Splitting holidays between families

[Girasole]

We usually split Thanksgiving & Christmas. My FI's family does a big thanksgiving camping trip every year so we usually do that but this year our new nephew (born on the 17th) was due so his family asked if we could come down to FL. So we celebrated Christmas with my family today & are flying to FL on Wed. Next year thought we are splitting it up again to be fair.

 

Chrissy

[bholthof]

We alternate years. We usually try to be with my family one year for Christmas, and try to see FI's family in the weeks before or after Christmas, and then we switch for the following year.

[Kelitaw]

My younger brothers were married before me so they started the tradition of splitting the holidays between the families. One year with the in-laws and one year with our family. My youngest brother is lucky - he spends the in-law Christmases in Aruba! This year is tricky for us because it's the first year we are traveling home from TX to MA to be with our families. We have created a spreadsheet to help us figure out how to fit in everyone while we are home. It's going to be a challenge!

[Outdoor_girl1010]

We are kinda lucky because all of our family is with in 10 mins of each other. We will have FI daughter Wed night and do x-mas with her on x-mas eve morning. Then we will run her over to my parents house to let her open gifts there. X-mas Eve night my whole family (mom dad grandma and two brothers) with go over to the in-law to hang out. X-mas morning we will be at my parents house bright and early 5:30am to open gifts and stay there and lunch/dinner. On Sat its back to the in-law. FI will have his daughter again and his other sister will have her kids. So its a lot of back and forth, but we are okay with that because everyone is 10min from each other.

[Jess]

This year we are staying home in San Diego through Christmas day and then Christmas night flying up to Northern California to spend Christmas with his family. It is a pain but we sort of feel we should do it while we don't have kids - then we are just staying here once we do.

[Jamaica0619]

We are lucky. Our parents are 20 minutes apart, and my DH's family always does dinner at 12pm or so and my family always do dinner at 6pm or so. So, it makes for a busy day but we can see both families. Unfortunately I usually do the dinner for my family. So, we get home from my DH's family and I have to immediately start dinner. So, it definitely is a busy day. But, everyone's happy.

 

The only time it gets tricky is when my DH has to work during the day (he is a police officer with a rotating schedule, so it only happens every so many years), and this year is one of those years. So, I invited his family to join mine for dinner. His mom is thrilled - she doesn't have to make dinner. His dad is fine with whatever. But, his Nan (who always eats her big meal at 12pm) is not too happy, becuase we have to do dinner at 6pm since my mom also has to work during the day. The one downside is figuring out when to see his sister, BIL, niece and nephew. Since they do the evening meal with his family. But, at least we only face these dilemas once every several years. But everyone makes such as issue about it.