My holiday preparations are in full swing.
Seasonal greeting cards have been ordered (using a picture the BF took).
A list of gifts to assemble has been written, necessary items have been ordered or bought.
The first cookie-making session is over, and everybody survived - although some only because I do not own a gun.
I wonder when it is the right time to make new traditions, and how to do this. And how to meet everybody's demands. For example, I am totally not willing to spend the complete holidays with the BF's family, and especially 12-24. The last years, they met at their mother's house, and this year there is an invitation pending to come to the brother's house. I politely declined, ignoring their pleas that this would be cruel on the mother. I am pretty convinced that my personal happiness (and sanity!) should be more important to me than hers. The BF does not really know which party he sides with - he'd love to make everyone happy, but I am stubborn on this one. ALthough I would not hold it against him if he went there without me, we have an agreement in this matter which I will stick with until we've got our own children. But I do not expect him to spend the holidays at my family's place (either of them), and I would much rather stay at home and watch horror movies than endure some more family madness.
Apart from these power plays, I intend to have a relaxed pre-Yule time, celebrate Yule quietly and simply and enjoy myself as much as possible. And if there are any problems with these plans, the vendors have started selling mulled wine on the market place. ^^
9 Kommentare:
My daughter spends the evening of the 24th at soninlaws' Omas' house (with the rest of his large family). They all exchange gifts & eat, then the next day Oma kicks everybody out of her house, locks the door, opens a bottle of wine, & kicks back. That's the extent of christmas holiday (except for the fussing over delivering gifts to daughters' friends' house---soninlaw moans & whines if he has to stop playing video games for such).
The oldest holiday tradition, lasting into new generations, is enduring family get-togethers in the name of peaceful family relations during the rest of the year.
If I could have a peaceful year, I'd gladly endure everything. But as far as I am informed, no one wants this get-together except for the BF's brother, and no one can force me to give up on my precious day off. (He once punched a hole through a door to impress his wife, but that doesn't impress me, I've done the same as a teenager.)
Your BF's brother sounds a lot like my ex-husband :( If you don't do what you want this time around it's a whole twelve months until you get the chance again. Don't be brow beaten into something you really don't want.
We moved away from our home town so a week or two before the festivities start we go back to visit and exchange gifts. Some gifts we open then, some we save. And then we go home and lock the door.
We have a lovely time with our families but then have a few days just to ourselves. We go out or answer the door only if we really want to.
That way we manage to please everyone.
You are on the ball - good job! I like a nice, quiet holiday season, so we'll see how it goes here.
Keeping one's sanity can be like walking a fine line during the holidays. Hope it works out and you can have the kind of peaceful winter you want. :)
Our holidays have changed over the years...as people die, traditions change...First Mom, then Gram, then Hubby's parents, then some of the kids came back into the picture with their in-laws wanting some time also, now Pa is moving out of the picture...Hubby and I are considering what we want to do...probably sit and enjoy not doing anything...maybe we'll go somewhere and snowmobile...maybe not...don't know yet...
You (and BF!) must pick your battles. Sounds like your plan is reasonable enough. Sounds like a peaceful and enjoyable Yule.
Mulled Wine = yay!
Blessed Be to that one, sister!!!! I couldn't agree with you more. Even for Thanksgiving, we are expected to go out with my parents and then afterwards run all the way over to the "opposite side of the universe" to spend the rest of our "day off from work" with my hubby's cousin and their bratty kids who drive me totally insane! Despite my MIL's pleas to "atleast stop by for dessert" (simply because SHE and my FIL decided to go there for the holiday)we are not going! I need my peace and quiet outside of my rat-race job!
You stick to your guns, girl! LOL!
Hugs,
Kim
I read somewhere that in Germany, Santa comes on the 6th. Is that right? What do Germans do on the 24th and 25th?
Horror movies! Fantastic! I'm in! :)
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