My inlaws go the distance to visit my husband's sister & spend loads of money on her children for Christmas. However, they send a card w/
10. for each of my 6 children in the mail even though they don't live that far from us. His sister lives much further. My parents never celebrated due to their religion, so that's out of the question. My husband usually drinks excessively on the holidays & this is the
last straw. I don't want the children nor I spending Christmas
here w/ him. I don't know where else to go that doesn't cost alot.
We haven't any friends to visit on the holidays, either. I want to take
the children somewhere special so that they can look back and say, "Christmas of '06 was memorable; this is what we did".
If it looks familiar, yes, I did put this question up a little over a week ago. However, I figure there will more traffic in here now
that's it's Xmas eve, & help me w/ a more serious problem I'm
about to post under "Family".
Please help w/ advice.
2006-12-24 05:08:00 · 12 answers · asked by SistineAngel 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Sounds like you have a serious problem. One thing you could do if your children are old enough is to take them to a soup kitchen to help serve Christmas Dinner to those on need. It would really help them understand the gift of giving, and that the most important gift you can give anyone is yourself. I hope that you can have a good christmas, this is my wish for you and your children.
2006-12-24 05:14:58 · answer #1 · answered by CherryRed 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all you have to change your attitude. Dont take the kids anywhere being mad at your in-laws or husband. If you dont want your children to be around a drunk father which I applaud you for then take that 60 dollars that the grandparents sent and go out and have a nice meal. There are all kinds of restaurants wanting your business so they have specials. You might have to take a coupon or two but look for them. Alot of times you can get one entree free when you buy another one and that would cut your cost in half. If you dont have any money yourself remember this for next year. Buy each child a nice gift. Ask them what they would really like and get what you can afford. Say Johnny wants a bicycle then get him a bicycle and so on. Kids always remember the best gifts they ever got. Then take them to one of those huge churches that put on a production of the birth of Jesus. It would be like going to a broadway show only free. If you dont have any friends you could probably make some at the church. You should really think about joining the church because not only will you make good friends but you will find alot of support there also. The best Christmas a child can have is to have their parents or parent happy and jolly even in hard times. So cheer up. If you keep a bad attitude about the relatives and your husband its going to show and they kids will pay in the end.
2006-12-24 05:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you follow your parents' religion or do you celebrate Christmas? If you do celebrate Christmas there are many wonderful events surrounding the season. Depending on where you live, you could take them to see the outdoor displays (drive around and see the Christmas lights - most newspapers have lists of where the most spectacular displays are) and check for special events. Again depending on where you live, you might be lucky enough to have a Christmas village they could go to, or a special Christmas train to ride, or Christmas on the ski hill - most places try to do something special for the holidays.
Something I love doing is going to different Church services - and sharing a little bit of how other people celebrate Christmas. The services are always beautiful, the choirs are great to listen to (and a live choir is always better than the best recorded choir, just because it's live, right there in front of you, and has a special warmth at this time of year) and there is a rare sense of fellowship.
Another special event is helping to serve breakfast or Christmas dinner to the homeless. The Salvation Army coordinates that and they always need volunteers. It's a very special kind of giving that gives to the donor as well. It's a wonderful feeling, and a reminder that we have so much to be thankful for.
I'm sorry your family and your husband cause so much grief - especially at this time of year --but I admire you for your positive attitude and your determination not to let it spoil the season for your children.
Merry Christmas to you.
2006-12-24 05:21:18 · answer #3 · answered by old lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do your children like your parents? Your parents don't have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy your company. Just spending time with their grandparents would be memorable for the children. I especially love Cherry Red's suggestion if your kids are old enough. My husband and I are looking for a soup kitchen right now so we can volunteer. I think it will be the most memorable Christmas for us too.
If you can't do either of those things, maybe you could find a park in your area or better yet, a Christmas light show. Whatever you do or where ever you go, your children will remember the love, the togetherness, and the wonderment of the holiday if that's what you concentrate on.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
2006-12-24 05:27:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please remember that you are not alone. There are others out there that have less than memorable holidays. Last night I took a ride by myself around town just to see the Christmas lights. It doesn't have to be the "BIG" Christmas. Here's one rule "No Fighting", even if the hubby is being an ***. Leave the fighting for another day. Have a nice dinner, play with the kids. If it's cold where you are and there is snow. take them sledding. If you don't have any sleds, use garbage bags. They work great. And here's a good one, read them the Christmas story from the book of Luke in the bible. Enen children can grasp that. Good luck to you and your family and God Bless you.
2006-12-24 05:17:38 · answer #5 · answered by Olivia 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My best advice Sistine, is to get out of the marriage you are in if your husband is going to behave in this manner. If it were me, I would go to my parent's house, even though they don't celebrate Christmas as a holiday and play board games and cards with the children. There are card games for all ages, like matching and go fish. Board games are the same. There is all kinds of fun for your kids and they get to see grandma and grandpa. You can take them shopping any old time to spend their Christmas money. Honey, I am so sorry that you are not happy this Christmas. My wish for you is to make change for the New Year. Next Christmas can be all that you wanted this year in a new place, without the drunken furniture accessory. Best of luck to you and your children. Bless you, dear. Nana
2006-12-24 05:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by nanawnuts 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
how approximately searching for out a reliable pal like a maximum suitable pal who has toddlers, and telling them the promblem, and ask if it may be alright to spend christmas with them for awhile,? Or heres yet another concept, Get a small ham and a few stuff that is going with the ham, and cook dinner a effective dinner just to your little relatives, Get a pair of videos that the toddlers could somewhat like and on an identical time as your cooking have them watch the videos, or heres yet another concept, plan a visit, get interior the motor vehicle and suprise your toddlers to a visit to Disney and that they'd see the parade
2016-10-18 22:56:55 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry for your problems. It seems to me that you should be more worried about your children having good memories all year around and not just for xmas. I would be willing to bet that your husband drinks a lot and not just on xmas. Why don't you consider just spending the day with your parents. Maybe a nice meal and a movie at home or a game for all of you to play. Spend the day with your parents looking at family photos. Try a movie xmas night if it is not to costly for you.
2006-12-24 05:14:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to visit my son and his wife at Christmas. She never failed to get falling down drunk and obnoxious and he never stops drinking from daylight till he passes out. So the last Christmas I went to AZ, I saw the same thing beginning, put their two kids in my car, gathered up their gifts and we drove over to Sedona and spent Xmas in a beautiful setting, opened gifts and had some peace. The parents were only too glad to have the kids out of their sight. If you spend another holiday with a drunken husband, it's not his fault.
2006-12-24 05:18:15 · answer #9 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take them to disney world or some such place that takes all day and half the night to see.
so sorry that things r such as they r for u,maybe 2007 will bring some good changes.
good luck and God bless
2006-12-24 05:29:25 · answer #10 · answered by Nora G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋