Would you continue a tradition even if it may be difficult ??

[PooohBear]

Every year Christmas Eve is at our house, it used to be that everyone in the family took turns, but for the past 10 years we've had it here, everyone loves our basement, my decorations..bla bla bla...... normally i'm okay with this because then we don't have to lug everything home in the freezing cold, and the kids love being at their own house !! This year we are going to be coming home from DisneyWorld on X-mas eve and getting home around 1 PM ! would it be too much to then have everyone over by 5 or should I break tradition and have it somewhere else ??

 

[Big V]

Somewhere else for sure! One year won't hurt the family. Maybe you can start a new tradition!

 

[monkeyboy]

Is it bad luck to break a tradition?

 

[DawnCt1]

Start a new tradition of coming back from WDW every Christmas eve! I do think it is someone elses turn.

 

[2bemarried]

hmmm...how old are your kids now?? If they're still preteen or younger I would probably keep tradition. However if they're older than 13, you're fine to break the tradition. I don't think they'll mind too much.

 

[pjlla]

Wow... tough one for me.... we are real sticklers for "tradition" around here (makes me want to sing that song from Fiddler on the Roof!).... but there are a few things here to consider.... what if your plane gets in late.... what if you are delayed leaving.... what if your luggage doesn't arrive and you want to wait at the airport for it .... Lots of things can happen and it would more MORE stressful if you were thinking about all the people who were going to show up at your house and you're not there! The other possibility is maybe moving the time back an hour or two... say maybe 6 or 7 pm... and FOR SURE, have the event catered! And if possible, have someone (that you trust) come in to clean for you while you are gone. My SIL does that.... every vacation she has someone (a relative who she pays) come in and clean while she is gone... she comes home to a sparkling clean house! How NICE!..............P

 

[KarenC]

Last year my women's association at church had a speaker talk about "unplugging the Christmas machine". She had us do an exercise where we wrote down all the traditions we followed at Christmas. Then we selected which ones we really enjoyed. Finally we selected which ones we really didn't like doing. Then she asked, why do you do them? Good question. She didn't think "because we always have" was a good answer.

It was really thought provoking. I think if you think it's too much it probably is. And you have a perfect excuse for breaking the tradition.

 

[bubie2.5]

Start a new tradition of coming back from WDW every Christmas eve!

I wouldn't mind starting that tradition too. I think somewhere else would be better.

 

[mickeyboat]

How about switching it to Christmas night?

Denae

 

[Keli]

It depends on how much you value the traditon. In this case I think the real traditon is getting together with family on Christmas Eve not where you get together. So I would talk to family and get someone else to host the party because the important part of the evening is being with family to celebrate, not where you celebrate.

 

[snoopy]

I like having Christmas at our house and I'm a stickler for tradition, so if it were me, I'd probably do what I could to keep with tradition.

 

[Crankyshank]

It depends on how important the tradition is to you and your family.
Is there any way a family member can come over to your house and get things ready so you're not coming home and running around like a crazy person trying to get ready?

 

[disykat]

If it were me, I'd give up the tradition. However, if the tradition is important to you, remember that whatever you do this year could start a new tradition. Just make sure you aren't giving up something that is very dear to you.

Maybe you could split the difference and tell everyone you'd still love to have it at your house, but serve take out Chinese food? Or it may be there is someone who would love to have it at their house as a one time thing, but doesn't want to get stuck with it every year - you could let it be known that you are still willing to host in general, but are just taking a break this year.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think traditions opften get in the way of things, and if my plane was landing 4 hours before I was expecting people at my house, there'd be no way I'd be aving people at my house that night.

I had a DMIL who was a stickler for tradition and it made for some difficult maneuvering during the holidays.

I think with all the stuff we "do" during the holidays, we've lost sight of the real meaning.

 

[Trish Bessette]

When it comes right down to it only you can answer this question. But since you asked this is how I would look at it. You seem like you've enjoyed the past years having it at your home and so has your family. With that being said I would keep the tradition going. Of course you have the worry if your plane is delayed. Other than that, you will have your home all ready before you leave for your trip. If you have a sit down meal, have the table all ready, get everything possible done that you can. I would ask other family members to do the food this year. If you feel like you need to do something, preorder something and have a family member pick it up for you (like a cold cut platter, dessert tray, etc)

I'm a very organized person so to me this seems like it will come off really nicely without any stress at all.

Happy Holidays to yoU!!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I'd change the tradition! No way would I be able to entertain people right after a Disney trip!

 

[MamaLema]

Just wanted to add that you should be prepared for the unexpected. What if your plane is delayed or some other unexpected event happens?

That would be way too much pressure for me

 

[ksjayhawks]

Since you live in Chicago . . .

I think that this year I would ask someone else to host. Tell them that if your plane is delayed or cannot land--which it could, since you are in snow country!--you wouldn't want the get together to be spoiled for everyone else.

There may be someone who would like to host, but hasn't wanted to hurt your feelings. Or is noone volunteers, that tells you that they like the "tradition" but only if you do all the work and is not as important to them as it is to you!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[CEDmom]

I don't know what would be worse having everyone over or having to go over someone else's house after just getting back. I think I'd opt to have people over but would scale back big time (i.e. take out). I'd let my family know well ahead of time and gladly turn over the reigns if someone else volunteered.

 

[PooohBear]

Thanks so much for all the help!!! I love the idea of having some family come over and clean up and have everything ready!! I do have 2 nieces that are unmarried, no kids and i'm sure they would be willing to do it...with a little disney gift as a reward....
I guess I would feel bad if I broke the tradition, my kids are older and wouldn't care, but the smaller kids always talk about coming over for X-mas and love being here.
Now this is how crazy I am..... not only do we have x-mas eve here (DH's family) but on Christmas day we have my family over....