I decided when my kids were little that we would never travel for Christmas. You can do this too.

Anonymous wrote:I always kept my kids in their home for Christmas. I wanted them to sleep in their own beds and have their gifts under their tree. Anyone was welcome to come to us and we travel to them many times the rest of the year, but I couldn't bear taking Santa on the road!

OP. Yeah, this is what we want next year. We want to go to our own church, make our own breakfast, and have gifts under the tree.

We will probably miss the dinners, though!

Anonymous wrote:I always kept my kids in their home for Christmas. I wanted them to sleep in their own beds and have their gifts under their tree. Anyone was welcome to come to us and we travel to them many times the rest of the year, but I couldn't bear taking Santa on the road!

+1. Grandparents alternate years to come and celebrate at our house. It worked bc ours were only grandchildren on DHs side and my mom lives on same town as other grandchildren.

We broke the cycle one year when grandpa was undergoing cancer treatment.

NP. We travel about 8 hrs to see both sides every year. Some things get easier and some get harder as they get older. DH and I become completely stressed out and anxious over the week but we will always do this. It means so much to all grandparents to see them and they also get to see aunts, uncles and cousins. Personally, reading the family relationship section of DCUM keeps me sane. We don't bring Santa gifts. He knows where you live and they are waiting when you get home. That's how I grew up too. They get a ton of gifts on Christmas from family.

I spent two months with my parents at ages 2-4 months and then again at 9-11 months. It was wonderful, and I want to offer you advice so that you can do it again and enjoy it. First, my kid only sleeps in a pack and play...it is all he knows (we don't have room for a crib). So acclimate your kid to a portable bed at home. Then, buy the same one and keep it at your parents house. Second, have duplicates of everything. My mom and dad bought my identical rock and play, fisher price swing, fisher price booster high chair, and baby bath tub, and I traveled with our car seat, baby bottles, and clothes. We bought diapers and formula there. Third, grandparents gave the baby breakfast while I slept, so they bonded over food. And if he was fussy, my mom coped with it bc she wanted to let me sleep. As a result, they got to know each other and get comfortable with each other.

I always kept my kids in their home for Christmas. I wanted them to sleep in their own beds and have their gifts under their tree. Anyone was welcome to come to us and we travel to them many times the rest of the year, but I couldn't bear taking Santa on the road!

OP here. We survived, and we are home in VA at last! We ended up enjoying the second half of our trip much more. Once we left my parents house and went to my in laws, our situation improved VASTLY. Baby slept better and it was so much more relaxed.

We will definitely stay home for Christmas next year. We are already looking forward to creating our own traditions.

We'd like to go see my in laws, but we aren't sure how to go see them and not my parents.

PP here, sorry for typos. FH = DH

This is our third year in a row being at our home. I LOVE it. I have a stressful job, and it's so nice to be with FH and DS and just relax by NOT adding stress of extended family. The first year we invited friends who were also far from fam. Last year I haf just given birth and didn't want to deal with people. This year... just had flux of ILs galore a few weeks ago that was rocky, so we are doing our own thing.

OP, I suggest staying home next year as a statement to establish your own family traditions. That is something you won't regret!

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need to go with the flow. Then maybe your baby will. Lifelong suggestion.

+1000. I'm sure your snowflake will be fine.

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually in the opposite shoes and feeling kinda left out of Christmas. Our baby is 4m old. My ILs will be coming Christmas Day, but my family is only coming Saturday. Up until 6 hours ago I thought Christmas was on Saturday--now I'm bummed! If we had a ton of friends who stayed in the area, I might feel different, but everyone goes home to their families. I don't want to think up new traditions for just me, DH and DD. I don't want to just spend Christmas Day with the ILs.

Growing up and moving away from home sucks. (But moving back to where I grew up is not an option.)

Your daughter is 4 months. Trust me that there will come a time that you're thankful to be home with just your immediate family.