Spending Christmas away fom extended family?

[BigDaddyRog]

Ive seen that many of you spend Christmas at the fort. We've been during the Christmas SEASON, but not actually for Xmas Eve or Xmas Day. Can I ask what your your families think about ya'll spending xmas away from them? Or do you guys even live near your families? I mean, like your parents or brothers and sisters, not husbands/wives and kids.

Ive spent the last 20 Christmases (sp?) with my freakin inlaws and, frankly....IM SICK OF EM!!!! But I dont really want them to know that. How do ya handle blowing them off for the holidays?

 

[des1954]

When my mother was still living she demanded all holiday time be spent with her. This is going to sound cruel (but Al will understand), after my mom died, I finally had freedom to do what I wanted to do. The first Thksgvg & Xmas following mom's death....we went to Port Orleans!!

My MIL on the other hand, makes no demands what so ever. Up until 2 years ago she would get stuff to make cuban sandwiches and some snackies, make a big pot of black beans & rice, and whoever showed up was fine with her. Her DH is getting more frail as the years go by, so she's given up trying to do anything beyond taking care of him. When he goes...we're taking DMIL to FtW for a LOOOOONG vacation!!! She so deserves it!

 

[Gatordad]

we don't have that problem as the Jews and the Arabs get along better than I do with my family.

 

[g8trmom1]

we don't have that problem as the Jews and the Arabs get along better than I do with my family.

That will come as no surprise to everybody here

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Deb..if ya noticed..I spent the last 20 yrs with my inlaws....Ive NEVER celebrated a christmas with my family at all!!! Well, except for my little sister, she lived with us when she was 15 & 16 and again when she was 22 &23...she's the only one I even really talk to occassionally, so I dont think ya sound CRUEL at all!!!!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

we don't have that problem as the Jews and the Arabs get along better than I do with my family.

LOL....its not funny, but damn its funny!!!

 

[Gatordad]

Let's just say our family isn't into holiday gatherings much.

 

[AuburnJen92]

If Gina is up to it (she is the boss you know ) I say go for it and spend Christmas where you want...

Why spend your holiday season miserable, again?

 

[clkelley]

All of our family lives here (or within 100 miles of here), so yeah Christmas around here is still a pretty big deal. We have a big to do with my ex's family (my kids grandmother), usually on Christmas Eve night. On Christmas eve afternoon, there is a big to do with my family, then on Christmas afternoon, we have a smaller get together with DH's brother, sister and her husband. My brothers still have little kids, so the gathering with my family is usually the biggest, but we do rotate it around, I did it last year, so it will be a couple of years before I have to host it again. With me ex inlaws family, we usually end up hosting it every year, cause we're the only ones that have a real house. (And yes, my ex husband and his wife were at my house last Christmas Eve. I did a lot of drinking).

New Year's Eve, we alternate between drinking ourselves stupid at our house, or next door at Rick's sister's house.

I honestly don't think that we'll ever spend the holidays away from home, it's just too much of a tradition for us. Of course, someday, it's my goal to winter at Ft. Wilderness, so perhaps then.

 

[lucy_love]

I'm actually in that dilemma right now! My family wants to spend Thanksgiving at the fort but my grandma would not speak to any of us if we did that. We only live 1 1/2 hour from the fort but she hates Disney and refuses to have Thanksgiving dinner anywhere except Clearwater, FL!

Our holiday dinners have gotten smaller because a lot of people have died off or are not speaking to each other so really she is the only one.

 

[AlyLynn]

We are fortunate--my husband's family celebrates Orthodox Christmas, so when they were alive they didn't care where we went on the 25th of December, as long as we were around for January 7th! We were extremely close to them, and the kids like celebrating Christmas twice! I never wanted to leave for actual Christmas Day either, and we are trying it for the first time this year. The kids are extremely excited (they're what count around the holidays the most, anyway!), so I think we made the right choice. My only fear is that they will want to go every Christmas (we have to follow the school calendar, with 4 kids and 2 teachers in our family!), and that we won't be able to get a site! Do what's best for you and your family. Good luck!

 

[des1954]

Deb..if ya noticed..I spent the last 20 yrs with my inlaws....Ive NEVER celebrated a christmas with my family at all!!! Well, except for my little sister, she lived with us when she was 15 & 16 and again when she was 22 &23...she's the only one I even really talk to occassionally, so I dont think ya sound CRUEL at all!!!!

My dad's favorite saying was "Too bad you can't pick your family like you can pick your friends." I still miss my dad, and he's been gone 27 years!

 

[Gatordad]

or your nose.

 

[des1954]

or your nose.

How did I know it would be YOU that posted that? Just issue me a "900" # and label me a psychic!!!

 

[Gatordad]

How did I know it would be YOU that posted that? Just issue me a "900" # and label me a psychic!!!

because i'm so predictable. or as my wife calls me pathetic.

 

[g8trmom1]

because i'm so predictable. or as my wife calls me pathetic.

Actually, it's come to the point that we both say the same stupid thing and the same time!

 

[Shannone1]

When we decided LAST YEAR to spend this coming Christmas at FW....my mom was upset. "But you've spent every Christmas Eve with me since you were born " I am 35 years old and would like to make some NEW traditions with my own kids, you know ?? She is QUEEN of the guilt trip.

Normally we spent Christmas Eve day with my inlaws, that evening with my mom and stepdad and then Christmas day my dad and stepmom come to our house for dinner. I love my family and hanging out with them, but Chad and I really wanted to do something DIFFERENT this year.

We are NOT spending 3 days making 80 DOZEN cookies like we normally do. We aren't spending TWO WEEKS hanging up Christmas lights on the house. And we aren't going to be exchanging Christmas gifts with everyone. Instead we are packing up and spending two weeks on our own at FW. My mom has had a year and a half to get used to the idea and I'm NOT going to let her ruin my holidays with her little girl voice and sad eyes.

 

[VACAMPER]

Christmas Eve - At my Maw Maw's 4 room house (plus 1 very small bathroom)with about 40 adults and 22 kids my dd12 being the oldest. Its caos but i wouldn't have it any other way. People are piled everywhere. One year my little one disappeared and I found her siting on the toilet eating her christmas dinner. I love it!

 

[jrandtysmom]

When we decided LAST YEAR to spend this coming Christmas at FW....my mom was upset. "But you've spent every Christmas Eve with me since you were born " I am 35 years old and would like to make some NEW traditions with my own kids, you know ?? She is QUEEN of the guilt trip.

Normally we spent Christmas Eve day with my inlaws, that evening with my mom and stepdad and then Christmas day my dad and stepmom come to our house for dinner. I love my family and hanging out with them, but Chad and I really wanted to do something DIFFERENT this year.

We are NOT spending 3 days making 80 DOZEN cookies like we normally do. We aren't spending TWO WEEKS hanging up Christmas lights on the house. And we aren't going to be exchanging Christmas gifts with everyone. Instead we are packing up and spending two weeks on our own at FW. My mom has had a year and a half to get used to the idea and I'm NOT going to let her ruin my holidays with her little girl voice and sad eyes.

I envy you! I think we have the same mother. Just because you've always done something doesn't mean you have to continue, it's called CHANGE and it can be a really good thing.....although I still haven't convinced my mother of that regarding holidays. My brother just finally started doing his own thing (not just for holidays) and it's caused a rift between them but he is happy. She is the one that needs to get over it, she is keeping herself miserable by holding onto how things always were. She did what she wanted with her kids and wouldn't have heard of her mother telling her what to do, but try reminding her of that.

 

[medic9016]

I was really surprised when my wife agreed to Christmas at The Fort. AP's really helped with her decision. With my schedule I work every other Christmas day or Christmas eve. So with both our families more than 10 hours away we go home every few years for the holidays and that keeps everyone happy. My in-laws come visit a few times a year for about a week at a time and my DWs step dad will irritate her enough, that she ready for him to go back home.