DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

DH and I have done the same thing for Christmas ever since we got engaged.

He has 4 sisters, 2 live in the same town as MIL and FIL.

We live 1 1/2 hours from them (no traffic)

We go over on Christmas eve, SIL has a huge Christmas eve party, we spend the night at IL's, then when we wake up Christmas morning, we go over to each of the SIL's houses early before their kids wake up to watch them come out of their room and open their presents.

I have always loved this tradition, and loved watching all my nieces and nephews eyes light up as they stumbled sleepy eyed in their Christmas PJ's as they walk into the living room and see all their gifts from Santa.

But now that we have DS, I feel like I want DS to wake up in our house on Christmas morning and get the same experience that his cousins have.

But at the same time, I do not want to miss out on Christmas eve at my SIL's and all the morning fun at their houses.

Driving there for Christmas eve, coming home and then driving back on Christmas day is not an option. I don't want to spend 1/2 our day driving back and forth.

WWYD? Stay home, miss Christmas eve and just go for Christmas day after opening presents at home or just suck it up and stay with the IL's as usual?

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

We are in the same situation - but we live two hours from DH's aunt and uncle where we spend Christmas Eve every year. We do not stay over, we drive home, and DS wakes up at our house. Sorry I know I am not much help!

This year we will leave at 12, hopefully be there by 3 (traffic is always horrendous) and leave at 10 or so. We will wake up, have Christmas at our house, and go to the ILs at 12:30pm.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

For me, Christmas morning is about my own small family, me, DH and DS. I want my son to wake up in his own house and get presents under out tree. My feelings may change on this when he is older, but while he is very young, this is my priority.

I would go for the Christmas eve party, and then come home and spend Christmas morning at home.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

honestly i would go to you SIL for her christmas eve party.. then go home so that your ds can wake up in his own house for christmas mornig.

Unless of course you want to start the tradition with him being at his grandparents for christmas morning and then making your rounds.

its all about what you want your traditions with dc to be.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I don't really have a solution but I will tell you what we do.

DH's family is local and my family is in Miami so we alternate years. So every other year Christmas morning is at our home and on the other years it is at my mom's house. I really do not feel that we miss out on anything on the years that Christmas morning is not in our house.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

okay, a coworker of mine suggested this and I think it is really a great idea!

Let me know what you ladies think?

We bring presents from us and a few presents from Santa to the ILs.

Go as usual, and then somehow manage to leave most of the Santa presents under the tree at home, so that when we get home, and he walks in the front door, we can be like "OH FRANKIE, you were such a good boy that Santa came to our house too!!!!"

That way we get to not miss out on the festivities at the IL's. he gets to open presents there and then he will have an extra special suprise when he gets home and it will be a similiar effect to walking down the stairs Christmas morning.

Now to figure out how to get the presents under the tree at home with DS noticing before we leave for the IL's.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

i personally would want my dc waking up at home on xmas morning... but i am not one for having my ds sleeping anywhere but at home anyways... it is just how i am

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

For the past few years we've traveled and been somewhere else christmas morning. It was ok with me b/c johnny was little. But now that he's 3 and totally aware of everything christmas related, we will be at our own home on christmas morning. Its important to me that he is at his own house for when santa comes.

We will then travel to NJ later in the day to spend christmas with SIL.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

JMO - It goes by so quick - for the years that DC truly believes in Santa I want him to have the entire experience of waking up and seeing his presents under the our tree. When he was too young to know what was going on and when he is older it will be a different story.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Posted by jambalady

We bring presents from us and a few presents from Santa to the ILs.

Go as usual, and then somehow manage to leave most of the Santa presents under the tree at home, so that when we get home, and he walks in the front door, we can be like "OH FRANKIE, you were such a good boy that Santa came to our house too!!!!"

That way we get to not miss out on the festivities at the IL's. he gets to open presents there and then he will have an extra special suprise when he gets home and it will be a similiar effect to walking down the stairs Christmas morning.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Posted by dpli

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, I just want to warn you that whatever traditions you start, if he is old enough to remember them, you might be stuck with them for a while.

I think whatever tradition works best for your family is the best choice.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I spent DD first Christmas at my parent's house. We thought it was the last one in my parents home so it made sense at the time.
Honestly, I would do your old tradition for a year or so more. Set up his stuff at your in-laws so he has a "santa experience". He won't know the difference yet, I promise. But a few years from now you won't be able to do this so I would do it now.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Growing up, we always went to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas Eve. Then we would always drive home that night so that we were sleeping in our own beds, in our own house and waking up to our own Christmas tree and "Santa" experience.

Even as we got older and lived 1 1/2 hours away without traffic (which was more like 3 hours with traffic), my parents always did the drive home with us that night.

For me, it was very important that we always were able to wake up in our own house. Now that we have DS and #2 on the way, I also plan on making sure that my kids will always wake up Christmas morning in their own house.

Just my opinion. Hopefully you will find something that feels right for you and your family.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I think if we were in that situation we'd go on x-mas eve and drive home that night for X-mas morning at home then go back later for christmas day and spend that night over to limit the driving.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I would not care where my kid woke up if he was around family and a party.

I have extreme opposite, DH works late on the Eve...no family around.

Last year we went to our friend's house and celebrated with her family so I would not kill myself.

In NY, in my grandmother's apt, there is seriously a family party of 75 people that goes on each year on the eve.

Christmas morning, all my family belong to same parish and go to church together.
Christmas in NC is me, dh, and josh.
DH will never get Chrismtas Eve off, so we are stuck at home.

Josh's second christmas, we packed up car when dh got home from work, drove to fl for christmas morning, then left that night for him to be back at work on the 26th. I did it because his cousins were down there and I wanted that.

This year my parents finally have an empty nest, where normally my youngest brother had sports camps over the holidays...so my whole family is coming down. I could not be happier.

If DH had a few days off at Christmas, we would be in NY every year.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Honestly, I would go Christmas Eve and then go home that night to be home for Christmas morning. I feel that every my child should wake up in their home and see that santa came there on Christmas morning! But thats JMO.

If you are with the other arrangements then go for it

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

Posted by jambalady

Posted by dpli

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, I just want to warn you that whatever traditions you start, if he is old enough to remember them, you might be stuck with them for a while.

I think whatever tradition works best for your family is the best choice.

See I was thinking the good part of having presents at home too was so that he knew that Santa DOES visit our house also, so that if another year we wanted to stay home, there would be nothing to explain.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I think your co-workers idea is great. My mom lives in NC, so every other year, DD will be waking up at Grandma's on Christmas.

I was lucky to grow up in a time and place where all my relatives were close by, so we always had Christmas morning at home. I understand now the most important thing is to have DD celebrate Christmas with family, that is what it is about. My sister's kids have always woken up at my mom's on Christmas morning (so we could all be together), that is their tradition.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

I say that your DC should wake up in your own house. You can start your own tradition. When i got married an older co-worker gave me a tip for when i had children. She told me to spend Christmas day at home. She explained that as a child theyalways went to her grandmothers on x-mas day and so they didn't get to play with any of their presents and they always resented that. HTH!

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

My kids are 19 months and 7 months, and this is our first year not in LI (we moved to CT in October). We are driving to my parents house on LI Christmas Eve morning, and staying there that night and Christmas night. My kids are still very small, but it doesn't bother me that they will not be in our house on Christmas morning. That may change as they get older, but for now, the thought of my kids and parents enjoying Christmas morning together makes my heart melt, and I can't wait!
If it were me, I would go to the party and let my kids have a blast with their cousins. But that's me, everyone is different.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's

we are moving 5 days before Christmas, DD will be waking up at our house Christmas day.
later in the day we will go to my parents.

Re: DC waking up Christmas morning at the IL's