Christmas lunch

My mother had anxiety and OCD. She worried endlessly about germs, illness and food poisoning. She'd mop the kitchen floor several times a day, hourly if she was stressed. The worry isn't logical - emotions rarely are!

It does sound like you are being over anxious about this.

Please don't spoil the day for you and your son because of this.

Just a suggestion as you say that you only have a small oven and it might save time. Is it possible that your son could could the turkey following the instructions in the morning at his home. If it is covered in foil for the resting period as the chefs do then the veg could be cooked at your home when he gets there if it is prepped ready.

I'm sure it will all be fine.

Enjoy.

Why don't you suggest your son cooks the crown thoroughly at his place on Christmas Eve evening then pops it on his fridge overnight. Just do the trimmings on your table top. Enjoy letting your son do something for his mum. Soundslike he's got a good heart.

I can understand your son being offended. I would have been too.
Hopefully you can repair that and enjoy the day. I agree with Yehbutnobut that you should apologise in a fairly light way and then move on and enjoy the day.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yehbutnobut that is the kernel of my worrying, what you said. I think I have persuaded him I was confused about Xmas day owing to my being half asleep, and that his intended gift of cooking for me is welcome.

Don't you agree I will have to say how I really appreciate and enjoy the meal he will cook? I'd much rather risk food poisoning and over--eating than have a falling-out.

I do wish he understood a little more about kitchen hygiene, as he lives alone and cooks for himself and I want more than anything for him to be safe.

I am picking my turkey up today and using it on Christmas day. I have always done it so far ahead and it has been fine. If the use by date is 27th I would just accept that and be grateful for his generosity.

I think really that you are over worrying - the turkey is in date and I’m he’ll be sensible with raw poultry.
I agree with earlier poster though - as you have no big oven why not just ask him to cook it at home and bring it cooked and wrapped in foil ready for fresh veggies at yours?
You won’t have to overeat, just make sure hectares leftovers home with him as you won’t use it.
Enjoy your son and merry Christmas.

I think your a lucky mum who’s son is very thoughtful. The turkey would have sat in the shop in a fridge anyway whether he collected yesterday or Christmas Eve. Please relax your anxiety regarding getting food poising which I feel is abit extreme and enjoy being treated by your son. Merry Christmas.

True, Juicylucy. I'm not a very merry person but I do appreciate my friends and relatives. Nobody likes someone who is not cheerful.

There will be nothing wrong with this meat. He is being rational and kind, and you are being just the opposite in taking a precious approach. I'm sure there will be many people going without meat and other food this Christmas and for many weeks and months afterwards.

It sounds like a completely irrational worry. I'm surrounded by people who suffer from anxiety in my family, and I try to be patient, but this kind of thing drives me mad! The use by date isn't arbitrary, it means that's how long the meat can be kept in the fridge!

Our son insisted on cooking our Christmas dinner last year, and it was excellent. He might surprise you with his skills!

What a thoughtful lovely son you have raised, I can’t see a problem, what date are you going to eat it, if it’s before the use by date there isn’t an issue.
I think if I was your thoughtful son I would probably have been offended

Why would you be risking food poisoning when the turkey is still in date, it would be most likely still be ok even if it was cooked and eaten on the 30th, best before dates on food are known to be advisory and on the safe side, enjoy having your lunch cooked for you

I think your son deserves an apology from you for your hurtful remarks. He's doing a very kind and generous thing for you and trying to make it a special day for you both. The turkey's sell by date is fine as others have said and although you could offer to help if he needs it do not try to take over and spoil his day.

knspol, Lesley, I agree. Thanks.

We cook whole chickens in a tabletop oven. It will be fine

Monica. 'Alternatively give it to the neighbours for their cat or dog, although that seems a shocking waste of good food.'
What a strange comment! How is it a waste to give it to cats or dogs, who will enjoy it enormously. Where's your Christmas spirit?
We always buy a big turkey, so there is plenty for the dogs, who have it with vegetables etc. They love it.

I agree with above. Apologise wholeheartedly and feel very grateful you have such a lovely generous son. And thank him. Good grief.

Well I've got my Turkey crown in the fridge, use by date 27th. It's normal, stop stressing.

I agree with everyone that says you have a kind and caring son that has offered to cook you Christmas Lunch.

The date says to cook by 27th December so if cooking on the 25th December then that is okay. I am sure you will not get food poisoning or suffer any ill effects.

Perhaps an apology is in order to your son or just maybe he will not offer to cook for you again. Even if he is not the best of cooks it sounds like his heart is in the right place which shows you brought him up well.

You can tell a few people on here haven't ever been struck by anxiety or overthinking! Hopefully the kind comments will have eased your mind by now, Alexa, and you will enjoy your Christmas lunch. It is nice to see a story where an adult son wants to be with his Mum rather than the terrible stories of estrangement we so often read on here. You did say that you worry about his kitchen hygiene; think about how often he cooks for himself and how long he has been doing it for to put it into context...he's survived it all.
Have a good Christmas.

If I was your son I would be thinking "I just shouldn't have bothered"...you sound very ungrateful tbh...I would love someone to offer to buy & cook Christmas Day lunch for me.
Be thankful you have a thoughtful & caring son

@Alexa as others have said, no idea why you’re worrying about food dated 27 Th, if eating it on 25 Th? You may not want him “coming to cook for you as a favour/help” & I get. But most of us have some family/in-laws/ex’s etc., that we don’t like or want to spend time with at Christmas. You either have to leave the area/country before Christmas or grit your teeth & get through it?

This isn’t aimed at you or anyone in particular, but many of the so called problems I see on here are what used to be known as “high class problems” & if that’s all you have to be concerned about, lucky you”? That’s just my feelings on it.

Please don't confound your error by "supervising" him over the cooking, as all the others above have said, it will be OK on Christmas Day.