May I introduce you to the time-honored entertainment for old people: Taking A Drive. You don't actually leave the house with a productive destination or even an agenda. Rather, this is a way to run out the clock until dinner and give the sandwich generation a break from actively entertaining.

Take A Drive through Middleburg and The Plains and marvel at the estates. Take A Drive to Sugarloaf Mountain or Skyline Drive and marvel at the foliage (or the open views created by lack thereof). Take A Drive around Georgetown or Annapolis and marvel at the historic architecture.

Make the trip as long or short as you want. Hell, you can Take A Drive to your kids' school or past that house three streets over with all the holiday inflatables in the yard. With the exception of a helpful potty/snack break for the very young and very old, you don't need to buy tickets, worry about crowds or even get out of the car. Think of it as a very long, scenic, and sedate amusement park ride.

Anonymous wrote:My kids have activities planned, and I'm going to the office to avoid the situation. But it's my in-laws, and DH knows they are primarily his responsibility. I'm happy to help with specific tasks but I no longer take on the responsibility of worrying and planning.

Good for you, PP. Totally same. (And it’s keeping me totally sane.) Thanksgiving, I did next to nothing. For Christmas, I’ll be doing the bulk of hosting for my parents. Fair’s fair and I will put on a nice holiday meal, full decorations, a few activities, etc. I hid during Thanksgiving and left them to it.

Anonymous wrote:Also, we JUST got done b!!hing about Thanksgiving. Can we please have a full week off before we start on Christmas?

No need to read here if it bothers you.

Count your blessings. I’m spending 7 nights with my relatives

Why did you invite them???

Life is all about choices.

Anonymous wrote:As I get older, I don't do what I don't want to do (for the most part). Time is too precious to be unhappy, and that includes having guests over for 5 nights. I would simply say I am not able to do it.

+1. The biggest gift my in-laws ever gave me was moving to this area so that I never have to host them for more than a single meal ever again. And I never have to burn a day of PTO visiting them ever again.

I would like to try to think of some things to do to get out of the house so that I don’t go insane,

Op, focus on you! Your kids can be left at home. The visitors can be left at home ... Privately, decide would it is you would like. How much time away. And do it. The where you go or what you do is almost unimportant ~ park the car and read a book ... whatever. But plan the time. No reason you need to explain beyond saying, "I'll be gone from x to y time"

Anonymous wrote:As I get older, I don't do what I don't want to do (for the most part). Time is too precious to be unhappy, and that includes having guests over for 5 nights. I would simply say I am not able to do it.

When I started reading your post I assumed you were describing OP's guests probably not wanting to be given an itinerary, but you were talking about the host not being forced into activities.

Get tickets for a show. Dinner reservations downtown.

PPs ideas sound good. Baking, cards, board games, drives to see Christmas lights.

Christmas movies.

How old are your kids? What are the relationships like between your kids and their grandparents, and between each set of grandparents? I understand how taxing it is to have guests who just want to sit, but you've gotten some good ideas that may help.

My parents aren't very active but love my kids. When they were little my parents would spend hours coloring or doing puzzles or yes, watching Christmas movies or playing on grandparents' phones. Sometimes I was annoyed, but DH and I also took the opportunity to get in a workout, wrap gifts, do some work or even nap.

Agree with driving around to look at lights. If they don't mind the chill, can they come with and watch you and your kids ice skate at a local rink and then everyone get hot chocolate afterwards? Go out for lunch one day. Assuming they are here over the Christmas weekend, find a local performance of carols or the Messiah or similar (check websites of local churches).

If they are all that inactive they may also be used to a midday nap themselves, and might welcome you and the kids leaving the house for an hour or two.

Cookie decorating.
Making bird treats.
Playing cards and board games.
Driving by at night to see the lights, do to all the big landmarks to take pictures.
Taking naps.
Watching Christmas movies and drinking mulled cider.
Stringing popcorn.

I am a-ok with my kids sleeping on air mattress in the master-bedroom. Or if cousins are coming, they all can sleep in the family room on air mattress and call it a sleepover.

Lazy Christmas, gifts for everyone, everyone's stocking up with cute gifts - snacks, lipbalm, gloves, earrings, perfume etc.

Lots of photos and keep sending it to everyone as you take them on a group text. Also, simplify the meals. Get it catered. Get lots of meals catered.

My kids have activities planned, and I'm going to the office to avoid the situation. But it's my in-laws, and DH knows they are primarily his responsibility. I'm happy to help with specific tasks but I no longer take on the responsibility of worrying and planning.

My DH takes a lot of formal pictures (groups and individuals) of relatives and family. That can easily take one whole evening of dressing and posing. Pictures taken by my DH are often used by family members for LinkedIn profile pics, memorials, social media profile pics etc.

Why do people do this to themselves??

Double up the kids so you don't have people sleeping in common areas.

Set up a hot cocoa bar and do a movie night, puzzles, bake/decorate cookies.