3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[chuckmum6]

Do you grin and bear your in laws?

Mine are coming to us this Christmas, at my suggestion actually, OH has hinted he would like them to come as it would just be the two of them on their own otherwise. They are hard work, especially father in law (he is completely egocentric) and they can't stand each other either, which makes things interesting! I just thought that I would extend the invite, because my mum died and I would give anything to spend Christmas with her again, you never know what is around the corner and I would hate for OH to feel he had missed out. I had suggested they come for Boxing Day originally and my sister in law, who live a mile away from them, could maybe have them over for lunch, but she wouldn't have them, we live 100 miles away, so they will have to stay a couple of nights. I think I will need lots of alcohol and the sanctuary of our second sitting room, we have had them before and we were all pleased to wave them off. Oh well the challenge of families!!! I guess I will be someone MIL one day too!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Good for you . It's one thing having them for the day but a couple of nights too .

 

Luckily my in-laws are lovely (he's a bit pedantic but otherwise fine) but we're going to theirs for Boxing Day and having Christmas at home ourselves. Now my mother on the other hand . We've invited her but she's not talking to me just now so with a bit of luck she won't want to come .

[Mercedes55]

We are "the in laws" and this year for the first time we are going to my son's house for Christmas Day. I've cooked Christmas dinner every year since 1978 when my son was a year old and for the past 8yrs my son, his wife and our granddaughter have come to us for Christmas Day with my mum who is nearly 90.

 

I'm really struggling badly with depression right now and to be honest I am not looking forward to Christmas at all, but I know my daughter in law wants to do everything right as this is their first Christmas since they moved house. I like to think we are easy people to please and I have a very good relationship with my son and his wife and of course our granddaughter.

 

I'm trying to be "helpful" without seeming to give unwanted advice as I confess to always getting myself stressed cooking Christmas dinner so our daughter in law is going to borrow all the stuff from us that she needs for the day but doesn't have at the moment.

 

I don't envy those who are having people to stay over at Christmas that they'd rather not have there as I can imagine that must be really difficult

[Olly]

My sister and her husband and younger daughter are coming to me - it was going to be 24th-27th, three nights. Then she said 'do think before you answer, but we'd like to come down and stay for a few days and go to an exhibition in London - but feel free to say no if that's too long'. How could I say no?

 

They're now staying 20th-27th .... I'm at work for the first two days, and I said very firmly that I will be out on at least two evenings, so they'll have to fend for themselves. My sister will bring lots of food with her, and will pitch in and wash up/cook etc, but I am used to living alone so it's quite a change having three extra people in the house.

 

Christmas will be fun though - and I do agree with you chuckmum, you never know what's round the corner and you may be glad to be able to say that you had your in-laws staying. I find inviting other guests - some elderly people in my case who would otherwise spend Christmas Day alone - helps a lot, as everyone has to behave themselves!

[freddie]

This year, it's just us, last year we did the outlaws, there are two other sons, and thier wives, so it's fair to share, don't you think

I shall be the slob Xmas mummy!!

[soapdragon]

FIL got together with someone else VERY soon after adored MIL died some 16 years ago. Since then it all seems to be about her family and BIL and OH seem to always come secone. This year we started asking them about getting together over Christmas early in November but just got vague answers. Were told two weeks ago that they were waiting on BIL but found out last week that they are going to BIL on Xmas day...no probs at all with that but,over a week later, FIL still hasn't come up with a date to see us (they are only about 1hr 20 mins away so easily do-able for either side in a day.)

 

We have gone ahead and booked other things in as they have come up (blood donors on 26th Dec, a party which YS has been invited to,me working - if I don't work I don't get paid - and other freinds who have been more forthcoming with dates) we refuse to hang on and keep our lives on hold....can't help feeling that we are heading for a row when FIL finds out we are now not free when he is!!!!

 

Very sadly I fell out with my Dad over two years ago (he is very controlling, abusive and difficult and I just got the the stage where I was not prepared to put up with it any longer, esp when I saw patterns of behavious being repeated with my two..no way! I explained to him how I felt and why and he hit the roof..so be it!) so we don't see my side at Christmas anyway.

 

I do feel sad for my boys but have come to the conclusion that we cannot live other people's lives for them. However, I admire those who can bit the bullet but have come to the conclusion that its not for us! Its certainly not for lack of trying onour part but there are only so many times you can ask!

[lillybettybabs]

My outlaws are nice enough but OH's mum doesn't listen to and you have to repeat yourselfat least

three times. They are hard work as OH's dad is very fussy with food and his mum gets paranoid

and tearful after one glass of wine

I have suggest that they come down Christmas eve so they can see their grandsons Christmas morning

and they then can go home Christmas morning as we are going to my mums for dinner and visits my dad.

[Alis girls]

Can't wait to be an in law or out law I am just getting used to girlfriends (ES is 17) - depsite being an old girl I am totally in the dark about young women who I will encounter in the next few years. This ones lovely and she makes ES happy. Good luck with you in/out laws - i feel your pain with elderly dad ( like victor meldrew without the laughs ) mad aunt and sexist, racist everything "ist" uncle - now wheres that bottle of sherry?

[chickric]

Having my in laws again this Christmas. Had them over last year and the 5 or 6 years before that we were at theirs.

To be honest we get along well, we even go on holiday with them every year, (and my parents, Chickvic's brother and family).

In fact I knew Chickvic's dad before she did, he lived next door when I was little and was a family friend. We always joke it was an arranged marriage.

[Luvachicken]

Hmmm, outlaws and Christmas just don't mix.

Mine are coming the week before Christmas for the weekend. That is long enough.

I never feel at home in my own house and can't wait for them to leave.

I hope when the time comes I will be a nice in-law.

[rachel19]

We go to my mums xmas day and then the inlaws boxing day and stay with them for a week or two as they live quite far away. I get on really well with them luckily and consider them another set of parents and their house as our our second house really i guess which is lovely - i'm very lucky i guess in this respect as it seems so many others don't get along that well.

[Willow]

Having had a difficult MIL I did think it was important for my OH to maintain contact with his family so we persevered through some awful Christmas visits to them before we have children. I did put my foot down when kids were small and MIL would rent places in the middle of France. The thought of working full time up to Christmas, loading up kids, presents etc in the car and a long drive to a cold rented house was too much. Fortunately when the boys got bigger they wanted Christmas at home so we'd issue the invite but they usually found something more exciting to do.

 

I guess it was easier in that MIL was a step mother and OH had no affection for her so we tolerated her together and could have a mutual moan afterwards.

 

Bottom line if OH's want to see their family I think we need to go along with it but agree boundaries & compromises with OH. I found I needed to escape at times.

 

Edited to add, I plan to try my best to follow my sisters tip of treating every girlfriend as if she may one day be my DIL.

[The Dogmother]

Having had the MiL from hell when I was married, Phil's folks are a ream, but old and rather poorly now. He brings them over on Christmas morning, my folks drive up as well and we have various other bringing the number to around 10. His mum is a very good cook, so I am always hoping that it urns out OK, but she's never criticised anything I have done and is really easy going.

 

Both sets of oldsters are pretty deaf, so it's hard going at times but lovely to see them all.

[Alis girls]

Probably invest in a loud haler. I am going deaf as my mum and her dad did too and I think the family will be doing this in yrs to come. dont want to miss out on juicey goss.

[charly1979]

I have the in laws coming to me this year (I have asked for the last 3 years) but Im gutted that I wont be at my mums this year still I know I will have a good time but it wont be the same.

 

My OH family are lovely but hard work and my invite has already put my OH twin sisters nose out of joint mind you they are all a bit miffed as I have now said that we wont be travelling over the xmas period (said we would come either weekend before or after) but with 3 kids Im fed up of being the one who has to tear them away from their toys etc to go and visit espcially as hey make no effort towards us (now Ive typed that I feel like im being bit of a 'female dog')

 

I did also offer the OH's parents to saty at our on christmas eve but they said they wouldnt as they like their own bed ?? hmm doesnt stop them having holidays (or do they take their own bed) its only one night and they would get to see their grandchildrens faces 1st thing on christmas day ................ hmmm hope I not going to end up being an in law like that when my kids are older and married etc ..............

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Never tie your shoelaces in a revolving door.

 

I was always told, you reap what you sow... be nice.

 

 

Edited to add: hmmm I think this Iain the wrong thread. Sorry folks!

Edited December 12, 2012 by Guest

[Alis girls]

I am now worrying when my 2 shack up with a lady I wont get on with them and wont ever see my sons. My sons are 17 and 11 - OH thinks I'm bonkers. ES's present g/f is lovely - she would make a lovely DIL. I think I am getting pre Chrimbo blues - stress, sickness and work always make me tetchy and tearful. Probably not a lone in that.

[Valkyrie]

After me announcing that I was not going to do Christmas this year and being told to rethink that because OH didn't want a boring Christmas by ourselves (thank you dear I love you too ) - we have been invited to the in-laws on Christmas day. Imagine my delight at that wonderful offer. I think it's because OH didn't want to cook and begged his mummy. She wouldn't normally invite me since after umpteen years of taking what was dished out to me the worm turned and she didn't like it. So here we are waiting for that moment when we get in the car and I feel dooooooooomed, doooooooooooomed I tell you! I shall be on my best behaviour, but at least I do get on very well with FIL who is a very nice man and funny to boot and he sticks up for me (causing a bit more grief from MIL who then gets all huffy). Maybe it's not going to be so bad after all . . . .

 

With regard to DS's girlfriends I have always accepted them - his choice and therefore who am I to tell him who he should see or not. Luckily they have all been quite nice girls, although I'm glad he's happier now as the second one gave him a hard time - to be fair he gives them a hard time, I know what he's like!!! So they deserve my sympathies!

[sage]

My Boxing day will be one long day of Hubby saying " I'm sorry he thinks he's been funny, he dosen't realise he's been offensive"

Last year as we showed them a DVD of DD playing in the garden he yelled out "look at the backside on her" pointing to me.

He constantly reffers to me as the " Foreigner" and has done for 12 years.

 

Sage

[Valkyrie]

perhaps we should have our own partay Sage!

[The Dogmother]

My Boxing day will be one long day of Hubby saying " I'm sorry he thinks he's been funny, he dosen't realise he's been offensive"

Last year as we showed them a DVD of DD playing in the garden he yelled out "look at the backside on her" pointing to me.

He constantly reffers to me as the " Foreigner" and has done for 12 years.

 

Sage

 

He sounds like my grumpy, stone deaf neighbour