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12-19-2012 at 8:21 AM
Ardmhs83
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Martinsburg, WV
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Ardmhs83 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 6:56 AMSilver

Annoying holiday family stress...how you deal?

It is getting sooooo close to Christmas and I am really excited. I really think DS and all of our LO's will really tear into the packages this year! :. I am really trying to keep my focus on that, however family issues on both sides are stressing me out!!!!
I could really go into detail, but I want to be careful with what I put online...just in case. Basically their is stressful things going on between my brother and parents and I fall in the middle. Then on the inlaw side their are issues with my SIL. We didn't even go to the IL's for Thanksgiving. Terrible blow out between her and myself/hubby. Ahhhhhh!!!
Just wondering if the holidays bring on stress in your family and how you deal? Some of these ppl we just need to avoid in order to prevent a full out scream feast and I am not having C around that.
We are planning to see family, just working out times and pleasing everyone is annoying.

I just want to add that I know all of this is trivial compared to recent events. I am a school teacher and of course a parent and my heart is still broken. I pray for those babies and other victims every night.

Just wondering what your holiday stress is and how you deal?

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12-19-2012 at 9:31 AM
Jessandthe...
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East Tennessee
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JessandtheBabe is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 9:17 PMBronze

We try to accommodate everyone during other holidays (as much as you can) but for Christmas, we've drawn a hard line with both my family and ILs. I was always stressed out as a kid at Christmas because my mom was so upset/stressed trying to drag us to everyone's house and please everyone. We aren't doing that. Also, anyone who consistently causes problems (MIL & my brother) will be seen on our own terms.

For Christmas, we've invited ILs and BIL & SIL over for brunch from 10-1 (made sure they knew we had a set time, no lingering). Then DD will get a good nap. Then we go to my mom's house for dinner. My dad, step-mom and brothers are coming over on the 23rd for a brunch/early Christmas so that Christmas day isn't crazy. We've informed everyone that Christmas Eve is just for us to enjoy and relax. People are pissed but I'm actually looking forward to the week since it's spaced out and calm!


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12-19-2012 at 10:04 AM
Kadie331
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We don't have any "drama" to deal with but Christmas day is always a tad stressful.

My parents are divorced so I have always spent Christmas Eve with my dad and his side of the family and Christmas morning with my mom. Now that I have kids we still do Christmas eve with my dad, Christmas morning at home, then to my moms and then to Mils for dinner.

Last year I refused to do the run-around so I invited everyone over for dinner.. not sure which is more stressful lol.

ETA: We will have a late Christmas with DH's extended family on the 29th. There is just too many people to try and all get together on Christmas as everyone has their own families, kids, grandkids to see.


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12-19-2012 at 1:49 PM
la79al
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I don't really have any drama per se going on.  I have always gone to my grandparents house for Christmas Eve so will be doing that this year, except my grandmother is in a physical rehab place, getting a 24 hour pass for the holiday, and my grandfather is in the hospital, basically leaving AMA after being told he needs 24/7 care.  They have 7 kids and a ton of grandkids and of course they all have varying opinions on what should be going on with my grandparents so Christmas Eve should be interesting. Then my grandparents on my dads side have racial issues with my husband so he is not welcome at their house. This year my aunt it hosting Christmas and has told me my husband is welcome at her house but I know if he goes then my grandparents will leave. I'm really hoping that they decide to do their dinner on a day that my husband has to work so I won't have to choose.   Scheduling is always the part I hate the most about the holidays.  I thought it was the last minute shopping but this year I am almost done with a week left to shop and while I'm less stressed, I'm still wondering how everything is going to fit together next week.  I try to hit what I can/see the most people at once that I can fit in but beyond that, dress my kids cute, make sure they are as well rested and fed as they need to be and go visiting people on my schedule. Sometimes it works out better this way because no one is worried about preparing a meal or visiting with 6 trillion other people so it's a more laid back visit. My key thing though is that Christmas is supposed to be a happy time so I really try to make sure my kids see that side as much as possible.  My kids are the only people I know who are looking forward to Christmas with no negativity whatsoever and I would like to keep it that way as long as possible.

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12-19-2012 at 2:56 PM
sstara
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Lawrence, KS
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My stress reliver is a bottle of wine and either a book or naked husband! Wink

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12-19-2012 at 6:59 PM
Abeja1226
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We try to celebrate Xmas on different days. We have like 6 celebrations it's ridiculous. I refuse to go to more than 2 places on Xmas. I personally hate going to either of my inlaws. But I bear through it. Our families only live minutes away from each other so when we go at least we don't have to travel far in between houses.

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12-20-2012 at 7:33 AM
Ardmhs83
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Martinsburg, WV
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Ardmhs83 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 6:56 AMSilver

sstara:
My stress reliver is a bottle of wine and either a book or naked husband! Wink

That sounds nice! :) 

Thank you all for your responses.  I just wish we could stay home all day and let my DS play with his toys and let him stay in his cute xmas pj's.  Just relax at the house and let others come by who want to.  That is what I really wish. 

However, it is never like that.  My parents have an xmas eve party every year that we go to.  We would never give this up...it is too fun!  However Christmas day is the rush, rush problem.  We rush to open our gifts, then get ready...then off to my IL's for a couple of hours, then back to my parents to see my grandmother.  Then a quick run home then back to my parents for Christmas dinner.  C normally doesn't even get a nap that day.  :(  Oh boy...and that is fun!

Normally, we just make this all work and it is all good.  We get to relax the next day.  However, their is added family stress this year with people not getting along.  HUGE family fights on both sides...just don't want to see certain people.  Just stressing me out.

Thank goodness for my anxiety meds right now!  ;)


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