Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:13     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

You're trying to have 4 adults and 4 children share a 3 BDR house for multiple days. Yes some people would be OK with this but your sister (and it seems like your mom) isn't. Why don't you give them a break from you and your family. Visit another time and let you sister have a chance to stay with your mom.

In the grand scheme of life, is alienating your sister worth the friendship between the cousins? I guarantee you and she will get along much better if you skip this year.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:11     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:I side with your sister on this.


It supposedly bothers her that we are not close. This is not going to help.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:11     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

I do not want to sleep on a couch, on a floor, or in a room with anyone other than my husband. That's not fun and/or cozy to me. Ask your sister if she would come to your parents if you paid for her and her family to stay at a hotel.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:09     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

I side with your sister on this.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:07     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Our family is so dysfunctional.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:04     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.


Ok, so your sister and her Dh get one Queen bed, you and your Dh get the other....and the kids go where? Maybe sister and/or BIL aren't comfortable with their kids sleeping on the floor. Or sharing a bathroom with you and your family.


Yes, kids on floor/air mattresses. We're talking 24-36 hours. If my sister is the one with the issue, then I think SHE should make the alternate arrangements. I'm fine with splitting the space equally. If my mom would like me NOT to come to her house for Christmas, I'd like her to say so. Directly. And say why.


First you need to talk to your sister and get the real low-down on what she said. Then you need to talk to your mother and ask her what SHE wants, and not use your sister for an excuse, if that's what she was doing.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 21:01     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.


Ok, so your sister and her Dh get one Queen bed, you and your Dh get the other....and the kids go where? Maybe sister and/or BIL aren't comfortable with their kids sleeping on the floor. Or sharing a bathroom with you and your family.


Yes, kids on floor/air mattresses. We're talking 24-36 hours. If my sister is the one with the issue, then I think SHE should make the alternate arrangements. I'm fine with splitting the space equally. If my mom would like me NOT to come to her house for Christmas, I'd like her to say so. Directly. And say why.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:57     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.


I think YOU are the problem.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:57     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.


And Santa can most certainly go to hotels. I think your last sentence answers your whole problem.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:56     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.


Ok, so your sister and her Dh get one Queen bed, you and your Dh get the other....and the kids go where? Maybe sister and/or BIL aren't comfortable with their kids sleeping on the floor. Or sharing a bathroom with you and your family.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:53     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

It's 3br/2.5 baths. Spare rooms each have a queen.

I'm not staying in a hotel December 24th. How would Santa do his job?? I would rather be at home than that.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:48     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

My mom means well but misinterprets and exaggerates things all the time. It's caused problems between sibings and also spouses in the past. I think you should talk to your sister.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:41     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sister has kids also. FWIW, she has not said one word of this to me. It's all come thru my mom, and again, not in plain words.

And I'm not playing dumb now that my mom has inferred all of this. Before I really didn't know. My sister and I are not super close. But my kids and her kids adore each other - I think they all behave fine.


Just how small is this house? Some people just aren't comfortable sharing close quarters with those outside their nuclear family. Maybe your sister's husband is uncomfortable sharing a room/bathroom with you and your family. Heck, here on DCUM it seems to be the consensus that it COMPLETELY unreasonable for parents to share a hotel room with their own child when they go away!
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:40     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sister has kids also. FWIW, she has not said one word of this to me. It's all come thru my mom, and again, not in plain words.

And I'm not playing dumb now that my mom has inferred all of this. Before I really didn't know. My sister and I are not super close. But my kids and her kids adore each other - I think they all behave fine.


Pick up the phone and call your sister. Just do it. Open this can of worms, because it needs to be opened.


+1. I'm the PP who asked if your sister has kids.

Give her a call. Be open and prepared for whatever she has to say. I think the switching off at a hotel solution is a good one, fwiw.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2015 20:39     Subject: Sad about extended family Christmas

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sister has kids also. FWIW, she has not said one word of this to me. It's all come thru my mom, and again, not in plain words.

And I'm not playing dumb now that my mom has inferred all of this. Before I really didn't know. My sister and I are not super close. But my kids and her kids adore each other - I think they all behave fine.


Pick up the phone and call your sister. Just do it. Open this can of worms, because it needs to be opened.