OMG dreading the holidays.

AmyLuvsJoey

Ok seriously, I love the holidays but I dread them as well. I am so excited because my sweet baby is so excited, but seriously we spend most of it in the car. Thanksgiving is the worst, because it all happens on one day. At least with Christmas we get Christmas Eve as well. We have my moms family, my dads family, and luckily we only have to do one thing for DHs family now and not 2 or 3 like it has been in the past.

I have not yet figured out how to be in 3 places at once on Thanksgiving day. I have some guilt built up since last Thanksgiving we skipped my moms family and then 2 days before Christmas my aunt, who was the light of the family, passed away unexpectly. Thanksgiving was the last time most everyone saw her.

How do you decide where to go and when?

 

Momma2Bear

We see dh's family on a day other than Thanksgiving. It just worked out that way a few years ago and we have stuck to it ever since. Usually, Christmas is the same.

brightning

Our families both are plane rides (in opposite directions) away, so we don't have that problem now. But before that my policy was always that I would spend the holiday at home and fit everyone else in on different days. When I was a kid we always spent Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's at home, and would see family on the day before/after. I hate spending the whole day driving, especially when it's a day you're supposed to be enjoying. It didn't always make everyone happy, but I think when you approach it as your "policy," it makes it easier to explain to others.

jerseysunrays

DH's family is 5 hours a way, and mine is a plane ride away.  We switch holidays every year. This year DH's family gets us at Thanksgiving and my family gets Christmas.  Next year it will be the opposite. Every 3rd year we stay home for both holidays but welcome family to our home if they'd like to come. 

It works out well for us. 

kylara111

We decided that we want to have the holidays at home with our children, not in the car.  We spent way too many holidays stuck in traffic and we have had enough of that.  Thanksgiving at home is really so wonderful.  We also stay home for Christmas so that they can have their happy Christmas morning without having to go anywhere.  This year, we will go to my parents house for Christmas dinner since they are not too far away (DHs family is in another state), but that's the extent of our visiting.  The families don't like it, but its what works best for us. 

Kristin78

Thanksgiving, I go my families for dinner and DH's family when we are done. 

For Christmas Eve, we go to DH's family and for Christmas Day, we go to my family.

My brother and his wife, they rotate holidays.  One year they will go to her family for Thanksgiving and our family for Christmas.  Then next year will be the other way around.

KrisBriMcBunny

Thanksgiving is always at my aunt's house mainly because dh likes our cooking better than his mom's lol

Christmas we take turns....this year we are at my mom's on christmas Eve and his mom's on Christmas...then next year we switch.  We dont leave the house on Christmas until 11am that way we get to enjoy the morning.

With my ex'husband's family it was awful...Christmas Eve was with dh's extended family ... it was the XXX's family party on christmas eve night....then we rush home & try to put 3 very excited kids to bed and sleeping so we could put the toys together and stuff the stocking.  Then we get up at crack of dawn to hurry up and open presents...get dressed so we can be at his mom's house for breakfast and we do their christmas presents.   Then hurry up to bundle the kids in the car and be at my mom's by 1pm.  My ex & I never really got to enjoy Christmas because we were too exhausted.

Kristie

PinkPiano

We rotate Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve.  We always spend Christmas Day at home.  I hate traveling on the holidays and am looking forward to not doing it at some point. 

Marychaille

We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year but as far as Christmas goes, we made the decision that since DS is 2 now and will want to play with his toys, etc.  If anyone wants to see us Christmas day, they have to come to us.  Period.