Latest
Family Time and The Holidays
November 5th, 2010 | 
Author: By Megan M., Staff Writer, All A Bunch of Momsense (@taxmegan)
I have a rather boisterous Irish family. We find random excuses to get together and hang out, something that after more than ten years my husband is still not totally accustomed to. We get together for the normal stuff like birthdays and for random stuff like the first day of school or the kickoff of the NFL season or because it’s Tuesday.
And then there are: The Holidays
We all know them; it’s that period of time in the last quarter of the year where we stress out about hanging out with the people who wiped our noses and ‘hind ends. We worry about the house being clean enough, the kids being good enough, making sure we don’t miss someone on a list – cards, gifts, visits.
Trick-Or-Treating isn’t just hitting the neighborhood – we have a list of about 10 houses scattered across two counties where my costumed superheroes, video game characters and fairy princesses impress an assortment of loved ones. It’s not unheard of for our ToTing to span 2-3 days so we can hit everyone without facing meltdown moments.
Thanksgiving is an all-day event with a multitude of households piling into one home. We yell at football and occasionally each other, gorge ourselves silly and generally behave like a bunch of twelve year olds. Much food (and a few beers) are consumed, name calling ensues and we make up over slices of pie.
Christmas is much the same, with a morning of my family descending upon our house for breakfast and gifts. If it’s my turn to host the meal, we’re up before 6 making breakfast early so I can get the turkey in the oven. I then have to keep all boys, including the twenty-something uncles, from firing an assortment of Nerf weapons in my living room, remind them that anything radio controlled is probably supposed to be outside and holy COW would you TURN THAT DOWN A MINUTE!?
My husband doesn’t get it, this constant gathering we do; he comes along, helps host, hangs out with the guys, etcetera, but he just can’t wrap his head around why we spend as much time together as we do. On the rare occasions where his family gathers, it’s a quiet event, very tame and “grown up.” By the end of the year, he’s ready for a few quiet days with as few people as possible (so of COURSE I invite a house full for New Years Eve!)
So I’m intrigued – do you and your spouse / partner see eye to eye on things like family celebrations? How do you find a balance between the families, especially at the holidays? And are your families total opposites, like ours, or pretty similar? Stop by the Our Mommyhood Forum to tell us about it!
Posted in 
Tags: 
We used to alternate but now that we have kids, we want them to wake up in their own bwds on Christmas. So we leave the morning of the 26th and travel to the in laws for five days.
Kristin @ Ellie-Town´s last blog ..MilliLeecom Review
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by OurMommmyhood, OurMommmyhood. OurMommmyhood said: New Our Mommyhood Post!: Family Time and The Holidays http://www.ourmommyhood.com/2010/11/05/family-holiday-traditions/ [...]
Our families celebrate in similar ways… 10 kids under the age of 10 on one side. 8 kids under the age of 10 on the other. They are both nuts!
The problem is when both sides what to get together at the same time. My mom is usually the one to give in and change it so everyone can attend. It just wouldn’t be right if everyone wasn’t there.
Jill´s last blog ..Fun with plungers
The one thing that has been nice is that at this point, I’m the only one of my siblings with kids, so Christmas morning is at our house. Period. Everyone shows up, we make a ton of breakfast food, gifts are opened, and we enjoy the morning. Most of us still live close by, so it’s pretty easy, and those who are traveling come in a day or two before and stay with others. Lots of fun!
Megan M.´s last blog ..Thankful Thursday
We’re pretty opposite too just based on size of our families. My side has 13 grandkids and his only 7. When my family gets together, it’s chaotic and loud. But we love this time of year anyway. I love that our kids get to spend fun time with their cousins and grandparents!
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom)´s last blog ..We are all Doctor Moms
This is the first year that we’re living in the same state as one of our families so it’ll be interesting. We moved to Missouri a few months ago, which is where my husband was born and raised. His family and mine are polar opposites. In fact, he doesn’t really care for his family all that much. He wants to trade his family in for mine instead. lol Anyhow, I took the liberty of telling my husband that I refuse to travel during Christmas so if we were to celebrate a holiday with his family, it’ll have to be Thanksgiving. Pray for me, please. Thanksgiving with a family that my husband doesn’t even beign around? This will be interesting indeed!
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
Kristi {at} Live and Love…Out Loud´s last blog ..Parenting 101- Never Leave Your Toddler Unattended