https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:20:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848941 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 13:21:49 +0000 MrsSCB 2848941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before kids, we traveled most years because we lived far from family. Although even then, we had a couple years when we just stayed home because we didn't feel like it. Now, we've moved very close to my family. We did still travel last year to see my ILs, but I think we'll likely stay home more often given that we'll have a second kid soon. This year my ILs are visiting at the beginning of December, so we plan to just stay here for Thanksgiving and Christmas.</p> <p>ETA: In an ideal world, my ILs would always be the ones to come to us, because my husband and his only sibling both live here. Plus, my ILs travel a ton anyway, so they don't mind it. But for the time being, I can't imagine them spending a holiday away from my husband's 90-year-old grandfather, and he does not travel. So understandably, they try to be near him for holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848935 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:50:09 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: I did actually and it is very slim pickings near my parents house! Plus I feel like my parents might be a little sad if we chose that. I’ve actually asked my parents if the girls could sleep over at their house and DH and I stay in the nearby hotel (free with points) for the two nights besides Christmas Eve that we would be there. We’d stay over so we can wake up withthem on Christmas but DH would get a reprieve from his allergies and we get a night away (after putting the kids to bed for my parents). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848932 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:45:39 +0000 nana87 2848932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you looked into airbnb rather than staying with family? then you can kind of pretend you're home since you'd have your own space. We do airbnb a lot when visiting family and it's cheaper than hotels usually </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848890 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:11:34 +0000 kiddosc 2848890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: That sounds like it will be really special for you and fun for your kids to get to play with their cousins. I think it's worth missing Christmas at home every few years to have those memories too. And you can still get your "Christmas" morning experience when you get back. Kids rarely complain about having to do Christmas again :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848810 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 21:59:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After deciding to just go down the weekend after Christmas, now I’m backtracking and planning to go for the actual holiday. Christmas Eve is the only day all of my siblings and their kids will be together, plus two aunts that I hardly ever see and want to. I can see each of them individually but I think it’s worth it every few years to be there all together. Well sneakily set up gifts under our tree as we are leaving from Santa. But.... maybe I’ll change my mind again tomorrow. Who knows? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848738 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 17:01:53 +0000 Mommy Finger 2848738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being home for Christmas morning is a non-negotiable. Thankfully our family isn't too far away but I also don't think you need to celebrate a holiday on the actual holiday to make it special. We drive down the weekend before to spend the day with DH's family. And we celebrate with my immediate family at some point after. Lately it's been the 2nd week of January. My parents are super close to us so they come over for Christmas eve. Otherwise we make the Christmas season last. And that makes me a lot happier. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848572 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 06:57:47 +0000 cake2017 2848572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We made a decision to stay home for Christmas. We are not traveling and hosting.<br /> Christmas Eve - church and dinner with the in laws- if fam wants to stop by Christmas Day they can but it would need to be after we have our time as a nuclear family </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848429 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:06:23 +0000 dc yoga bee 2848429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After driving 11 hours with a 7 month old for her first Christmas to be with in-laws we both decided no way never again. She has her own home and our own traditions. Family is welcome to come to us or we will travel for thanksgiving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848425 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:45:53 +0000 looch 2848425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: That's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848421 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:16:22 +0000 youboots 2848421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: it was great. Our friends go every other year 1 week and 2 weeks every 4 years. We joined them, her parents and cousin and his wife. So it was nice to be with a big group. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848419 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:13:12 +0000 Alba4 2848419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: ooooo, how was having a destination Christmas?!?! I want to do this once- I think it would be fun to get all the family together and it would take the stress out of the holiday planning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848393 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:54:07 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2848393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in a similar boat this year, except it's traveling to my inlaws. Normally we stay home and then visit with my parents for much of the day. They live close by and their house is almost as much like home as our own, for us and the kids. This year we are going to visit my in laws. We are staying in a vacation rental owned by my MIL. It is beautiful and will be a cozy place to have Christmas morning, and we will be there with my SIL/BIL and their kids. I'm still super bummed about not being home and with my own family who we are much closer to. I just figure we don't do it too often, so I should probably just suck it up and deal this year while the kids are little. My in laws are getting older and we won't be doing this back and forth thing forever. But yeah, I totally get it. I would love to have every Christmas morning at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848387 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:40:02 +0000 kiddosc 2848387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH's family lives a 2.5 hr plane ride and 3hr drive away. Our original plan was to spend either Thanksgiving or Christmas there every year and alternate year to year. In reality, we've only gone for one Christmas in the 4 years since we moved. It's not very important to him and I'd rather avoid the hassle is possible. Typically, we spend Christmas eve with my parents, do Christmas morning at home, and go to my cousin's or have my extended family over Christmas afternoon. Last year when we were travelling for Christmas, we had Santa come while we were gone (my parents) and opened presents when we got home. I think a more realistic goal for us will be to do Christmas with his family every 3-4 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848386 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:38:20 +0000 youboots 2848386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year we went to Mexico and it was awesome.</p> <p>We just moved cross country. I don’t expect we will ever go visit for Christmas. So unless we go somewhere to avoid the winter we will be home. But I don’t really have the kind of family situation we’re it was that enjoyable even when we were local. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848384 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:32:06 +0000 snowjewelz 2848384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both our families are local so we've never had to travel far! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848376 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:23:44 +0000 hellobeeboston 2848376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've arranged Christmas Eve celebrations to start earlier in the day (works for everyone actually) that way we can be home for the evening and get excited for Christmas morning. Lucky for us that that side of the family is only an hour drive away, so being able to do both works for us.... Starting last year we decided we would be HOME for Christmas morning. If any family wants to come and stay with us they are welcome, but we're not traveling at this point. The kids are too into it, and last year it was SO NICE to just stay home all day, relax, make great food and NOT travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848367 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:09:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: he’s ok with whatever I decide. Both of us would rather stay home (with or without his family visiting) but we feel like at some point we should travel to my family. Definitely on the same page, luckily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848363 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:57:03 +0000 tinyperson 2848363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always travel...my inlaws live a plane ride (or drive + ferry) in another province. We don't travel there for Christmas anymore because the weather is unpredictable and often results in delays and diverted flights, flying at christmas with kids is a nightmare, and we have too much luggage with winter gear and presents. </p> <p>My parents live on a lake with a huge house and space for a really massive christmas tree about 3hrs from our house. We go there every year and have a fun, cozy Christmas with my family. I wouldn't know what to do with myself at home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848362 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:52:17 +0000 mediagirl 2848362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stay home. We invite my parents to stay with us Christmas Eve. They have and usually leave the morning after Christmas Day, which is perfect. This year it will be just us and the new baby...his parents may come for dinner because they are local now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848351 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:22:34 +0000 Alba4 2848351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Prior to kids and until DS1 was 2/3, we’d travel to our families and spend Christmas Eve and day with them. We’d sleep over (as uncomfortable as that always is). We alternate thanksgiving and Xmas between our families so that we see our siblings).</p> <p>Now that we have 2 kids (aged 5 &amp; 2), we don’t travel for Christmas. We have Christmas Eve and morning at home. My family lives just under and hour away so we spend Christmas afternoon and evening with them. </p> <p>The challenge is my husband’s family since my in-laws live 2.5 hours away. In the past they have slept over, but they refuse to sleep in our finished basement and therefore camp in our living room. It just doesn’t work. My husband is sick of being the “house in the middle that always entertains”. So he wants to just have Christmas with our nuclear family and then get together with in laws and Sil/BIL a few days later. I don’t love that idea, but will ultimately let him choose since it’s his family. My MIL is less than thrilled with this idea. Maybe my SIL will host and solve the issue! Then we can just visit for the day. (So much drama around the holidays!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848321 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 08:33:21 +0000 looch 2848321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: What is your husband's position? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848310 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:30:33 +0000 Ajsmommy 2848310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Prior to kids and DH I always traveled home for the holidays. I choose to move 5 hours away and my entire family still lived all close together... over the years things have changed. My gram and mom have moved away, my cousins are all dating so they go to their SO's.... and I got married and had kids.</p> <p>Since having kids I have been set on staying home and being home for Christmas morning. DH's parents are 45 mins away so they can come later in the day or we have gone to their house (before we had 2 kids). I like to keep it low key, relaxing and fun. </p> <p>Luckily my mom has been able to visit prior to Christmas or after. She comes and stays for a week or few days. Last year she came ahead of time and flew back to her home and my gram on Christmas eve and they spent Christmas day with other family. </p> <p>DH's parents families all get together every year and we try to make those as well.. but they are either weeks before or after and travel is anywhere from 45 mins to 3 hours each way. But Christmas eve and Christmas morning are at our home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848304 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:09:20 +0000 milano14 2848304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family is a 4hr drive and my inlaws 3hrs.<br /> The first two years we had DS1 we traveled for Christmas. I wasn't too worried about it because we're used to traveling. But once he got old enough to really get Christmas we have been staying home. We rotate years with my family and the inlaws, Thanksgiving and New Years is also thrown into the mix.<br /> My parents come to us for Christmas one year and then the following Christmas they spend it with my brother and his family. We've sacrificed seeing our siblings on Christmas, but something had to give. We usually see everyone at Thanksgiving or New Years, depending on where the rotation is. It's worked out well and at least form our perspective we're OK with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848300 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 06:03:18 +0000 Adira 2848300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always stay home. I remember traveling 3 hours to visit my grandparents for Christmas as a kid and my brother and I hated it. We hated the travel, we hated having to share our new toys with our cousins who were also there, we hated having to drive back home. When my parents finally decided we'd stop doing that and just stay home for Christmas and celebrate with our nuclear family (just the 4 of us), Christmas became so much more enjoyable and relaxing!</p> <p>So now that I have kids, I refuse to travel. I want to give my kids' that care-free relaxing Christmas every year. So we'll invite people to us instead. Every other year my parents and brother (single) will come over for Christmas. And then the other years, we'll invite Hubs' mom (who sometimes comes and sometimes doesn't). We'll then try to arrange other times to see the rest of the family, usually around New Year's to celebrate Christmas with the people we missed. But Christmas Eve &amp; Day are always at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848291 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 20:39:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: no, I realize that at this point, it matters way more to me than to my kids. They would love seeing their cousins, and being spoiled by my parents, but they will be plenty spoiled here too. But thanksgiving is like 10 times worse, travel wise. The traffic is just so so awful and everyone is traveling the same couple of days and just no. I’ve already accepted we won’t be doing thanksgiving with my side of the family for a long long time. </p> <p>@wrkbrk: my family honestly doesn’t put pressure on us about it. They would love to see us, but they totally get that traveling with little kids sucks especially around the holidays. I’m hoping everyone will be around the weekend after Christmas though. I miss the fun of Christmas Eve with my big family, but I also just really want to be home. To add one further complication, my younger daughter AND my nephew were born a week before Christmas. So traveling before the holidays is tricky with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848283 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:50:09 +0000 Becky 2848283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d just keep in mind that the kids likely won’t be disappointed however it works out. Our Christmas never looked the same one year to the next because my mom was a nurse (so you work Thanksgiving one year and Christmas the next). The only constant is we always drove to my aunts house (about an hour). Sometimes we opened presents at weird times because of her schedule (like 8pm). If you want to be with them, the car ride won’t seem like a big deal. I feel like Christmas is a few day affair which is nice because then you don’t feel the need to shove everything into one day. </p> <p>You could always tack it onto Thanksgiving if you do Thanksgiving with them. That’s what my husbands family always did with the out of town grandparents. Make it your own tradition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848282 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:40:44 +0000 wrkbrk 2848282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Christmas at home! DW’s family travels to us. But in exchange we do Thanksgiving with them every year, often buying the most expensive plane tickets that exist 😂🙄<br /> Didn’t read all the responses but would your family accept staying with them Dec 23-24? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848281 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:35:37 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2848281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve traveled every year to see my family at the holidays. My in laws are 1 hour away so we go there for Christmas Eve during the day then home that evening to do all of our traditions and wake up in our beds. Since DS was born we have left either late in the afternoon to drive (11 hours) or fly. </p> <p>This year we will have a 3 year old and a 3 month old so we are not planning to travel at all. Some of my family might come to us either at Thanksgiving or Christmas. It will be different and I’ll miss the cold weather and seeing friends for sure. But enjoying the holidays and making it magical for my kids is the priority. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848268 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:06:21 +0000 erinbaderin 2848268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve done a mix of things. I play in a handbell choir which performs Christmas Eve, my brother is close to me, and my parents live four hours away BUT they live in a big house right on a lake that’s beautiful at Christmas, and they have a 12 foot tree, etc. So the first year we had B we did Christmas morning at home and then drove up. The second year we left around 9pm Christmas Eve. Since then I’ve just told my choir I won’t be around for Christmas Eve and we’ve gone up a few days earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/home-for-christmas#post-2848267 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 18:56:00 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2848267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: for hosting, this past year we had my parents for Christmas Eve as well as my cousin, my parents stayed over for Christmas Day and we had my in laws for dinner that day as well. I made ahead breakfast casserole and some stuff for the dinner, and my mom and MIL helped cooking as well as bringing dishes for dinner. It wasn’t too bad at all. I was stressed cooking a turkey for the first time but it was fine! We have a spare room in basement which my parents stay in a lot so they’re familiar to that. This year we will have a 3 month old so I don’t know how it will work but I don’t have an issue talking hotels if needed.</p> <p>I think there’s a little acceptance to not being able to please everyone and maintaining your own sanity. Yes it could mean being alone but that’s what FaceTime is for, to be frank. We only see our siblings every other year on average now because of work schedules and proximity as everyone’s family grows. We always see grandparents and great grandparents and we do our best. I truly don’t enjoy the visits anyway when everyone is cranky, overtired, hangry, whatever so we try to think of ourselves too instead of just others. </p>