What will Christmas look like for you this year?

[mshanson3121]

I know for a lot of us, Christmas is going to look mighty different than normal. What things will be different? What will be the same? For those who have to change how they celebrate, what are you planning instead to try and "make up" for the changes/to keep the spirit up?

 

[mshanson3121]

So, for us, since our parents are both divorced, we take turns doing Christmas with two sets of the grandparents at a time. Normally it'll be my Mom (who stays with us since she lives away) and his Dad, or his Mom (who also stays with us and lives away) and my Dad. So, we normally always have at least one set of grandparents staying with us for a few days over Christmas, and then the other set joins us at our house for Christmas dinner. We always go to Christmas Eve family Mass, and then have a family get-together after, as well.

So, our first big change is that my father is no longer with us. So... that's been hard. But unfortunately, due to Covid, it looks like we'll be spending Christmas alone this year, as well. This will be the first Christmas in 17 years, that we haven't had family with us. I'll admit, it's really hard knowing I can't be with my family, to support each other during our first Christmas without Dad. Admittedly, I had a pretty good cry over it today.

But... perspective, right? It's (please, God) one year, people have had to endure much worse, and in this modern era, we can certainly find other ways of connecting.

So... on our "make up for it" list:

- We are still going to go pick up my grandmother and bring her up for Christmas dinner, because she desperately needs the support and comfort of seeing the kids over Christmas (my Dad's mother, so needless to say, she's having a very hard time this Christmas, having already been widowed years ago, and my Dad was her only child). So it'll be different, but, at least she'll be with us.

- We're going to surprise my step-mother and brother (who would have been with us this year at dinner) with a Zoom Christmas carol on Christmas Day. We're all musical here, so DD is going to play piano, DS his trumpet, and we'll all sing some songs. We might even let my grandmother sing (it's a long standing joke that she can't sing, LOL).

- The reason that we're going to be alone at Christmas is because both my step-mother, and my FIL have company visiting this week leading up to Christmas, and so, there isn't enough time to them to self-monitor for 10 days before Christmas, to make sure everyone visiting us is Covid free. We're a higher risk household, and our daughter is on a wait list for surgery, so we really don't want to/can't take chances. So, the plan is once the 10 days is up, we'll have a big outdoor New Year's Eve get together with everyone instead - bonfire, roasting marshmallows, sliding, snowmobiles, and we'll set off some fireworks to welcome in the New Year - and kick this *beeping* year out!

- Now, my husband is actually kind of looking forward to the fact that we're going to have this Christmas morning to ourselves. We have never yet had a Christmas morning/day for just our family. He often finds large crowds and the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day overwhelming (as does our daughter with Autism), so... there is a part of me that is looking forward to perhaps starting our own new family traditions. Since it'll be more relaxed, not as rushed, the plan is to wake up, open gifts, put on a nice Christmas movie while I make us a nice brunch, perhaps play some games together etc... Then DH will run down after lunch and bring my grandmother up for the afternoon.

Looking forward to hearing what everyone else is doing!

 

[snappy]

First time since our oldest was born 32 years ago that our 3 kids won’t be driving in (1 of the 3) or flying in (2 of the 3). We have all had brunch with my mom at her assisted living facility the last 5 years, instead I get to visit her for 30 minutes outside (it will be cold). Not ideal but I have hope for future Christmas celebrations. We have had our kids’ presents shipped to them and do a FaceTime with them Christmas morning. I’ll be cooking a simple meal at home for my husband and me. We will be thankful we are healthy.

 

[Minniemoo15]

My in laws always come up and stay with us, but when the Atlantic bubble burst that meant they sadly aren’t able to do that anymore. We will facetime them in for Christmas morning to watch the girls open their presents. Luckily my parents and sister are local so we will spend Christmas Eve and day with them as usual. We do brunch together at our place and then dinner at my parents. They usually have a big crowd for Christmas dinner but it will be much smaller this year.

 

[damo]

We usually have about 20 people for Christmas but this year it will be down to about 5. I dropped off a bunch of meals for my parents who are in their mid 90's and live alone, yesterday, since we won't be able to get together with them, again. So sad that they haven't even had a chance to meet their newest great grandson. We will have dinner with my daughter and her little family as we have been seeing them every day since this whole thing started because I have had to provide daycare.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We usually have about 15 over for dinner on Christmas Day, and New Years Eve usually 3 families get together.
This year my sd and her dh who are expecting are hiding out from everyone at camp. My sister will come for brunch as she's alone. We also lost my mom this fall. We will see my ss and his family outside for skating, sliding, marshmallow roasting etc.
I'm looking forward to a more casual Christmas with just the 4 of us as well. No working around the sks other schedules, just doing what I want to do when I want to do it. LOL. Also, dh is off Christmas and Boxing Day for the first time in years, so that will be nice. He's in LTC and they just had one staff test positive so I'm hoping to god that's where it ends, otherwise we will be doing nothing at all except hiding out from him!

 

[torontominnie]

We normally alternate in law sides for dinner and often have my in laws staying with us. This year, we will have just us for most of the day. However, we will have dinner outside at my parents at about 2:30 so there is still light and then we will come home and watch either Wonder Woman or Soul. I’m most sad that we aren’t able to participate in our church pageant this year - I love seeing the hustle and bustle when everyone costumes up and the church is packed to the rafters.
I did our last big shop yesterday and got lots of snacks and treats to try and make this time feel as special as possible. I’m hopeful that next year it can be back to normal.

 

[mshanson3121]

We will see my ss and his family outside for skating, sliding, marshmallow roasting etc.
I'm looking forward to a more casual Christmas with just the 4 of us as well. No working around the sks other schedules, just doing what I want to do when I want to do it. LOL. Also, dh is off Christmas and Boxing Day for the first time in years, so that will be nice. He's in LTC and they just had one staff test positive so I'm hoping to god that's where it ends, otherwise we will be doing nothing at all except hiding out from him!

I love the idea of doing it outside! I wish we could do that, and maybe we will be able to, but currently the forecast is for a heavy rainstorm, with possible flooding Because nothing says "Christmas" like torrential rain.

DH really is looking forward to a quieter Christmas, so, I am glad about that. Though I won't lie, it's hard, because I LOVE big family dinners, so... it will definitely be different for me. But, I suppose, he should have a chance to have a Christmas he prefers... every... oh, once in 17 years... LOL

 

[grantclaire]

It will be a quiet day for us, just the two of us plus the DS who attends college in the basement! Our DD 25 is working on her Masters at U of S in Saskatoon and will stay there for her break. It is the first time she has not been home for the holidays!

 

[tinkerone]

Our norm is somewhere around 40 guests on Christmas Eve where I have spent weeks cooking for, shopping for gifts for the children and ladies, decorated the house, packing bags of candy to hand out. Then on Christmas day is was usually a free for all, who ever wanted to come for dinner was welcome. That was often a sister and her family, a niece who is more a best friend and her family and our own children and their families. For the last two Christmas' however, we have had Christmas dinner at my DIL and sons home with the DIL's family.
This year, obviously, we are not having Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner will be at my house once again with just my two sons, one DIL and two grandchildren, so 7 altogether. We were not going to even bother with a Christmas tree until our four year old grandson reminded us that Santa would not be happy about that.
I'm torn about how I feel. On the one hand Christmas was loud and joyful, full of family but a lot of work. Now it will be a LOT less work but much quieter. It also saves a ton of money as I don't have to bring in as much food and don't need to buy as many gifts and candy. I guess we will see how it goes but it could be so much worse. I'm more than willing to forgo one 'normal' Christmas to help protect everyone.
Ultimately I will have everyone I need close to me thanks to things like Facetime so there is that. And who knows, maybe I'll like it so much we will continue on this way next year. Change can sometimes be good.

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm torn about how I feel. On the one hand Christmas was loud and joyful, full of family but a lot of work. Now it will be a LOT less work but much quieter. It also saves a ton of money as I don't have to bring in as much food and don't need to buy as many gifts and candy. I guess we will see how it goes but it could be so much worse. I'm more than willing to forgo one 'normal' Christmas to help protect everyone.
Ultimately I will have everyone I need close to me thanks to things like Facetime so there is that. And who knows, maybe I'll like it so much we will continue on this way next year. Change can sometimes be good.

Unfortunately I had already bought all our groceries for our traditional dinner... We are going to be eating roast beef and sweets for a long time... LOL. I feel like DH is going to really like the quieter Christmas and want it to remain that way moving forward.

 

[quandrea]

We will be just the five of us due to restrictions and having family members with high risk. I’m truthfully really content with this arrangement. I’m not a fan of the big holiday dinners and really just tolerate and get through them. This year will be the ideal really.

We will watch mass as a livestream on Christmas Eve—that’s the part of Christmas I will miss most—church service. Our church does such a lovely event that I find so meaningful. I’m glad we will be able to watch remotely. After church, we will have filet of beef sliders for dinner and watch A Christmas Story.

Christmas Day we will do brunch for our midday meal—so excited for that. Brunch is my favourite type of food! Then a cozy day.

This week is busy dropping gifts all around to friends and family.

 

[quandrea]

Unfortunately I had already bought all our groceries for our traditional dinner... We are going to be eating roast beef and sweets for a long time... LOL. I feel like DH is going to really like the quieter Christmas and want it to remain that way moving forward.

I agree. I’d love it to always be this way.

 

[mshanson3121]

We will be just the five of us due to restrictions and having family members with high risk. I’m truthfully really content with this arrangement. I’m not a fan of the big holiday dinners and really just tolerate and get through them. This year will be the ideal really.

We will watch mass as a livestream on Christmas Eve—that’s the part of Christmas I will miss most—church service. Our church does such a lovely event that I find so meaningful. I’m glad we will be able to watch remotely. After church, we will have filet of beef sliders for dinner and watch A Christmas Story.

Christmas Day we will do brunch for our midday meal—so excited for that. Brunch is my favourite type of food! Then a cozy day.

This week is busy dropping gifts all around to friends and family.

I have to admit that really does sound nice. Similar to what we're planning. You and DH are a lot alike! I'm definitely the more social of us, lol. But, if I'm honest, there really have been years where I've wanted a Christmas morning just for "us". To be able to just really focus on the children, and our family, without having to rush around getting breakfast for everyone, and then trying to rush to clean up because I need to start preparing a huge meal, feeling like I need to entertain, all while trying to deal with the overwhelmed meltdown from our daughter (ASD) later on, because she's overstimulated by all of it etc...

 

[ottawamom]

This year will be quiet for us also. The boys are off to their inlaws on Christmas day so I think we will get Chinese food. Everyone will be here on Boxing Day so we will celebrate our Christmas then, opening presents, turkey dinner etc. Like many of you I am accustomed to large Christmas gatherings with lots of noise this one will be different.

 

[quandrea]

I have to admit that really does sound nice. Similar to what we're planning. You and DH are a lot alike! I'm definitely the more social of us, lol. But, if I'm honest, there really have been years where I've wanted a Christmas morning just for "us". To be able to just really focus on the children, and our family, without having to rush around getting breakfast for everyone, and then trying to rush to clean up because I need to start preparing a huge meal, feeling like I need to entertain, all while trying to deal with the overwhelmed meltdown from our daughter (ASD) later on, because she's overstimulated by all of it etc...

It’s funny you say you are the more social one between you and your dh. I’m the more social between me and dh. Dh is doing just fine with the lack of socializing! He’s very happy to be home.

 

[mshanson3121]

It’s funny you say you are the more social one between you and your dh. I’m the more social between me and dh. Dh is doing just fine with the lack of socializing! He’s very happy to be home.

Haha, that sounds like my son. He has been very happy with the shut downs, lack of going here and there. My daughter on the other hand, has had a hard time with it.

 

[tinkerone]

Here's a throwback no one asked about but I'm going to share, lol.
I come from a very large family, 8 brothers and sisters, lots of nieces and nephews, tons of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Christmas while growing up was HUGE to say the least. Everyone gathered.
When DH and I were first married I decided that we were going to have our own Christmas, after all it would be our first Christmas as a family. Just the two of us, together to celebrate the day and each other. I told my mother this is what we were doing and she nodded and said she understood. Now we were married young and did not have a ton of money so we bought each other one gift. When we got up in the morning we exchanged them, opened them and then looked at each other. Now what? We really had not thought that far ahead. DH was okay with it, his mother was Jehovah Witness and they were poor so their Christmas had been quiet anyways. Me, I was in tears wondering how I was going to make it through the day almost alone. Then the phone rang. My mother said 'are you ready to come over?'. She was a wise woman. She knew I would need my family and also knew enough to let me find it out on my own. We quickly put our coats on and went to where we truly needed to be.
I miss my wise mother every day!

 

[newdeal]

We usually have pick up hockey game on Christmas Eve. That’s canceled. We are still seeing immediate family as we have but are no longer seeing extended family.

 

[kanerf]

Going to WDW for Christmas. Dec 24-30. This is to replace the May trip that I lost. I went in Oct and felt quite safe. I understand that the number of people allowed in the park has gone up, but I think I can avoid the crowds. I don't need to do all the rides if the lines are too long. I will just enjoy the decorations, the food booths, the cavalcades and just being there.