https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:03:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1977038 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:26:49 +0000 Smurfette 1977038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why are your IL's coming if it isn't their year? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1977034 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:25:04 +0000 alphagam84 1977034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why are your in-laws coming if it isn't their turn? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976501 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 07:35:15 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1976501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: my advice is to set boundaries and have visiting hours. It isn't very fair that you have agreed to every other year with your families, whih your parents have honored, but your inlaws haven't.</p> <p>What are your wants for Christmas Eve? Christmas morning?</p> <p>I wouldn't feel guilty about having some one on one time with your parents. Enjoy having a few hours with them at a Christmas party. Your ILs are adults and during your time at a party, they can hang out, go shopping or out to eat. You don't need to be 24/7 entertainment! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976487 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 07:25:25 +0000 hilary 1976487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I almost had this same situation this year but it ends up that everyone is actually staggering their times with us. I'd say pick what you want to do, give everyone a schedule, and ask for volunteers to help on days where you are hosting in your house. In my experience, grandparents want to be involved but they appreciate a little guidance on what is actually helpful. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976465 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 06:46:01 +0000 fuzzypeaches 1976465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We almost always do holidays with both families that travel to see us (or my ILs will come to where my parents live to see LO etc). It's always difficult bc our families are also pretty different but I find that it always works out! Everyone is pretty respectful of sharing LO and they all like to do different things with him. </p> <p>Wrt parties - usually my in laws just come with us to family stuff and it's never an issue, but my family (and extended family) operates on the "more the merrier" thing. </p> <p>Would you extended family be welcoming? I also have them each in charge for different meals and activities (ie mom1 runs Xmas and mom2 runs Xmas am). Dad1 does morning walks and dad2 does decorations etc.</p> <p>I wouldn't over-stress about it! They have ways of working themselves out! The parents and in laws are all adults! You just grow yor baby and enjoy all the help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976447 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:51:00 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1976447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's neither here nor there at this point, but your ILS are intruding on what sounds like an agreed upon holiday split.</p> <p>I had a similar dilemma a couple years ago when both my MIL &amp; SILs and father came for Thanksgiving. We ended up putting my ILs at a hotel because we only have one fully functioning guest bedroom &amp; air mattress. I had to tell my dad to shorten his trip so I could enjoy my time off from work too. </p> <p>Could your parents stay with extended family instead?</p> <p>Perhaps you can assign the two families different meals to prepare, so 1) they all pitch in and 2) eveyone can show off their favorite foods. Unless you are comfortable hurting your ILS feelings I suggest securing +2 invites for them. You won't have to babysit them because their son will be there. That's your tradition - visiting extended family- so don't change it.</p> <p>Is there a way to build in alone time for each grandparent set with your LO? Plan an activity your LO will love outside of the house this way each mom gets to feel like a favorite grandmom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976382 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:31:39 +0000 lady grey 1976382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm its too bad your inlaws aren't honoring the every other year thing. Do you they understand that how you guys want it? We do the same thing with my parents &amp; inlaws. I guess its too late to change it now...</p> <p>How about plan a rough schedule for the week of activities you want to do with LO that all the parents can choose to do if they want. Maybe one activity each morning and one each evening. So basically you are telling the what you plan to do and they can join in or not. That way you don't feel like you are entertaining them every minute.<br /> Could you, your parents and your inlaws take turns each day being in charge of planning dinner for everyone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hosting-in-laws-and-parents-for-holidays#post-1976371 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:04:40 +0000 Corduroy 1976371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your parents and your in-laws stay with you over the holidays how on earth do you deal??</p> <p>(My long, ranty hormone-laced vent)<br /> I'm starting to stress about the upcoming holidays. DH and I are trading off years, spending every other Christmas with his family across the country. Last year we flew to them so this year is "my" family's year. We are staying home and my parents are driving in to spend the holidays with us. DHs family is also coming to us for over a week. Our three bedroom house will have pregnant me, DH, LO, my parents and SIL. DHs parents will sleep in a trailer in the next town. </p> <p>I'm starting to freak out. Our families are polite enough but their styles are so different. Different sleep schedules, activity ideas, meal times/styles, foods. Plus I'm starting to realize that having DHs family here and entertaining them for a week means I'm giving up my Christmas with my extended family. I feel like we should have just flown out to see them.</p> <p>I'm dreading dragging my in laws around to my family parties (if I can get them invited) but I also feel rude taking LO and going to my typical holiday parties without them. I am considering telling my parents not to come but it's "their" year. They haven't had a Christmas with LO yet. </p> <p>DH is stressed about it too so I know I'm not totally imagining it. He's very worried there will be a favorite Grandma. </p> <p>It's our first Christmas in our house so we have no decor or existing traditions in our house. All my traditions involve going to other family members parties. I don't even know where to start with decor and I've never hosted a dinner for eight. </p> <p>Besides finding spots for 8 stockings, how do you handle hosting in laws &amp; parents? </p>