), entertain for 6 days straight, finding time in between in-laws to launder the bedding, etc., all while going through menopause and postpartum depression. And then the power would go out, the basement would flood, and my car battery died.

Since MIL passed and FIL is persona non grata, we go to my parents Christmas Eve and have an early ham dinner, then to their church for Christmas Eve Mass, back to their house for birthday cake. Then we'd drive around looking at lights on our way home. Christmas morning my parents come over for a big breakfast and mimosas. We open the gifts to each other and just relax all day. I'll make dinner around 4 and then they go home. We've been doing this for about 3 years.

TrudyML · Guru

Skipping it again. Quiet down time at home.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I have no traditions any longer. Too much is dictated because of the divorce, it is sad. So things are scattered. I do see most of my siblings on Christmas and that is nice. But DD won't be there this year. A few days before Christmas some of my siblings and Mom are coming up for the day to see DD and DS. DS will be here the week before Christmas. I am planning on taking DD to OH next year. Only thing is we can't fly there until Christmas day due to the parenting plan.

At what age does she get to start controlling that?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Tignanello wrote:
My goal this year is to sit down and shut up. Following the family from venue to venue and then home in between. I've also EMDR'd some targets around family Christmas, so hopefully I can do that. At the very least, I can duck into a bathroom and do some tapping. That might help bring down the anxiety and annoyance.

Good luck! I imagine that is very hard. biggrin wink

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lawyerlady wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I have no traditions any longer. Too much is dictated because of the divorce, it is sad. So things are scattered. I do see most of my siblings on Christmas and that is nice. But DD won't be there this year. A few days before Christmas some of my siblings and Mom are coming up for the day to see DD and DS. DS will be here the week before Christmas. I am planning on taking DD to OH next year. Only thing is we can't fly there until Christmas day due to the parenting plan.
At what age does she get to start controlling that?

When she rebels

chef · Guru

Typically, we spend Christmas Day with my in-laws and whatever day works for everyone with my family. This year, my family got a new house and called Christmas Day months ago. I don't know what day we'll celebrate with my in-laws.

We usually decorate but have decided not to this year. DS has spent most of the month at his grandma's because they're having fun doing Christmas activities with him and have requested his presence. I think he's been home maybe 4-5 days this month so far. Haven't seen him much since Thanksgiving. Tis ok. I'm glad he's getting to spend so much time with them and that they're having so much fun with him. Once he starts school, he won't be able to go over there so frequently so yea.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I have no traditions any longer. Too much is dictated because of the divorce, it is sad. So things are scattered. I do see most of my siblings on Christmas and that is nice. But DD won't be there this year. A few days before Christmas some of my siblings and Mom are coming up for the day to see DD and DS. DS will be here the week before Christmas. I am planning on taking DD to OH next year. Only thing is we can't fly there until Christmas day due to the parenting plan.
At what age does she get to start controlling that?
When she rebels

It's not a prescribed time? Here in Georgia, kids get to choose starting at age 14. They can override a full custody order provided the other parent is not unfit.

Cheerios4606 · Guru

Well, in the old days, my girlfriend used to have a rum ball party where we would all gather to make rum balls together. since we arent friends anymore, I have picked up the tradition myself and it has grown quite a bit in the last few years. I had to bring in extra tables and chairs this year. :D What a great time! Hubby even serves as bartender, serving disney inspired drinks!

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

chef wrote:
Typically, we spend Christmas Day with my in-laws and whatever day works for everyone with my family. This year, my family got a new house and called Christmas Day months ago. I don't know what day we'll celebrate with my in-laws.

We usually decorate but have decided not to this year. DS has spent most of the month at his grandma's because they're having fun doing Christmas activities with him and have requested his presence. I think he's been home maybe 4-5 days this month so far. Haven't seen him much since Thanksgiving. Tis ok. I'm glad he's getting to spend so much time with them and that they're having so much fun with him. Once he starts school, he won't be able to go over there so frequently so yea.

Chef, I think that's sweet that they can experience this time with him. He'll only be this age for a few seconds (or so it seems)... smile

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Pretty low key for us. We like to watch Christmas movies on Christmas Eve, like It's a Wonderful Life or Christmas in Connecticut. Christmas morning we open gifts and play board games and I am making prime rib for supper!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Pretty low key for us. We like to watch Christmas movies on Christmas Eve, like It's a Wonderful Life or Christmas in Connecticut. Christmas morning we open gifts and play board games and I am making prime rib for supper!

That sounds wonderful.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lawyerlady wrote:
I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.

Red velvet with cream cheese frosting!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.
Red velvet with cream cheese frosting!

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hate red velvet cake.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.
Red velvet with cream cheese frosting!
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hate red velvet cake.

Double dark chocolate with buttercream frosting drizzled with a reduced strawberry glaze.

chef · Guru

Honeys_Mom wrote:
chef wrote:
Typically, we spend Christmas Day with my in-laws and whatever day works for everyone with my family. This year, my family got a new house and called Christmas Day months ago. I don't know what day we'll celebrate with my in-laws.

We usually decorate but have decided not to this year. DS has spent most of the month at his grandma's because they're having fun doing Christmas activities with him and have requested his presence. I think he's been home maybe 4-5 days this month so far. Haven't seen him much since Thanksgiving. Tis ok. I'm glad he's getting to spend so much time with them and that they're having so much fun with him. Once he starts school, he won't be able to go over there so frequently so yea.
Chef, I think that's sweet that they can experience this time with him. He'll only be this age for a few seconds (or so it seems)...

I hear that! I can't believe he'll be 3 on the 27th. He's home for a whole two days this week. Grandparents have requested his presence starting Thursday. He'll probably be there through Sunday.

chef · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.
Red velvet with cream cheese frosting!
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hate red velvet cake.
Double dark chocolate with buttercream frosting drizzled with a reduced strawberry glaze.

I vote for the double dark chocolate cake. Yum!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Try this recipe.

https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/en_US/recipes/8108/hersheys-especially-dark-chocolate-cake.html

Want to kick it up? Add a splash of good coffee and/or a spoonful of sour cream.

-- Edited by lilyofcourse on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 04:25:52 PM

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I'm trying to decide what kind of cake to make this year. We always make birthday cake for Christmas.
Red velvet with cream cheese frosting!
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hate red velvet cake.
Double dark chocolate with buttercream frosting drizzled with a reduced strawberry glaze.

Yuuummmmmmmmmmm.

Momala · Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

LL ~
For a lighter cake, you might like this:

SHERRY CAKE
Cake: 1 pkg yellow or french vanilla cake mix 1 pkg instant vanilla pudding (4 serving size) 4 eggs ¼C oil ¼C dry sherry 1t nutmeg Glaze: 1/3C sherry 2C confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)

Mix cake ingreds. Beat at medium speed 5 min. Turn into greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 45 min. Meanwhile, mix sherry & confectioner's sugar for glaze (will be thin). Pour onto hot cake & let glaze loosen cake from sides of pan. Cool. Serves 16-18

Make it one or two days before serving to let it meld. But its also good as soon as it is cool.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

German chocolate is a good cake with the coconut pecan frosting.

I am so looking forward to our little family Christmas this year, one person will be missed who I hoped would come.

Next year I plan on being in OH.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
German chocolate is a good cake with the coconut pecan frosting.

I am so looking forward to our little family Christmas this year, one person will be missed who I hoped would come.

Next year I plan on being in OH.

I like this, but my family doesn't. Luckily, our payroll service sends us a German chocolate cake every year for Christmas, so I get my fix.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Both my oldest are working Christmas eve.

They should both be home by 8.

We'll see what happens.

WYSIWYG · Guru

Our Christmas traditions include:

Christmas Eve: Everyone opens 1 random Christmas present before the kids go to bed, then all remaining presents are left to be opened the next morning. Midnight audible prayer for the adults, each thinking God for what they individually wish to thank Him for, as well as thanking Him for His son. Then assembly of all the young kids' "Santa" gifts and other things that need assembly. Then bed.

Christmas Day: Wake up and get everyone else awake, Open presents, have a quick breakfast of what we like to call "egg scramble" (frozen "Potatoes O'Brien" that have been thawed overnight in the fridge, ham chunks, cheese, and eggs, all scrambled up and cooked in the same pan). then the kids play with their new toys while the adults relax until it's time for dinner or dinner-prep. Then we have a big dinner that the ladies cook and the men clean up after.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

WYSIWYG wrote:
Our Christmas traditions include:

Christmas Eve: Everyone opens 1 random Christmas present before the kids go to bed, then all remaining presents are left to be opened the next morning. Midnight audible prayer for the adults, each thinking God for what they individually wish to thank Him for, as well as thanking Him for His son. Then assembly of all the young kids' "Santa" gifts and other things that need assembly. Then bed.

Christmas Day: Wake up and get everyone else awake, Open presents, have a quick breakfast of what we like to call "egg scramble" (frozen "Potatoes O'Brien" that have been thawed overnight in the fridge, ham chunks, cheese, and eggs, all scrambled up and cooked in the same pan). then the kids play with their new toys while the adults relax until it's time for dinner or dinner-prep. Then we have a big dinner that the ladies cook and the men clean up after.

Good job guys! Glad to hear that the men step up and do the clean up for the ladies.

DH always does the cleanup here too. smile

I'm impressed.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

And DS should be here in the next couple of hours! Best present ever to have both my kids here together. DD and her friend just helped me roll up the white shag carpet experience and tie it ready for the trash men tomorrow and put down the two replacement wool are rungs I bought on black friday. $150 for two great quality wool carpets.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

I'm considering heading over to wal-mart tomorrow morning for some 'ugly Christmas pjs' for my family to open on Christmas eve. Never a tradition that we've had, but one that I would start if I had my own family!

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Tignanello wrote:
I'm considering heading over to wal-mart tomorrow morning for some 'ugly Christmas pjs' for my family to open on Christmas eve. Never a tradition that we've had, but one that I would start if I had my own family!

That is a fun idea! Do it!

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Tignanello wrote:
I'm considering heading over to wal-mart tomorrow morning for some 'ugly Christmas pjs' for my family to open on Christmas eve. Never a tradition that we've had, but one that I would start if I had my own family!
That is a fun idea! Do it!

I don't think my family would get it. They've always been staunchly disapproving of the Christmas Eve gift opening. *sigh* I'm not wasting perfectly good ugly pjs on them.

sweet tooth · Member

What do you do if you are 50 years old, have never hosted Christmas (always wanted to, but the parents and inlaws always wanted to too, and always got their way), and your adult son who just moved out last year only has time to visit you for about an hour or so on Christmas because of other obligations, but you won't be home for him to visit because you are still doing what you were doing before you even had kids - visiting your parents/inlaws at their homes? And their homes are too out of the way for your son to have time to drive to, with his other obligations? In other words, how many decades have to pass before the parents, not the grandparents, get to host and have their now adult children come home for Christmas? And when grandchildren come, are we even then going to be visiting in our parents homes, although that may mean not seeing our own future grandchildren on Christmas??? And what if your husband doesn't want to change the tradition either, so that no matter what stage of life we are in (even grandparenthood), we will still be doing what we did when we were childless newlyweds?

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

sweet tooth wrote:
What do you do if you are 50 years old, have never hosted Christmas (always wanted to, but the parents and inlaws always wanted to too, and always got their way), and your adult son who just moved out last year only has time to visit you for about an hour or so on Christmas because of other obligations, but you won't be home for him to visit because you are still doing what you were doing before you even had kids - visiting your parents/inlaws at their homes? And their homes are too out of the way for your son to have time to drive to, with his other obligations? In other words, how many decades have to pass before the parents, not the grandparents, get to host and have their now adult children come home for Christmas? And when grandchildren come, are we even then going to be visiting in our parents homes, although that may mean not seeing our own future grandchildren on Christmas??? And what if your husband doesn't want to change the tradition either, so that no matter what stage of life we are in (even grandparenthood), we will still be doing what we did when we were childless newlyweds?

You stay home and see your son.

And make it known that next year, Christmas is at your house.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Survived the first family gathering that involved my new technique of 'sit-down-and-shut-up'. I responded directly to questions asked and just shut up when other family members interrupted and began completely unrelated conversation and fully ignored that I was even there.

1 down, 3 more to go.

Lindley · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
sweet tooth wrote:
What do you do if you are 50 years old, have never hosted Christmas (always wanted to, but the parents and inlaws always wanted to too, and always got their way), and your adult son who just moved out last year only has time to visit you for about an hour or so on Christmas because of other obligations, but you won't be home for him to visit because you are still doing what you were doing before you even had kids - visiting your parents/inlaws at their homes? And their homes are too out of the way for your son to have time to drive to, with his other obligations? In other words, how many decades have to pass before the parents, not the grandparents, get to host and have their now adult children come home for Christmas? And when grandchildren come, are we even then going to be visiting in our parents homes, although that may mean not seeing our own future grandchildren on Christmas??? And what if your husband doesn't want to change the tradition either, so that no matter what stage of life we are in (even grandparenthood), we will still be doing what we did when we were childless newlyweds?
You stay home and see your son.
And make it known that next year, Christmas is at your house.

I agree with lily, family dynamics change when the grandkids come. you just need to let them know that due to you having grown children who can't make it to the grandparents due to adult responsibilities like a job that you will be hosting Christmas at your home and they are welcome to come over if they want to.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
sweet tooth wrote:
What do you do if you are 50 years old, have never hosted Christmas (always wanted to, but the parents and inlaws always wanted to too, and always got their way), and your adult son who just moved out last year only has time to visit you for about an hour or so on Christmas because of other obligations, but you won't be home for him to visit because you are still doing what you were doing before you even had kids - visiting your parents/inlaws at their homes? And their homes are too out of the way for your son to have time to drive to, with his other obligations? In other words, how many decades have to pass before the parents, not the grandparents, get to host and have their now adult children come home for Christmas? And when grandchildren come, are we even then going to be visiting in our parents homes, although that may mean not seeing our own future grandchildren on Christmas??? And what if your husband doesn't want to change the tradition either, so that no matter what stage of life we are in (even grandparenthood), we will still be doing what we did when we were childless newlyweds?
You stay home and see your son.
And make it known that next year, Christmas is at your house.

Yep, that is what I would do.