Christmas is coming, the problems are getting fat!

This year I get Christmas off but have to work New Year instead (crime scene work still needs doing).

So it was going to be going to DH's family on Christmas Day and Ella and new husband here for Boxing Day. Then my parents invite us to stay (for the first time since we resumed contact) for both days. I don't know what to do - DH's family have been so kind to me over the years that I cannot upset them and of course I cannot upset Ella (especially since her parents don't want to see her over Christmas, charming!).

Any bright ideas?

personally I think both days is jumping in with both feet! If it was me I would stick with my plans and fit your bfamily in somewhere, like 26th!

Just my idea...

Hope you enjoy all of your plans.

honey wrote:personally I think both days is jumping in with both feet! If it was me I would stick with my plans and fit your bfamily in somewhere, like 26th!

Just my idea...

Hope you enjoy all of your plans.

oops, sorry! meant the 27th, the day after boxing day!

Hi Eve

If you arleady have plans for xmas day and boxing day, I would try and arrange alternative days with your parents.
I agree with Honey, the 2 days may be too much
How about christmas eve with your parents and leave mid day on christmas day to go to your dh's family?
It does sound like this year you will be spreading yourselves thinly Enjoy, whatever you decide to do

Well I am just off the phone to my Mother. It is really quite difficult talking with somebody whose sees Christmas as an administative exercise rather than one involving people. It had clearly never entered her head that I might already have plans, after all when did I last spend Christmas with them? (exactly!).

So we are going over on the Monday after Christmas (27th) just for lunch and tea. Of course the next problem will be presents - a less crucial and more common problem of course but just one more thing to do.

That sounds like a MUCH better idea than going over for Christmas Day and Boxing Day! I agree that both days would be too much - I don't think that my family has ever spent more than one of the Christmas Days (24th, 25th, 26th) with one particular branch of the wider family - we tend to portion out the days between people! Christmas Day and Boxing Day, in my opinion, are days that you work up to spending with people who are already in your life - as in, I'd start like you are with the 27th and then see what happens in future. Spending Christmas Day together should be an expression of closeness rather than an attempt to get close imo.

Christmas arrangements are such a nightmare!

As for presents - I suppose general things like chocolates or jewellery or scarves or wallets or something are probably your best bet, although you'll know better than me if they'll be expecting carefully-chosen close family presents and would be disappointed with those sort of things. Good luck!

I delegated chosing and wrapping the presemts to DH. I told him I wanted it to be a surprise for my parents them and me so I don't know what he chose. He is a star!