A family/inlaws relationship-saving vent thread

[blackberrycrumble]

Maybe it is just me....

In anticipation. We have PILs coming on Christmas eve until boxing day. They are lovely, but... well, you know.

Rant here to to save your relationships and sanity.

[Pics]

Mil arrived today til 28th. She is very kind, but the expression 'chalk and cheese' sums it up.

[KatGoldLIN]

hahahaha!! Totally cross posted with my thread!!!

[Fullhouse]

LOL at this already. And <sob>, DH is just on his way to the airport to collect PILs.

The children will love it. The children will love it. The children will love it. Pass me the gin.

[Fullhouse]

Oh, and was going to add this to my turkey thread, but here might be more appropriate. PILs decided they wanted turkey, so they've ordered one. Fine, I suppose. I asked MIL for help cooking the turkey, she took it as an invitation for her to cook the whole dinner with DH helping. She is a very average cook, DH just cannot cook. I don't want mushy vegetable. I only need guidance on cooking the flipping turkey, I don't want them in my kitchen. And besides, if I'm not cooking and MIL and DH are in the kitchen that means I have to make small talk with PIL and listen to him talking crap to the children.

And breathe.

[Nixxie]

No in law worries for me until new years day! But then I may need this thread!!

[TinLIN]

None for me at all this year! In fact, there's every chance we won't see the ILs again until the summer!
My mum arrived yesterday, my sis & family arrive on Sat...
All is good

Those of you with IL visits to cope with have my full sympathies.
And I will definitely br hanging out on this thread next year!

[skip]

Ach, best of luck everyone...

My. Mother. Is. Coming. On. Christmas. Day. The guilt and passive aggression have already begun. And I can't even get drunk.

[Chives]

Oh, thank God we are on our own for Christmas! I thought it was a sad thing but now I am very, very, very glad.

[3KiwiChicks]

We are having a 'you should be at our place this year' fight with the IL at the moment. Apparently we (read *I*) have changed the year and f*cked it up for everyone else, although my family also do a rotating year and none of them have changed. So it is being insisted (with lots of guilt about older family members not going to be here next year used as amo from both sides) from both sides that we make the main meal (sigh). We have managed to get my family to move the main meal to 2pm and have asked if the IL can do an early lunch so that we can make both.... so now everyone is arriving at the IL's at 11am..... hmm, hardly a time change from 11:30. which means that with a 45 min drive in between the two of them we will only be able to stay with the IL for a couple of hours max... which we are getting in the neck about.

Its all a mess and I just want to stay home. I know its very selfish of me but I cannot help but feel that at 30 weeks pregnant with the only small children in the family that it would be nice if people were trying to accommodate us rather than expecting us to be the ones racing around making everyone else happy.

[Noir]

I am sooo glad we said from the start we were staying on our own for Christmas day. But...MIL sent me a shirty sounding text earlier that will we please collect some of our presents as they're taking up too much room at theirs. A) I didn't even know they were back from their holiday yet. B) how the f can she think that presents that are taking up too much room in their two double bedroom house with two people living in it are going to fit in our teeny 2 bed flat with 4 people living in it, 2 of which don't understand the waiting to open presents thing...so why get us that much in the first place? Gah. Thanks, good thread idea!

[RachelS]

3kwc put your foot down, have Christmas just the four of you plus bump.
That's what we are doing and have done since having ds1. I have to endure the ils at theirs for an overnight stay on the wed. I will be on edge all the time with 2 boisterous boys and a load of wedgewood and china at the right level to touch.

[mum2cj]

I will not be held responsible for any words which come out of my mouth on xmas day or boxing day when my parents are here. I am finally finding the courage to stand up for myself and say what I need. Unfortunately Mum won't say what she thinks, just gets upset if you don't think the same. And I have every intention of throwing them out the house on boxing day during my quiet/nap time. Last time they were here I asked them to leave by 1:30 for my quiet time. They left at 12 but came back at 2!!!

I've been strong and told them they can't stay here. (we have a small 3 bed house, 18month & 1 month both in own rooms so no space/bed). They asked to camp in the garden - no, and then asked to kip on the sofas - NO! So sorry, but for the first time since we moved to NZ (5.5yrs) you can't get unlimited free accommodation at our house.

[Fozza]

I'm listening.

I am still seething that sMIL expected us to be free for christmas. FIl has almost never spent christmas with dh...mostly because sMIL had her father to attend to or whatever. He died this year and I get that it's going to be hard but still...why break tradition and cause complications. I have plans with my family Christmas evening so can't see MIL on Christmas day...boxing day was fine until FIL decided to visit and now I am feeling like crap for having made plans with my family. We've found a way through it but dh has had to make a sacrifice (traditional cold meats and mash at his mums for chilli or nibbles at BIL) I suppose it does mean we don't have to fight the dogs off and the baby can sit on the floor of he wishes. See I feel better already.

Not seeing anyone on Christmas day would be my solution but we have to fit them (divorced parents) all in and it's hard.

[fourweewonders]

I should be very grateful that mil and sil have only been for 2.5 hours and have gone again but...

Mil has p***** me off hugely by taking to my 5 year old in a stupid baby voice constantly, its annoying enough when people talk to babies like that but a 5 year old!!!