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

Christmas with family can be a bit like banging your head on a wall. It’s lovely when it stops!

We spent four days with my dd1 and her family. It’s only the third Christmas I’ve spent away from home in 47 years. It has been lovely and we appreciated it very much.

With four DC, partners and GC, we have an ever-changing roll of characters over most Christmases. Everyone mucks in with cooking and cleaning but it’s the bed linen changing that I hate. Also that the washing machine seems to be on constantly but no one ever remembers to empty it!

Tinyl So very sorry for you and your husband after reading your post. I''m afraid I do not have an answer for you but could not just pass your post without saying something. Well done for getting through Christmas Try not thinking of New Years Eve as 'anything' other than any other evening. Again, like Christmas, there is too much pressure on you to have a good time. All I can do is send you virtual hugs and say I am thinking of you and also thinking what a strong person you sound, Being in bed at midnight is a very good plan. You then don't know anything about it!!

Totally understand how you feel. I was ill during the summer in France came home and learned my dS n his family coming to stay from other side of the world. My DH and I did everything even minding our 2 Grandchildren when they met up with friends. Left in August then our Dd asked for help as she was moving from house n preparing to join her husband in Dubai who had been offered a job there. She moved in with us and currently after 4 months still with us but goes post New Year. She’s now asking if we will take their car that I have just found out has been in a cattery at 300 pounds per month. I have said no but I have been under pressure. I will resist as I do not wish to have to look after their cat my DH who is ill and my 2 99 year old parents. I have decided next Christmas I will book a holiday for my DH and escape. It’s hard work as you get older and yes I really understand how you must feel.

Tinyl - so sorry to hear that. I think you must just take one day at a time and try not to think too far ahead. Sorry - I don't expect that is particularly helpful. Flowers for you.

I’ve just successfully managed my 50th Christmas lunch, this time 15 of us in a small apartment instead of our big house. It was a good day but exhausting as I’m sure many of you understand. Maybe next year I will accept my daughters offer to host Christmas Day. The best present I had was to learn that I will be a great grandmother on 29th May.
I love them all, including the dogs, but to suddenly find ourselves alone again was a present in itself.
Now my husband thinks we should treat ourselves to a good holiday before my glaucoma worsens and he becomes older. Better go to the travel agents and see what they have
New Year’s Eve will be a quiet affair and I for one am looking forward to it.
Happy New Year to everyone from Bayeux in France

harri, that must have hurt!

notanan2, she was not being rude! And, a lovely plant has just been delivered.

So interesting to read about everyone's Christmases - my husband and I spent Christmas Day at my eldest daughter's house - my younger daughter and family travelled from Cambridge to stay there so it was lovely to be together. Both families seem to get on okay with children from 24 to 19 now. Strangely enough my two lovely daughters never got on well when they were younger but that changed when they had children.

I am feeling rather sad now as it may be a long time before everyone is together again.
I am 81 and my husband is 87 so who knows what next Christmas will bring

I agree with you last few years I have had my Son and his partner to stay for 4 days over Christmas an Daughter an her partner an Granddaughter and yes it's lovely to see them but it's hard work to keep trying to please them all . This year I had just had daughter and her partner and Granddaughter who went home Christmas evening which was lovely just to be able to chill and relax after a long day. I keep saying that me and my partner should go and have our Christmas dinner in the pub so next year I might do.

Marjgran, thank you for posting the Helen Dunmore poem, which I hadn’t seen and appreciated

kittylester 3 weeks for a kitchen extension? We had my son, wife and baby with us for 9 months whist their house was renovated.

We had 12 here on Christmas Day

3 adult children, partners of 2 of them and 4 grandchildren

A riotous time was had by all

However, at 10 pm that night, when they'd all gone home, I felt like I'd climbed Everest

Four days? You're a miracle worker, morethan2.

I take my Christmas novelty hat off to you

Tinyl ...so sorry to hear what you and your dh are going through this Christmas time. My db was in this situation last Christmas and sadly died in the January so my dsil was in your sad situation this time last year. I have missed my db terribly this Christmas but of course this is not the same as having to face this new year with your husband. I hope you can have a peaceful time together. Your situation would be awful at any time but I think especially hard to face at this time of year. My thoughts are with you

Well I had my 3 daughters, a partner, 2 husbands and 2 grandchildren, my dog, 2 different daughters dogs.
One SIL brought the cooked turkey wrapped in a towel to keep it hot, Hubby peeled the veg, daughters laid the table and 3rd daughter made and brought the desserts, no dishwasher in our house so the men all took turns washing and drying dishes.
Knackered by the end. 2 stayed over with their new puppy. It was Uber busy, but I LOVED it.
I think I must be a very lucky Grandma!!

I think we all feel a bit like this after hosting the festivities. Nevertheless, it is three or four days of the year creating wonderful memories.

I had my crew over on Boxing Day. It was lovely to see them, but we all felt poorly with heavy colds, the DGC were a bit whingy, and DS was in one of his contrary moods.
The sleeping arrangements were not to everyone's taste, and poor DIL spent the night with the children.
We've promised each other that next time will be better!

After 4 intense days the family went last night, the house felt very empty. I always think how lucky I am that my adult 'children' want to spend their Christmas with me. We were 6 adults and 3 children squeezed into my tiny house. I worried as usual that the cousins might argue or my DC but it went off perfectly. My eldest DS cooked the meals, my SIL declared himself in charge of the dishwasher and I was able to spend some quality time with DGC and DD when they were in bed. I know it won't last for ever but was very happy to hear my DD say before they went that she would be hosting next year again ( we have now decided to do alternate years) and we were invited. But we do have the summer before then when they visit for a month as we live by the sea, that is always the time to hold our tongues.

Pour yourself a well deserved glass of something. Only a few days and they've had a great time. Yes very, very worth it. You have a lovely close family obviously. Even dogs adore you. Well done you.

Terrible scene at ours on Boxing day
Son came home with his dog whixh he expected to be allowed to run riot as he is allowed at sons place. When challenged had screening swearing door slamming temper outburst and left. Have currently blocked his number as I'm so ashamed of how he treated me, my husband and our home. His righteous indignation at being told to control his dog was truly shocking

What on earth was the dog doing that was out of ordinary for a dog? In my experience young dogs always "run riot" when off their leads, which is why I always groan inwardly when I know someone wants to bring one. I actually like dogs but I find them very wearing just the constant movement and the way they keep one under constant surveillance. On that used to visit wouldn't even let you go to the loo without standing sentry outside.

We did Christmas in an airbnb this year which worked well and my son in law cooked Christmas dinner.
Was able to watch our 14 month old Grandaughter open her presents and not worry about our house getting untidy.

Yes it is hard work, but I would give anything to have my late son come to Christmas dinner or dinner at any time. Just remember the people who have lost a child who would gladly have the stress just to have them back.

Yes, they're gone is good.

Sheilasue, so sorry for you. You must miss your son terribly at anytime of the year but Christmas is so pressured to having a good time. Reading us all complain a bit must be hard. To everyone having a moan, including myself, 'be careful what you wish for', as the saying goes. Wishing you a peaceful New Year.

Tinyl. I’m thinking of you. So sorry

Just discovered that dgd4 has hidden the key for the wardrobe in 'their' room - again!: