Are you doing EXACTLY what you want at Christmas?

Almost exactly how I would wish except that I wish we were able to stay at home and they could all come to us as we have more space and comforts. DD, DH and I are going to be with DS, DDIL and DGC in their home for a whole week which will be really lovely and they are brilliant in the way they look after us. The downside is that it quite a journey and there is nowhere to take refuge and have a quiet rest/snooze while we are there so I am praying for the energy to cope and be a lovely granny.
And that my lip zipper keeps working!

Can't you just feign surprise and thank him very much, Hannah and leave it at that.

Yes, with just two small reservations. My granddaughter and her fiancé are hosting the full family Christmas Day and I'm so looking forward to it. Wish my son could be there too but he feels he must spend it with his dad as he's done each year since we separated. That's fair enough as I have my daughters from first marriage, their partners and children. My son comes to me on Christmas Eve and stays overnight and that's lovely.
Now the tricky bit, my first husband, daughters' father and grand children's grandad became a widower a few months ago and because he'd be alone at Christmas my granddaughter has invited him too. While I agree wholeheartedly that he should be included I'm feeling a little awkward about the news ( from daughter) that he's insisted on buying me a small present. She said to him it probably isn't a good idea but he was a bit short with her and got something anyway. I'm not buying him a present, we divorced over forty years ago, another lifetime away. How should I handle this, any ideas?

After the least few weeks of agrovation i am firmly of the opinion im going to be happier on my own christmas day!

DH and I are escaping to a hotel by the sea for 4 nights over Christmas. Heaven!! All family are doing their own thing with in-laws so rather than doing a Derby and Joan - we are treating ourselves to a Christmas Break.

We have a family party lunch this Sunday so will get to see grandchildren and exchange presents. Then I shall pack my case ready for the off. Guess the only thing I will miss is turkey leftovers on Boxing Day - but as we are staying in a town - I shall probably hit the Sales instead of making soup!! Whats not to like??

I will be with my family and that is exactly what I want.

Maybe not exactly but it's not all about me is it?
What I want and AM doing is ultimately seeing my children and grandchildren. I also think part of my "present" to the others,(DH, sisters in law, nephew, DD's PILs as well as the DDs and SILs ) is to provide a happy, relaxed (?) environment where we can all enjoy each others' company. Who knows what could happen between this Christmas and next so I want us to look back on this one and say "That was a lovely Christmas"

Daddima, can I come with you please? That's what I'd really like to do.
Radicalnan - sorry they are all coming to my place.

Yes! I'm cruising.

I have put my foot down... I have had invites for Christmas bu intend spending it on my own. I will cook a lovely vegetarian lunch, watch a couple of Christmas DVDs and open a bottle of Baileys. Oh and I will have Champagne with lunch. No driving anywhere...brilliant.

I will see all my children and grandchildren in the week running up to Christmas. I have to work on Boxing day...oh well!

Perhaps not EXACTLY. I am very happy to have a family Christmas at home but with a talented chef preparing the dinner and clearing up afterwards! Other than that, I count my blessings.

I am going into hospital tomorrow for bladder investigation. Will be in for a couple of days. I have the whole family coming for Christmas Day 11 of us, which is lovely! But really can't think beyond tomorrow am trying hard to be organised but so wish I could have gone to someone else's this year. DH is in a wheelchair and is difficult visiting other people's, also I don't like driving in the dark so DD thinks it better to have it here as usual, I am sure they will all help but there is always so much to think about and prepare to make it special for everyone and the five young grandchildren. Glad they still love Christmas here and will do it for as long as I can. Happy Christmas everyone

We have to have plan A and plan B because DS2 is a pilot and never knows when he will be home. I won't bore you with all the details. We may be spending Christmas Day on our own this year. If we do it will be fillet steak and chips and plenty of wine as no driving. Boxing Day is at DS2's house and we go up the A34 to DS1's family for a couple of days on 27th. DH tends to like his own bed these days so has to be persuaded to stay at childrens houses! MIL is 102 years old and we will need to visit her at her care home around Christmas but it is a long drive around the M25 to Essex from here in Dorset.

I shall be at home with my daughter, her husband and their 2 little boys. One of my other daughters is coming with her boyfriend on Christmas Day for supper. They are going to his parents for lunch. My other 2 daughters are going abroad with their boyfriends. We will go to Church and then have a turkey lunch. A few presents before lunch to keep the boys amused. A few afterwards and then a few more when Auntie arrives. We've not heard from my son-in-laws parents about Christmas. They have a very small house so sometimes entertain at the pub. No washing up which is nice. We do talk about the real meaning of Christmas which is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. BTW he wasn't born in a stable but in the main room of St. Joseph's cousin's house. St Luke wrote that there was no room in the bedroom of the house not an inn. However when The King James' Authorised version was published he changed it into Inn to discredit the Jews. There were no Inns in Bethleham then. Jesus was very much welcomed when he was born and loved by his family.

Absolutely, what I want. I love Christmas. I love the planning and when all the family arrive they know my parameters; I will prepare one (preplanned) meal a day, and after that they look after themselves. If what they want isn't in the house they go out and buy it for themselves.

It means that everyone plays their part in making the festival go well and I have a relaxed and enjoyable Christmas and can join in all the fun and do not end up tired and exhausted.

Lillie your description of managing family dynamics sounds very like me!! My old boy, who is one of 3 himself, doesn't seem to notice/let's it all wash over him and can't understand why I'm busy fretting and trying to keep everyone happy!

Lots of fun will be had - but not EXACTLY what I might wish. My favourite meal of the year is on Boxing Day with cold turkey and all the leftovers. As we will be elsewhere on Christmas day and someone else will be cooking, I will miss out on this. So I plan to cook turkey breast on Christmas Eve and create a Boxing Day meal here for the 2 of us - or probably the one of us as OH is not really into eating (except chocolate!)

Doing EXACTLY what we want this Christmas, going to Cornwall, that is if BA doesnt strike and messs up all the plans, I am just living in hopes!

Nothing - we are lucky that everybody gets on Parents, children, grandchildren and in-laws. Everybody is easy going - nobody says we must see grandchildren open their presents or do you have to go so early. Just appreciate the moment.

After hosting family Christmases for nearly 50 years and my lovely Mum living with us for the last 11 years of her life, my DH and I are spending our very first Christmas alone doing just whatever we want. Doubt if we will even bother with Christmas dinner. As we live abroad we would have to stay in a hotel if we go to see the family so we thought we would prefer to just stay at home with the dogs this year.

We are going to our youngest sons with our DD and SIL. They have the 2 youngest GKs so am looking forward to it. My Dil has lovely parents who will be there too. Sadly her mum is seriously ill, so might not make next year's Christmas.

A little while ago we were discussing how much the GKs adore their grandad. She said "I am so glad because they might only have him soon". She said it so simply, it really made me count my blessings, and good health.

Doing what I choose , bit different to doing what I want. Not celebrating it in anyway, apart from attending Mass

Yes doing exactly as we want - DS visiting on Christmas morning with family to swap gifts but after that we will be having lovely meal - beef and all the trimmings just the two of us. Last couple of Christmases we've gone to DS and year before DDs. All very nice but we want to have the day at home this year for a change. We understand that with young children they all want to be in their own homes now. We will be hosting an 'at home' between Christmas and New Year when they all come to us - bringing a dish and we'll have the traditional family get together and play games. The DGC are into Charades and UNO. Boxing day we will be visiting the cemetery where my parents were laid to rest. Have already taken a Christmas display there for the period. The area is always beautiful at this time of year with many people taking Christmas themed planters for their relatives no longer here.

Same here radicalnan, maybe they haven't received their invitations yet.

Breakfast with son no1&family at theirs..then off to a hotel for dinner with son no3&family.in between skype son no2&family in Australia..happy/sad!!! And skype our youngest in Dubai...shes expecting her first baby in Jan so ticket booked to be with her&son in law to help for few weeks? Happy Christmas Gransnetters whatever you do ✨??✨