Boxing Day Tea

Every year on the weeks before Christmas we get swamped with tales of woe about who is doing what for christmas and person posting goes on and on about how their feelings have been hurt about change of family customs. Etc.
You get my drift!
I read these tales of woe and think for God's sake its only one day in the year- get a life !
There are so many of us who would love to have a family get together- but it can never happen again because of Bereavement or family estrangement etc.
So those of you who are fortunate to have your nearest and dearest with you this christmas can we have a few less pathetic tales of woe about who does what on the big day!.
Just get on with it and be grateful for what you have.

It seems as though help has been offered and accepted, so I'm afraid I don't quite understand why this is bothering you so much. You will be preparing vegetables instead of doing, what exactly?

You say, 'I've given in', which indicates that you resent allowing yourself to be coerced/cajoled/persuaded into doing a dinner rather than a 'tea' and that maybe you still feel you are acting against your own desires? From your last sentence I think you realise that you really do just need to go with the flow this time, but make a note to self for the future that you will not be persuaded against your will again.

I hope you'll come back after Christmas and tell us how you all had a lovely time and the meal was a great success.

I don't really understand what the problem is with the kids having nuggets and chips as your daughter wanted and everyone else can have the turkey, jackets and salad. Am I missing something?

OH and I book a local restaurant for Christmas Day for DD and my grown up DGCs we have either a Traditional Christmas Dinner or an Indian Buffet (which my DGSs prefer)
After all the excitement of the morning seeing the younger GGCs opening presents its so good to relax for 3/4hrs and be waited on.
Boxing day is a buffet of cold meats/salads/chilli or curry & rice if no one wants to join us they are quite welcome to cater for themselves at their own houses its a case of my house my menu I'm afraid.

I understand your dilemma OP, this year one of our sons and his girlfriend are coming on Christmas Day when I will be doing the classic roast turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Our other son will be bringing our gc to us on Boxing Day, when we usually do cold meat, salads etc. Problem is our young grandchildren are sticklers for roast dinner, not sure how the Boxing Day fare will be greeted, certainly don't want to be doing a roast two days running Christmas, or certainly parts of it can be a pain sometimes!

I am thinking of doing roast beef dinner for Christmas Eve. There will only be 4 of us. Long time since I cooked a beef roast so looking for advice as to cut of meat etc. Thanks Grans.

I would do the chips and chicken nuggets for kids and cold buffet or hot buffet for adults. Our kids eat chips/nuggets, pasta, simple pizzas and it's much easier to give them that than have food wasted, then adults can help themselves to the Christmassy foods.

What is more important, the menu or enjoying the day with your family?

Maybe your gc are happier eating what they like, what is the harm?

I don't really understand the problem either. You have been offered help with the meal so not a lot of work for you. I understand you are disappointed that plans have changed but you have plenty of time to prepare.
I wouldn't do a full Christmas dinner either, cold buffet or a pie as someone else suggested. Let the children enjoy their nuggets etc. Relax and enjoy the time with your family Lyndiloo

I just read a silly Facebook joke.

"My boyfriend took me to this very posh, high-end restaurant but I wasn't in the slightest bit fazed. I looked the waiter in the eye and said, 'I'll have you very best quality chicken nuggets please.'"

Lyndiloo if they've forced you into a corner and now you're doing the veg, buy a packet of Tesco frozen vegetable medley £ 2.00 and bung 'em in a pan of water

I'm sure the family will be happy as larks.

As I read it (I may be wrong), you have now agreed to do a Christmas dinner, which the children will eat? In that case, keep it very simple. Accept the offer made by your daughters MiL to bring the turkey, ask your daughter to bring all the desserts, not just the one for the GC - don't bother with a Xmas pud as you will probably have had that at the restaurant, keep the veges simple and off you go. Most importantly, enjoy and encourage your family to "muck" in with preparations as much as possible! (Don't bother with starters, either)
Good luck.