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

How old is your son?

Christmas in our house when I was growing up was always a subdued affair - my dad was and is a miserable sod so I always vowed that my own home would be noisy, relaxed and welcoming. I had to repeat that vow to myself several times over the holidays when it appeared I was hosting much of it To be fair, I wouldn’t have it any other way knowing what the alternative can be.

Now who is missing them awfully? I know I am.

I reckon I have cooked and served 39 covers as they in in restaurants that is one meal for one person.That is an evening meal always 2 courses sometimes 3 and always a vegetarian option. DGC loved all the food and are begging their mum to cook some of it as well . Nobody seems to realise that I am not exactly young and have had a lot of pain doing the cooking . But for that it was a joy to see differents strands of the family , blood family and step family , all together in a happy atmosphere.

newgran2019 you are absolutely right to make it known that you won't be able to do regular child care. I was the same though tbf DIL's parents had already made it known they would be No. 1 childminders!!

My sons do a lot of the cooking, I act as executive chef and DH does the clearing up, it works well but I still feel unsettled and a bit stressed and although I'm very sad when the week comes to an end and they go back to London there is a feeling of relief too. Everything in my kitchen they have used is in the wrong place, so I will have to move it all around again, and they ate all the chocolates on the Christmas Tree too.
I think next year I'll seriously consider one big Christmas order at M&S, so it will all be more peaceful.

10 days and they're still here. I even changed the bed sheets and dished out new towels the day before yesterday. I enjoy that part, but the catering is another story. Thinking of new meals every day is getting tedious, I'm not very inventive in the kitchen, and the washing up goes on and on.
Having serious thoughts on how to curtail the stay next Christmas.

My DD asked us to host her baby's first Christmas as we 'do it properly'; I was very touched. We had 8 staying and more visiting and we did pay for most of it ourselves, but were just glad to have all our children and in-laws together for once, plus the joy of the little one. Even my mum didn't complain too much! No cross words, luckily, though I felt a little niggled about a comment one DIL made about my having made it quite clear we are not going to offer regular childcare; might just have been me being oversensitive, as usual, but overall it's better that they all know where we stand before more babies arrive!

The house feels very empty now they've all gone and we felt
a bit sad as they left, but it's nice having space again and not having to think about all that bedding and the different dietary needs (pescatarian, coeliac, alcoholic, morning sickness!).

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

Tinyl. I’m thinking of you. So sorry

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.

Yes, they're gone is good.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!!

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

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

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

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