That is why I made *rules* before we had kids so that no one could manipulate things. DH used to have us make stops all over creation every holiday before that. So now, Christmas Eve is with DH's family (my inlaws invite my parents and whoever else may be visiting so that is their choice); Christmas morning is spent opening gifts with the kids (just DH, the kids, me) sometimes we have relatives from out of town and they are at the house then, too - again, their choice; my kids MUST have a nap b/c otherwise, the day is unbearable; the rest of the day is spent with my family whatever we/they decide (I put the kabosh on going certain places/doing certain things b/c it is not what is best for the kids and we spend New Years' day with my family most often and can see them then). The kids and I have the whole week off between Christmas and New Years to do the rest. Since DH is pretty much absent the whole month of December before Christmas Day, I do ALL preparations and thus get to decide b/c I know what is best by then.
CATHY_T
Posts: 10339
12/23/10 9:36 A
I am dreading having to make extra stops on our way to visit our ILs for Christmas day - we are supposed to be "dropping in" at a friend's to exchange gifts, and now Grandma has called to ask can we go to their house for the boys to open their gifts since our ILs have a small place and there won't be room. All 3 places are pretty close together, but it just eats up the whole morning, when it would've been nice to go to church as a family and have time to open our family gifts at home instead of rushing the boys to get into the car!
BRIELLESMAMA
Posts: 3829
12/23/10 8:14 A
Sorry, Nance! UGH!
It doesn't take a very strong person to carry a grudge!
Married nearly 22 years. We are blessed with 4 children and 2 angel babies. My sweetheart says I look quite good for having had 6 children! :-) He is a keeper!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!" Jim Elliot
FIRSTSKINBABY
Posts: 3703
12/21/10 8:18 P
Ugh! I dread dealing with my middle sister trying to manipulating everything to go her way all the time. I'm too mad to even write about it right now!
BRIELLESMAMA
Posts: 3829
12/19/10 9:41 P
Dauphin - hope you have some fun jabs and good laughs with your sibs!
Linda - sorry you have to bite your tongue, but in the long run at least your words won't bite your bu++! *wink* When you are tempted, know there are others of us who are cheering you on (to bite your tongue) and you can vent to us later. :-D There will be some satisfaction in THAT! *wink* Love you!!!
I dread stepping on the scale in January!!!
It doesn't take a very strong person to carry a grudge!
Married nearly 22 years. We are blessed with 4 children and 2 angel babies. My sweetheart says I look quite good for having had 6 children! :-) He is a keeper!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!" Jim Elliot
DAUPHINS3
Posts: 3135
12/19/10 9:29 P
I hate "life" games, too (like HM, I love fun games, though, even the teasing kind that my sibs and I play when we get together - just between us, no one gets hurt). I just KNOW there will be a few choice ones coming up.
LILPAWS
Posts: 4944
12/19/10 8:25 P
I hate the fact that I'm not allowed to speak my mind re robert's bro and sil at his parents house when the bro and sil are there. they are selfish crappy people and I have wanted to give them a piece of my mind for a few years now. It gets closer and closer to the top every time I have to see them (like twice a year)...
~Linda~
www.kodakgallery.com/lilpaws
BRIELLESMAMA
Posts: 3829
12/19/10 7:13 P
I hate "games" - I love board games, table games, outdoor sports type games, etc. BUT, LIFE games - GROAN!!! Sorry Andi, that it is your MIL who likes to play them! I have "one of those" - thankfully not closely related to me, but I cannot "get away from her", so she might as well be closely related to me! :-P
Well, the Christmas party is over and the "doofus" DID make a "fool of himself", but this year it was about his WIFE's present! I felt sooooo badly for her - you could TOTALLY tell that she was embarrassed and there were even others that tried to help him dig out of his hole. It was dreadful! I really don't think he MEANT to be rude...maybe his social skills need a little work. I think that may be it. I was sitting beside him this year (haha) and I felt TERRIBLE for his wife.
Christmas party is OVER - I got the starts of a migraine at the party on Saturday night and here it is...MONDAY...and I cannot freaking shake the migraine. Oh yah - gotta love it! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Tonight is a "couples dinner" that we are going to - it is a fund raiser for one of the senior girls and I am REALLY looking forward to being out with my sweetheart and NOT cooking dinner! :-)
It doesn't take a very strong person to carry a grudge!
Married nearly 22 years. We are blessed with 4 children and 2 angel babies. My sweetheart says I look quite good for having had 6 children! :-) He is a keeper!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!" Jim Elliot
DAUPHINS3
Posts: 3135
12/12/10 3:18 P
Did I mention I hate the stress of coming up with the perfect gift, and the expense?
DAUPHINS3
Posts: 3135
12/8/10 11:30 P
Thanks HM!
The biggest problem with not touching for my guys is that they are fascinated with everything moving, shiny and lit up (everything Christmas) and they have not had the opportunity to get used to it at home since I still have not had time to get all the stuff out.
Fortunately, they have 1 older female cousin that they absolutely adore and she is so good with them that I often get a break at family functions for a few minutes at least. I just don't want to expect her to be my sitter.
I totally plan to bribe them with candy and cookies. That is why they will be fed dinner before we leave, they don't eat the 7 fishes anyway. Funny thing is that they'd rather have the fruit and veggies, cheese and crackers.
BRIELLESMAMA
Posts: 3829
12/8/10 9:02 P
Oh my, Karen - you poor dear! I hated it when we went to people's homes who had breakable pretties within their reach. It is NOT fun! So what if the kids SHOULD know not to touch. They are KIDS!!! Thankfully, Brielle was oblivious to pretties when she was little. She was my exception as a one and two year old and a reward for not giving up on my older three!!! *wink* I know your pain - I have been there!!! (including the dh that would "check in on me" every once in awhile - LOL)
Dauphin - UGH having to do that ALONE!!! And having judgmental people - GROAN! I hope your boys are little cherubs this year and amaze even YOU. :-) (Bribe them! They are at the age where bribes totally work. *wink*)
For you others, I hope your season is happier than any you have remembered for awhile - that people are on exceptionally good behavior and kind. Oh...kindness - such a wonderful thing!
It doesn't take a very strong person to carry a grudge!
Married nearly 22 years. We are blessed with 4 children and 2 angel babies. My sweetheart says I look quite good for having had 6 children! :-) He is a keeper!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!" Jim Elliot
DAUPHINS3
Posts: 3135
12/8/10 1:55 P
HM - That person will look bad enough be so ungracious about a gift. I feel sorry for the person whose feelings will be hurt. Just go, have fun and ignore the bad.
What I dread...Let's see, Christmas Eve is spent at the in-laws for the huge family dinner of 7 fishes. It's really great, but DH will be working so it is another thing he misses with the kids. I have to get the kids dressed, loaded to get there alone, try to corral them away from all the stuff they can't touch, from running and getting overexcited (not from the sugar overdose, but who isn't excited on Christmas Eve?) and then we will be bombarded by my nieces for the boys to open their gifts as soon as we walk in the door. It is a tradition to wait until the extended family leaves and just the grandchildren are left, but somehow, one group of cousins gets permission to dive in from their parents (they make their own rules and no one has the guts to speak up). The rest of us make our kids wait out of respect. Then, the father of that particular group of cousins has to judge my parenting and my children (at least my kids aren't disrespecting the family and/or bullying the little ones).
The next day, I dread listening to people complain about everything.
Karen, I feel for you about the whole Christmas day at the family's house. Is there a toy or quiet game that you could bring to occupy the kids (coloring, a deck of cards, etc.)? I have been trying to come up with something myself - something to include all the little ones and maybe have the older ones supervise to a degree so I can help or at least get to say hi to everyone.
Edited by: DAUPHINS3 at: 12/8/2010 (14:00)
ANNIELSU
Posts: 5150
12/8/10 10:14 A
I suck at gift giving (Sorry Secret Santa recipient). I dread having people open my presents. I also dread all the presents that Jimmy is going to get, and having to find a place for everything in my stuffed house. We're going to have to get rid of a SERIOUS amount of toys soon.
James Atticus (Jimmy), born July 10, 2006.
MARKNCALSMOMMY
Posts: 8270
12/8/10 8:16 A
I don't like having to split my time between families. My ILs are awesome, but I don't like having to do Christmas away from my family every other year. I wish everyone lived close enough so that we could see everyone on Christmas day.
~*Molly*~
BRIELLESMAMA
Posts: 3829
12/7/10 10:59 P
I understand, Nance! Not all people are created equal...and there are people I would LOVE to have come, and others...not so much. Hope he shocks you and has grown up a bit in the past 12 months! ;-)
Sorry about your sister and all the terrific food you will have to pass up, though! ugh!
It doesn't take a very strong person to carry a grudge!
Married nearly 22 years. We are blessed with 4 children and 2 angel babies. My sweetheart says I look quite good for having had 6 children! :-) He is a keeper!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!" Jim Elliot
FIRSTSKINBABY
Posts: 3703
12/7/10 8:59 P
That would bother me too HM!
I'm dreading BIL staying with us over Christmas. I feel badly for saying that because I know you (HM) would probably give anything to have more family around at Christmas. I don't want to be waiting on him hand and foot. I don't want him eating and drinking us out of house and home.
I'm also dreading dealing with my sister and her selfish antics. She likes everything to revolve around her schedule and her kids. If it doesn't, she complains about it for weeks.
I'm dreading all the wonderful food I can't eat.
Other then that, I'm really looking forward to the season! Looking at Christmas through the girls eyes is amazing!
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