What to do for Christmas

Hubby and I are planning to go up in the mountains this Christmas with his family, but it's not a hundred percent sure co's we don't know if we can borrow our company van yet. Also going there with hubbies family means we need to pay more for this trip co's they are depending on us on everything, from food to lodging not to mention the transportation too. I am hoping though that God will give us more financial blessings before Christmas comes so that we will be able to pursue our plans this Christmas holidays.

Christmas should be a joyous thing that should be shared among family members. I know that it is tedious to be taking the children to their grandparents but isn't it the best time while their memory is still intact and they are still in good health. They won't be with your family long since they are already of age and I'm sure that they are excited to see their grandkids who they consider the fruit of their children. Of course, that is only my opinion. In the end, this is something that has to be decided by you and your husband. Christmas should be a merry event so work something out to make this a win-win situation.

Well in my family my wife's side always celebrates Christmas after the 25th because my sister-in-law is always at her daughters hous on Christmas day which is ok because on my side of the family we usually celebrate Christmas before the holidays because of other family get tog-ether's that my brothers have with there in-laws. It all works out in the end but some years it has been difficult to plan. Hope everyone has a safe holiday season this year.

Unless your parents are not able to drive over or travel, I would insist they come to your house. When I was growing up we spent Christmas morning at home then rushed over to one grandparents' then the other set. We also did it every Sunday. I loved my grandparents, all of them, but we could make no plans because Sundays were mandatory. I would rather have spent holidays at home and be flexible on visiting schedules. Your family traditions were great for growing up but now you have your own family and everyone should adjust to the traditions you are creating. It's nice to see family for Christmas but your little nuclear family of husband, wife, and children are the most important now. Don't disrupt your cozy holiday for others' convenience.

So... it's christmas and you fight about how to celebrate it? I am happy I do not have these problems and if I would stay at home and not invite anyone. It's terrible to have fights first about a celebration and as soon as the celebration is there you have to fake the happiness and love. My eldest daughter asked me what my plans are. Told her we (the 3 children still living here: 22, 9 and 7 years old) will have our pyama day. No cooking, no visitors, watching old movies, slow down, de-stress. She said that is exactly what she likes to do as well (we did as she was still here). So no forced christmas dinners (one day with the in laws and next day with me/parents). I told her to spend those days the way she likes. She wanted to bring us some presents/food but told her not to. It's not a habit, we won't need it and since we won't cook, won't have visitors there is no need to help me with that (food etc) either. We will manage. I think you should ask yourself first what you like. How do you like to spend these days? What is possible for you without any stress? This all is not about what is fair but what you need. Visiting people while you are full of stress, too tired or after fighting about it first is useless and also not very honest.

I hear about these problems all the time. Thank god i dont have to worry about that right now my hope to be soon ex husband gets to see our kids when ever i get over there. He dont drive. But i will try and help you out as best as i can. Do you have the kids more offten then he does? If you do i mean the kids will be waking up with you on christmas morning so they should do their christmas with you first no matter what do not change your plans for someone else. If i were you i would do his side of the family on christmas eve just because he will want to get the kids on christmas day at some point. so i would maybe do my christmas with the ex's family on christmas eve, then the kids wake up with me on christmas morning. Then depending on what your familys plans are i see them plans through. I have to go to two different grandparents on christmas day and thats just my family. We go to one for lunch and then the other for supper. If that is the way it is with your family then you could take the kids to see their dad either between the trips and just sit there and wait or you could wait till you are all done with your family and maybe be nice to him and let the kids spend the night with their dad christmas night. Just to make it a little fair. Now if you are not close to your ex or he has done things to make you very mad then if it were me i would so not do that at all. I would have most of my childrens time and only give him an hour if he was lucky lol. Hope it all works out for you and hope that this helps a little. Let us here at mylot now how everything works out for you.

What is wrong with going to one grandparents house on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas day? You can still stay home in the morning with the children and go there in the evening. I don't understand what you're trying to say exactly. This is how my kids do it and it works out fine. Christmas Eve is spent with our family and Christmas Day the kids either go to the hubby's family, or they have that family come over. We don't have any bickering on this at all and have been doing that for years.

Maybe you could spend Christmas Eve with one set of parents or grandparents and Christmas Day with the other. When I was married that is how we did it, of course it is more difficult when there are children. Since your children are still young, let both families come to your house and then the kids can enjoy their gifts more. When you have kids, they should be the center of the holiday, and rushing from home to home is for other people to do.

We have always thrown a party for orphans at different locations. The planning that goes before the party is so fulfilling and so is watching them enjoy what is in store for them.

I don't have kids yet nor any husband, but I'd also like to know where to spend Christmas when I have my own family. If I were in your position, I would spend Christmas eve with my kids and husband. Christmas only happens once a year and I believe I have to spend it with my own family. I could ask my husband to spend the morning with one grandparent, either his parents or mine and then we could celebrate New year on another grandparent. That's a fair think for me because those are 2 holidays where we celebrate here with the family. We could have next year the other way around so the grandparents won't feel bad or anything for not being able to celebrate a holiday with them. I hope it all goes well with your family!

well join with team and discuss wonderfully and also catch up with friends and chat a long and gift them and spend quality time together.and also pacifiying all the time

jus celebrate with happiness ...festival is the best way to show our love n happiness to our family members..so pls be happy n forget all ur conflicts from ur husbands side n tak ur kids to both of the grand parents home n celebrate with a big cake n gifts....merry christmasss....... This christmas,am going to celebrate with my husband first time bec am a newly married couple......so gonna cut cake at 12am with my hubby n go church n pray god....so for whom all this is first christmas , pls celebrate liks this n be happy with ur hubbys...:)merry christmas...

In my family, it was complicated even more by the fact that my parents were divorced. So it wasn't just my family and his family, it was his family, my mom, and my dad. Something has to give somewhere. It's not your job to make everyone happy. You say it's important to you to be with just immediate family on Christmas morning. Then do it. That's your Christmas tradition. As far as everyone else, who says it all has to be done on Christmas Eve or Christmas? Who says every year has to be done the same way? Don't let it take away your joy of Christmas. Look at everyone's schedule. When will they be having dinner? Who's going to be there? Can they come to your house? If it's a problem with the one on Christmas Eve feeling they are visited at a less important time (or vice versa), can you just rotate holidays or rotate years? Maybe go to hubby's family on Thanksgiving, yours on Christmas, use the day before or after to visit the other. Thhe following year switch. Or if one family makes a big deal out of a holiday and the other doesn't, see them on that holiday and the other grandparent on the opposite holiday. Try not to get too wrapped up in scheduling everything. It might not be worth it.

it is really hard to decide where to go. Just have a good schedule and try your best to be perfect. maybe you can visit your home at noon and then go to your hunsband's to have Christmas eve.

Thankfully when my husband was alive his family always did a christmas party on christmas eve and my parents had always done ours on christmas. It worked perfectly so we never had to split the day with the families. It just happened to be perfect. I know a lot of people who have to go to both parents house on the same day. I wouldnt want to have to do that but when your with someone you do what you have to.

here in China, more and more young people would like to spend time and money on Christmas, although this is not the tranditional holiday in China.

I am so so happy I do not have those holiday issues...and it just seems like a loving family would not be bickering over when/who is going to see who...If you need a family meeting to decided that, then I can not help you with what our holiday are like.. Are you children new born twins?...what have you been doing for the past holidays...that should give you an idea.. Who are you pleasing yourselves or the grandparents...who??....Christmas I think should be a holiday of harmony...what on earth is going on... I tell you its times like this (your situtation) when I believe we are out own worst enemies...

Hi friend! You can set a schedule beforehand. I'm sure they would understand your situation.

Well firstly I agree that Christmas should spend with your family,so why not you all just join together I mean you can invite all of them to your house then you can celebrate Christmas together.

It is not a problem with us because my mother's side is very far so it is not practical for the whole family to spend Christmas in there. I think better you talk with each other's side. Better to arrange the attendance in Christmas Eve. Why not, spend your Family's Christmas Eve with your husband's side this year and by next year it is then time with your side.