1st Christmas

[pixie_woo]

I know its only May but both sets of parents have started to ask about our xmas plans! I'm due 6 July so babe will be 6.5 months old at xmas. I'm very keen to spend the first xmas day just with me, hubby and babe and then travel to parents Boxing Day. My parents are 1.5 hrs drive and in-laws are 3.5 hrs drive. Hubby doesn't think that we'll be able to get away with spending xmas day on our own but I'm very close to putting my foot down.
I'd appreciate advice from people who already have children & those of us who haven't dropped yet.

[nat_84]

Funnily enough i was talking to my parents and boyfriend the other day - saying how weird xmas will be this year. Not necessarily for my boyfriend and his family (as he moved out about 4 years ago) but for me and mine - as i've never been away at Xmas.

What we'll most likely do is spend morning together as our new happy family and then i'll probably travel over to my parents with baby for dinner and boyfriend will go to his mums (as his sister is having a baby in June! So they'll have one baby to entertain as it is).

But i do understand your frustration and times like Xmas can be complicated - especially considering both your families live so far away!

Hope it works out x

[dee5]

I havent got any kids but when i was little we used to go and see one set of grandparents in christmas eve and the other on boxing day, technically giving us 3 christmas days plus everyone was happy! You could try suggesting that!!

[redcrx]

My partner always wants a huge family Christmas. When our son was 5.5 months old we had his first xmas at home but had both sets of granparents, aunts and uncles over. It was a manic day with hardly any time to sit and think but we did have a great time and our son got lots of attention.
Last year we went to my parents and they had the whole family there so again no quiet xmas for me.
It looks like this year we shall probably go to the In-laws for xmas and then start again next year with everyone at ours.
I wont mind so much maybe as my son gets older as xmas is really a day for him and not a day of peace and quiet for me lol
If you want to say no they do so, but at least be prepared for some compromise.

[spanner7853]

been there done that. I had to divide my first christmas with both sets of parents, by the end of the day my daughter was passed around like pass the parcel and I was absolutely knackered. I personally would say I am having Christmas at home with my family, If you'd like to pop round in the afternoon or early evening feel free, but bring food with you haha.

[mifta]

We experienced this, with each set of grandparents trying to lay claim on the baby months before xmas. What we do is have one xmas on our own, the next with my parents and the following one with my in laws. We rotate this over a 3 year period, and although fair, I still feel like my mother in law is unnhappy that we could possibly want to spend xmas on our own with the 2 kids. I also feel that as kids get a bit older it is unfair to take them away from all of the toys they have just got from santa, so I make them come to me but get them to cook the turkey!! Is there any reason why they can't come to you?
It is not selfish to want to spend your first xmas at home with just partner and baby, remember that.
Betst of luck with the grandparents!

[Kaylz1988]

Why not invite both sets of parents to yours on boxing day? Therefore you get your 1st xmas with ur bubz and hubz all alone?

[Ams6784]

hi there your baby is special as your due on my birthday. lol. my sons first xmas he was only 3 months old, he could bearly hold a toy, we had the same problem both sets of parents wanted to see us so we said that they all had to stay at our house on xmas eve so we could all be together, and have a big family dinner, it was great my mother and mother in law did all the cooking! i thought it was a great idea then after dinner they all left in which we had the rest of the day to our selves our little family time! x