The Working Mom by Kay LunaHow do you divide up the holidays?
Monday, October 26th, 2009 10:53 amI’m thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas already.
I know, Halloween hasn’t even come yet. But I’m trying to plan ahead about where we’re going to spend the holidays.
It’s always interesting, trying to figure out how we’re going to incorporate everyone (or as many people as possible) into the festivities, without leaving anyone out, hurting anyone’s feelings, causing emotional discomfort or making our lives miserable with hours and hours of driving, etc.
So, we’ve got the mine, his and ours of the family. Then, there are sub-groups of those categories: We’ve got my mom and Grandma, my sister and her fiance, my niece and cousins … then we’ve got my dad and step-mom and siblings and their children, and other extended family … then we’ve got my husband’s parents and sister and family … then we’ve got close friends who feel like family … The lists go on and on.
Oh, and please don’t forget to throw my daughter’s birthday into the Christmas-time mix, too. Nice work by Mom and Dad, huh?! (Sorry, Babycakes).
So, I’m juggling all of this in my mind right now, and wondering how YOU sort out the holidays with your family.
Do you drive all over the countryside to make it to several places in one day? Do you take turns going places every other year? Or do you just host the event and invite everyone, and expect them to mesh together cordially for just ONE day of the year??? Suggestions will be taken with joy and thanks.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Hi Kay!! I haven’t talked to you in a while…it’s funny that you metion the holidays, I just set up my tree today!! LOL The poor trick-or-treaters are going to be so confused but I just couldn’t wait any longer!!!
We usually try to just everybody into one house and get it over with all at once then have family time to ourselves on Christmas Day. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
I hope you have a wonderful time throughout the holidays. Our daughters are at the extremely fun age for Christmas. I can’t wait.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
We go to his Moms always on Christmas Eve, the Christmas day was my family. For friends we have had an open house on the 26th.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Christmas Eve is with Hubby’s family, Christmas morning is with my family. Traditionally. This year, we will have a one-month old baby, so have NO idea what we are going to do. Once little guy is older, I want him to be able to play with his new stuff and stay in his PJ’s all day on Christmas. I don’t want to have to rush to open gifts and get everyone out the door because we have somewhere else to be. Too stressful!
October 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Jama-we wanted the same thing for our kids on Christmas morning. HAving grown up to “wake up wake up. Santa came!” Hurry up open your gifts we have to go to gramma’s”…. I wanted it more relaxed for my children.
After 12 years of parenting I was finally able to achieve this goal.
Kay we have a his, hers and our scenario for two generations. So here’s the scoop…
Either our house or my mom’s is open for my family on Christmas Eve. This includes my grandparent’s, siblings and children. Many times a friend, aunt and uncle or cousin or two will also be in attendance.
Then Christmas morning my in-laws come by for brunch and stay a few hours before heading out to my sister-in-laws 3 or 4 hours away. Don’t worry we have some fun time with the sister-in-law and faily too. We plan a weekend get together with her family and the kids sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have gone bowling, ice skaiting, or just hung out for some intense rock band… That has been the last six years anyway. This year we will still be home Christmas morning, but will get together with my parent-in-laws the day or two following Christmas at their home. Ths is a tthe request of my mother-in-law. Who would like to host the whole family more traditionally this year.
So you see we spread it out and make the whole month one big party with gifts for everyone and not so much in just a few days. It is really terrific for us!