Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For them, it's about being at home together. For you it's about being on a trip (which usually means doing stuff). There's a difference in approach. Take your DD places, or go for a walk or run while listening to something on your headphones or chatting on the phone with someone. Catch up on a book. Ask to look through old photo albums of your DH when he was little. Ask your MIL to teach your DD how to cook the "ethnic cuisine," part of your daughter's heritage and what she will appreciate when she's older. Know that the time there is limited.

What are you talking about? My mother in law is white. Her ethnic cuisine is taken from cookbooks and she gets the spices ALL wrong.

Oh, I see. I didn't realize you were quoting her. Well, the rest of the advice still stands!

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't know why people travel at Christmas. STAY HOME and have Christmas YOUR way. Save the travelling for a less stressful time of year.

+1 travel for thanksgiving or the Fourth of July where the biggest tradition is t simply hang out and feast. There's too many opportunities for traditions to clash on Christmas just between a couple. Why drag in the added stress of an entire family hoisting their traditions on your family?

Anonymous wrote:When in Rome, do as the Romans. What's the point of visiting if you don't actually visit with them if you have your own agenda? I get the not wanting to sit around doing nothing, but ditching them in favor of your own dinner plans seems a bit inconsiderate if she has prepared dinner even if it is leftovers. She may have spent days beforehand cooking in order to have leftovers so she's not having to cook while you are there.

No. We wanted ALL of us to go out to eat. And she doesn't sound days cooking or planning. Trust me. Nice try though.

When in Rome, do as the Romans. What's the point of visiting if you don't actually visit with them if you have your own agenda? I get the not wanting to sit around doing nothing, but ditching them in favor of your own dinner plans seems a bit inconsiderate if she has prepared dinner even if it is leftovers. She may have spent days beforehand cooking in order to have leftovers so she's not having to cook while you are there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it is so fucking boring in the middle of nowhere and my husband and his family are refusing to leave the fucking house. DD and I went to the grocery store on the 24th because we were bored. Today I am forcing DH to go see a movie and go out for dinner. MIL has already whined about who will eat the leftovers from her over spiced "ethnic" foods. Yuck!!!!

I can imagine why everyone LOVES to have YOU around at Christmas!

Expecting a young family to just hang out and go nowhere for an entire week is too much. Op - a movie and dinner out sounds like a very good idea!

OP here, I took advice from other threads and took DD to a playground this morning. The only playground in this town is at an elementary school that locks it's gate on the weekend. Awesome. Dd was crying, so we jumped the fence - I don't feel good about that.

Then during her nap, DH and I went to see a movie.

We had talked all day about going to dinner. I asked him several times to tell his mom. His mom this morning mentioned leftovers, so I figured it would be ok. Of course we came home and MIL is making dinner. If I were in her situation, I would welcome the break. I know they go out to eat all the time, but they never want to leave the house when we visit. I just don't get it. We've offered to pay if we go out, so it's not money. They are just weird.