I love them honest I do but I’m glad they’ve gone.

I’ve been staying with DD3 since sunday; from Monday there were 22 of us, 9 if ‘our’ lot in this house plus a mad dog the in-laws in a rented house opposite but we all ate/spent the days here. 1 year old twins, 10 month old baby plus 8 excitable children up to 10. On Christmas afternoon the boiler packed up so no heating or hot water. I seem to have spent most of my time at the sink dealing with copious amounts of washing up (heating water in saucepans) most of it greasy. I’ve never seen so many empty bottles and used glasses, boxes, paper, toys, books .......and crossing the floor was a minefield. Im surprised Im still upright ?. Today we are down to 5 and dealing with the mess and, eureka, the plumber has just arrived. Much as I love my family I’m ready for the peace and quiet of home. All very different from the Christmases of my 3DDs childhood. How I miss those days - sad but true.
Next year Christmas in a far off, warm place with like minded folk seems appealing

We’ve had three lots of visitors one lot after the other. The last lot leave tomorrow and I can’t wait to get my house back! I’ve realised that it’s not having people in the house that’s the problem, it’s all the cooking. When people have stayed and we’ve eaten out I am much more relaxed about the whole thing. Must start saving for meals out next year!

Love my daughter dearly and she contributes to everything but a week is long enough. She leaves today and I am so happy that other half watching football at 5 so I can have some ME time!! Just want to chill, read, drink a glass of wine and relish the peace. At 69 my energy is nit what it was and I recognise that now. We have booked a cottage in Northumberland for next year. And we don’t have a dog to worry about.
Happy new year everybody! ????

We did Christmas on the Saturday before the 'real' Christmas Day, due to police officer son in law having to work on the day.
It was lovely. We were 10 in total 6 adults four children and 1 dog. I feel very blessed to have had them all here. One family lives a three hour drive away and they travelled up here and home again all in one day. the other family live locally. We only get a few occasions a year when we are all together. Those days are very special.
Each year I wonder if I have another Christmas Dinner in me as it is quite tiring but when we all sit around the table and everyone appreciates it. everything seems worthwhile.
It is pretty full on from about 11am until about 7.30pm when they all go home. The right amount of time, I think.

Victoria Wood said that Christmas time like dropping a brick on your foot then saying “Never doing that again” but a few months later saying “ Ooooh! Can’t wait to drop a brick on my foot again!”. I think she got it about right.

This year hubby and I had Christmas on our own ! It was lovely, we ate when we wanted, we watched what we wanted on tv, we got up when we wanted etc,
We missed them but it was so good to please ourselves x

Just waved the last of mine off! As they were going DD2 said, 'by the way,did I mention we are coming for 3 weeks in the summer when we have the kitchen extension done?'

kittlester! I would have replied "I'll have to get back to you about that DD, I will check if it works for us"
A planned extension is not an emergency so its not a given

It is worth it. We had a very quiet Christmas with just the two of us and it was lovely. But, I missed everyone. It is absolutely ok to be glad that they left. We all have our own lives and routine.

Both my husband and I have health issues, so this year we were on our own. It was a very special day though, we could rest when we needed to, eat and watch tv when we both felt able so it worked perfectly. We have 3 DD, 2 live near, other daughter coming on Monday with 3 grandchildren. We have 6 altogether and very so very blessed to have them. We have to stagger our visits,but hope to have everybody together for a hour. To do presents and celebrate. It’s so hard with ill health, but we manage the best we can and are very lucky to have such an understanding family.
I’ve loved reading all these posts and just seeing a glimpse of what everyone else manages at our ages 63and 65.
Happy new year to everyone on this great platform.xx

notanan2 - it is a given because we do what we can to help. They will fir us when we need them to. It's how our family works.

We take the whole family out for lunch and then they all return to our home to chat and open gifts while we spend the time in the kitchen preparing tea. Every year we get up early and prepare all the salads, fold napkins and pre-prepare anything else we can.
I can not stand for long periods so most of food preparation is down to DH who has a life limiting condition. DH cleans the house and makes sure the bathrooms and kitchen are pristine.
This year I was gobsmacked to be accused of not caring enough about DC's feelings and not appreciating how hard their lives are

Four days is a bit too long. Time for you to sit back and relax.

Im not saying I wouldnt do it kittylester. Im just saying I would point out that being told rather than it being agreed is not the way to do it

15 for Christmas period last year, it was lovely but very exhausting and I wondered if I would cope doing it again (but that feeling only last a few days when they left!) This year we were down to 6 for Christmas Day itself only. Not prepared for how quickly the next generation decide they have had enough of traditions and want to go off and do their own thing without us. But we did have a lovely time with the one family that were prepared to join us this year. Next year they will be at the inlaws, so might have to think of something else, the last thing I want is to be seen as a 'duty' for one family each year to put up with us to make sure we are not on our own.

Enjoy them whilst they are prepared to come, recovery doesn't take that long!

I had everyone here in my tiny 2 up 2 down. It was er, cosy to say the least. Being pregnant the heat in the kitchen nearly killed me- still no one knows I’m 22 weeks. I think they must think I’ve od’d on mince pies. I’ve shopped, wrapped, food shopped, prepped, decorated, cooked, cleaned, tidied. Then on boxing day afternoon I suddenly felt rather ill. I went up to bed only to wake up with a chest infection. With fibromyalgia I knew all the rushing about would lead to this.
I'm glad I hosted and glad my family are close by so they don't stay. I think it's a perfect balance. I usually end up hosting as there's only me with children and it's easier for people to come to them.
I decided on having next year off.
I do get fed up of my mom complaining about my cat. She moans about them whether they are in the room or not.
I'm still in bed today, with the cat - of course. New year's eve will come and go and I'll miss it once again no doubt.

It has been lovely reading your posts and bringing back memories. I hosted Christmas almost every year from 1970 to 2013. My lovely Mum died in 2014 so havent made much of Christmas since then. 3 of those years my DDIL hosted Christmas which were wonderful times although I still had people staying at home. The last 3 years my DH have spent Christmas at home by ourselves pleasing ourselves. Just as well this year as I am unable to do much.

A funny tale here. I know all about serving, under duress, to someone who's " not quite so nice ".
Besides my day job early 80's I used to do silver service at the then local " posh " hotel. There were always big functions prior to Christmas and the place was busy. One evening during a function I'd been keeping my eye on one particular lady who must have thought " she was on her dad's yacht ", clicking her fingers and generally belittling the staff.

After the main meal had finished she shouted for the cheese board so one of the waitresses brought it from the kitchen so then I couldn't resist taking a phrase from Ronnie Barker and promptly handed over a plate and said " Your crackers, madam ", but meant " you're ".

Whether the penny ever dropped I don't know but I felt great afterwards.

Ronnie Barker said the same with the nuts, but there were none of those on the top table. That would have been even better !

Be grateful to have family and loved ones, plenty don’t. I think it is wrong to moan actually. It’s only for a few days - you’d soon complain if you didn’t see them at Christmas. I will enjoy looking after my future adult children (11 and 13 now)and future grandchildren when the time comes. I can understand the dogs being annoying though. I’m a bit scared of dogs so wouldn’t enjoy that at all.

Do you know, all you people complaining need to accept that at least you get to see your families. What about those of us who have older children that live overseas? The chances of getting them to England at the same time are slim, but we managed it this time with the help of various airlines that did not go on strike.
Seriously people, I don’t know how you can complain.

52bright, it all sounds very hectic but you obviously made it work.
I don't want to speak out of turn as I know very little about MH issues but it struck me that your SiL must want to be there. To come out of his comfort zone (?) I would have thought he either really wishes to please your DD - or he does actually like you.
This is probably very simplistic - but he does seem to have made an effort just by being there which is not always easy for those with MH problems.

Reading all your posts it kind of makes me glad we took ourselves off to the Caribbean for a fortnight over Christmas this year. We've hosted Christmas for the family many times so decided to give ourselves Christmas off this year - bliss! I did miss all the rituals that go with a typical family Christmas in the UK but it was the right decision. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

Kittylester there is no way it's only going to be 3 weeks. Builders always tell you half the time it will really take, and then some unforseen problem adds another month. If you let them stay it will be a minimum of 2 or 3 months.

Oh and the people whose family are overseas shouldnt complain because at least they arent all dead. And some people have no arms or legs

There's nothing wrong with letting off a little steam!
The OP was quite clear than she loves it really.
Thats what family is supposed to be, rubbing along, rolling your eyes at the little irritations/differences, but doing it anyway because underneath it all you love each other.

Its not supposed to be perfect. Its okay to tell it as it is!

My family drive me CRAZY at times! But I love em. Its fine. The people citing their irritations arent wishing their families away..

It's only human nature to let off steam sometimes. No one can help those whose families live overseas. It was their choice, not ours. There is no point feeling bitter about it.