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How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

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ChattyKathy
LIF Infant

Member since 8/07

346 total posts

Name:
Lauren

How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Ok, I go to my husband's uncles house ever year for Xmas Day or Eve dinner. They love to draw out dinner so we end up being there for 6,7,8 hours. I am not lying, this year was short , 6 hours (including the half hour travel time).

We bring my MIL because she does not drive. I hear her on the phone today saying " I wish we could have stayed longer " to my husband's uncle.

OMG, i was dying staying there for that long.

My questions is how long do you stay? If I was hosting I woud think it was rude to stay that long. I have read in etiquette books you are supposed to leave 1 hour after finishing dessert.

Posted 12/29/08 5:52 PM
 
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Donna
1 year already!!

Member since 5/05

3360 total posts

Name:
Donna

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

that's normal for my family. We usually go for 2pm and appetizers. Dinner is usually 4:30-5pm, dessert is 7ish and then we usually end up playing a game or opening gifts, depending on the occassion.

Posted 12/29/08 6:02 PM
 

Kara
Now Zagat Rated!

Member since 3/07

13217 total posts

Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

6 hours would be normal for my family, too. We got to my parents' house at 3pm this year and we probably left around 9 or so. We opened presents and had appetizers. We had dinner around 6 and left maybe 30 or 45 minutes after dessert. It's not unusual for a family holiday dinner to go longer than that either.

Posted 12/29/08 6:05 PM
 

saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!

Member since 5/05

16555 total posts

Name:
I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

We tend to stay 3 or 4 hours. But it depends on where we are and who we are with.

Posted 12/29/08 7:04 PM
 

LIgrlatheart
LIF Adolescent

Member since 7/06

638 total posts

Name:
christi

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

my family.. 2 hours TOPS.... including eating, apps, dessert

his family... 7-9 hours... no im not kidding its h3ll on earth!!!! they drag it out soooo much.. very unnecessary!...

Posted 12/29/08 7:07 PM
 

julz33
i run for bacon

Member since 5/05

20584 total posts

Name:
julz

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Xmas eve, we were there for 7 hours.
Xmas, we were there for 5 hours.
This is pretty normal for us. We have big families too, which may be one of the reasons why all holidays are so long.

Posted 12/29/08 7:09 PM
 

MrsPorkChop
Twinning!!

Member since 5/05

9941 total posts

Name:
Missy

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

my family- 3-4 hours

his - 6- everything is drawn out...

althought it is very nice bc his holidays are smaller and less people, it makes me feel bad that i do not spend the same amount of time with my side

it is what it is, though

Posted 12/29/08 7:09 PM
 

hazeleyes33
LIF Adult

Member since 5/05

13060 total posts

Name:
Ginger

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

We went to my sisters. Got there at 2pm and left around 8pm.

Posted 12/29/08 7:34 PM
 

MissJones
I need a nap!

Member since 5/05

22136 total posts

Name:

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

About 6 hours, maybe more. We will play games, watch a movie...

Posted 12/29/08 7:41 PM
 

ml110
LIF Adult

Member since 1/06

5435 total posts

Name:

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

ours tend to last awhile too... christmas day we went to my aunts house: got there at 4:30, left around 10.... we had a party at my parnets house for christmas on saturday: people got there around 3 and most of them stayed till 9. especially with christmas and you have gifts to open, etc it can take awhile.
plus, we usually play games, or watch a football game on TV or something...

Posted 12/29/08 7:51 PM
 

DaniJude
You're My Home <3

Member since 11/06

14815 total posts

Name:
Danielle

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Posted by Donna

that's normal for my family. We usually go for 2pm and appetizers. Dinner is usually 4:30-5pm, dessert is 7ish and then we usually end up playing a game or opening gifts, depending on the occassion.



Same w/ my family.

We can talk for hours... but DH enjoys it a lot so it works. I mean, I'm expected to enjoy it - it is my family. But, I would feel bad if he wasn't enjoying himself but he actually really likes it. To us, it goes by so fast.

I guess it depends on who you are with and where you are.

Posted 12/29/08 7:57 PM
 

JerseyMamaOf3
Boo!

Member since 6/05

15144 total posts

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Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

I hosted Christmas this year and people started showing up between 2:30& 3:30 and the earliest people left was 10pm and I loved every bit of it. We had 26 people and I wouldn't want it any other way. Every holiday is usually a late one for us and I don't mind at all.

Posted 12/29/08 8:08 PM
 

kristinel
Steinbeck

Member since 5/08

1224 total posts

Name:

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

With my family. 2-3 hours. With DH's family, a lifetime. Christmas Eve we were at DH's uncles for 6.5 hours, on Christmas day were were at DH's parent's house for 7 hours, and this past Saturday we were at DH's aunt's house for 6 hours. They're Italian and like to have everyone come over 2 hours before the main course is presented. I'm used to my family and the 30 minute wait for food, 20 minute eating time, and 1.5 hour clean up/hang out. Then everyone leaves to go see a movie.

Posted 12/29/08 8:48 PM
 

Karen
Just chillin'!!

Member since 1/06

9690 total posts

Name:
Karen

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

5-6 hours is pretty standard for both sides of our family.

Posted 12/29/08 8:53 PM
 

beautyq115
New Year!

Member since 5/05

13729 total posts

Name:
Me

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

We hosted both families

Everyone came between 3-3:30 and left after 9PM

I was falling on my face after dessert and was not embarrased to lay down on the couch

Posted 12/29/08 8:55 PM
 

ChattyKathy
LIF Infant

Member since 8/07

346 total posts

Name:
Lauren

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

I guess I am mean, I just can't stand staying that long and staring at each other.

Its not like we play games and watch movies. Maybe cards but I just feel like they do that to draw it out.

Posted 12/29/08 9:01 PM
 

lullabella
LIF Adult

Member since 5/05

2246 total posts

Name:

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

My family it starts at 3pm and goes all night. We dont stay that late anymore since we have kids.

Posted 12/29/08 9:07 PM
 

BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here

Member since 5/07

8274 total posts

Name:
BunnyWife

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

My family? Starts around noon and goes till after 10

DH's family? Short. I think we got to his sisters house at 2:00 and we were out by 5. I found it very strange.

Posted 12/29/08 9:12 PM
 

leese
Sarge!

Member since 5/05

1965 total posts

Name:
Leese

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

XMAS eve was 5:00 pm to 1:30 am

XMAS day was 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Posted 12/29/08 9:31 PM
 

MelBobby
LIF Infant

Member since 11/08

292 total posts

Name:
Mel

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Christmas Eve was with my parents....we left around midnight
and Christmas day was with cousins...we left at 8:30..literally right after dessert... dh had work at 5:30 a.m. the next day..we were tired!

Posted 12/29/08 9:35 PM
 

IrishLasss334
I'll be there soon!

Member since 1/08

6549 total posts

Name:
Patty

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Christmas Eve (my Dad's family) is from 4pm until 9-10 pm..we have a great time

Christmas Day (my sister's) - 3pm- we left about 8pm

Day After - (DH's family) - 1pm - left around 6pm

Posted 12/29/08 9:38 PM
 

tourist

Member since 5/05

10425 total posts

Name:

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

We drove an hour to spend 5 hours with DH's family & had to rush out during dessert b/c we had places to be.

We then drove about 15 minutes to see my family for another 4 1/2 hours.

My extended family was there for about 2 - 2 1/ 2 of that. They were there for for about 2 hours after dessert, for about 6-7 hours total.

DH & I stayed for about 2 hours after everyone left to help my mom clean up & catch up & exchange gifts after everyone else left.

I can spend all day/night with my family, but about 4 hours of DH's & I am ready to go. They're not awful or mean, they just are not my people. And there are more people in my family, so it takes longer to talk to everyone.

With traveling, and seeing both families, both Thanksgiving & Christmas were about 12 hour events.

Message edited 12/29/2008 10:12:03 PM.

Posted 12/29/08 10:10 PM
 

DaniJude
You're My Home <3

Member since 11/06

14815 total posts

Name:
Danielle

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

Posted by ChattyKathy

I guess I am mean, I just can't stand staying that long and staring at each other.

Its not like we play games and watch movies. Maybe cards but I just feel like they do that to draw it out.



Nah, it's not that you are mean or anything -- what you do at your DH's family is a totally different dynamic than the other scenarios people are posting... If you guys talked, watched movies, played games, did anything stimulating you'd enjoy it. If we just sat around and kind of did nothing I could see it getting really annoying REAL fast.

Everyone's families are different. My family tends to talk A LOT more than DH's -- but we still have fun at DH's -- it's just a different dynamic/atmosphere. We tell a lot of stories at my house and laugh a lot -- tease each other where DH's family doesn't really do that. So, they are both still good and fun but in different ways -- for you, however, that side just isn't fun so it's normal to feel that way.

I think it wouldn't be that big of a deal for you and you'd be able to leave sooner if you didn't drive your MIL -- but b/c you drive your MIL it seems like you feel obligated to stay a little longer... how does DH feel?

Posted 12/29/08 10:23 PM
 

ChattyKathy
LIF Infant

Member since 8/07

346 total posts

Name:
Lauren

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

DH would stay all night because they'd let him fall asleep on the couch and not bother him.

Its totally my MIL who wants to stay all night. Even though they live 20 mins away she doesn't see them a whole lot.

I think it was also we had gone to my parents the night before, they live in westchester. We slept over because we went to midnight mass. So it was from bethpage to westchetser to bethpage to kings park to bethpage, all in 24 hours.

Posted 12/29/08 10:53 PM
 

DaniJude
You're My Home <3

Member since 11/06

14815 total posts

Name:
Danielle

Re: How Long Do You Stay @ Xmas Dinner

omg the traveling you do is INSANE.

i'd be sooooo peeved! Chat Icon

this is why the holidays can $uck so much sometimes!

Posted 12/29/08 10:58 PM
 
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