What Would You All Do?

[Beowulf]

By now, you have all had the chance to read about my Thanksgiving Day nightmare. If you haven't check it out. For those of you who know me well, you know that my wife's family would make Roseanne's family look perfect.

Anyway, before Thanksgiving, I requested X-Mas and X-Mas Eve off obviously not knowing what would happen. I have learned that the request for both days was approved. To this point, I haven't told the family yet for obvious reasons.

What would you do? I could just let everyone know and do things as normal and get driven out-of-my-mind. I could just say I go no further than my own parent's house as I don't want to deal with my moronic family. Or, I could say nothing, let the wife go do her thing and just hide at home which I wouldn't mind at all.
What do you all think I should do? Right now, I'm leaning towards hiding at home.

[Rink]

why not have wife and son stay at home for once, decorate the house and celebrate Christmas for once at Home in peace WITH your own family?

Then you can sit down and enjoy football on TV in peace with nobody to hassle ya cept yer own family?

Now dont that sound good?

(sowwy Beo i grew up in a family that was like this, we Always stayed home on the holidays, period, dad just did not want to go thru the hassle of heading to the relatives, he was happier at home on the holidays.)

Sup ta u ultimately.

[Beowulf]

Whatever I do, I intend to make a stand and make a statement by removing myself from the family even more. As it is, I avoid most people anyway so what's a few more.

[Wolfcounsel]

Stay home.

[Peachdiane]

Beo, taking care of yourself during a stressful holiday season is one of the best things you can do for yourself and those around you. Stay home. :)

[Faithful_Servant]

Stay home.
Enjoy your family.
Leave your relatives to their own misery.
Christmas should be a time of reflection and rejoicing with those you love. A time to remember the birth of the One who saved us all. Spend it those who bring you joy and peace.

[kate]

You know Beo, I'd recommend you that you stay home and invite friends of your family (and with family I mean your wife, you and your son) to celebrate Christmas together in your house. Or if that's not possible maybe you and your wife and son could go on a little trip together for Christmas, which certainly would be a nice welcomed surprise for any wife. :)

I did a small research on possibilities for a small Christmas trip and this sounded nice:
Appalachian Mountain Club Huts

An unique network of eight mountain huts, each a day's hike apart, stretches 56 miles along the Appalachian Trail through the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, amid some of the most spectacular scenery in the East. Each hut offers bunkroom accommodations, running water, and one-of-a-kind views. Seven huts offer full-service lodging with hearty breakfasts and dinners prepared by the experienced hut crew.Reservations are necessary to stay at the huts. Call 603-466-2727, Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

The self-service rates for nonmebers are at $25 per night which I think is quite cheap.. here is a list from their website:
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-rates.cfm#hut

Ok maybe I went a bit much into the "trip" part of my reply :/

[nene]

What Faithful Servant said.

Stay in your castle with your immediate family. Enjoy the holidays. Resume the war (if you have to) after the holidays are over.

[ronin9]

it's great that you have your own family.stay home and enjoy the holidays stress free.in a few years everyone will be wanting to go to your house,then YOU make the rules!!!!

[The_Fireman]

See if its not to late to work then you wont have to lie or hide.I work on Christmas a lot to give younger guys the day off.its not the same anymore since all the kids are gone anyway.

[kate]

Christmas will be a Saturday, no? Why would anyone work on Saturdays :S

[The_Fireman]

Christmas will be a Saturday, no? Why would anyone work on Saturdays :SUnfortunately there are still fires and orher emergencies in Saturday and also christmas.

[jag]

Stay home and lie by omission if its easier for you. Its really not important that they know when you learned you have the time off.

For the last 3 years my whole relationship with my childhood family had been one peaceful untruth after another :D The holidays with my family now are wonderful and no one who I care about is hurt in the process.

[Warlady]

What happened to you on Thanksgiving?

[Timberwolf]

B...like the old saying goes, "it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission". If you're going to experience no joy by going, don't go. If the family doesn't approve, to quote myself, "scroom". Either that or go, but when anyone starts getting under your skin, simply state, "this is the season to celebrate Christ's birth and what His coming to, and dying on, this stinking hellhole means to all of us." See what response that gets. :D If that doesn't work, just say, "honey, see ya at home." Then leave.

[CaliGirl]

By now, you have all had the chance to read about my Thanksgiving Day nightmare. If you haven't check it out. For those of you who know me well, you know that my wife's family would make Roseanne's family look perfect.

Anyway, before Thanksgiving, I requested X-Mas and X-Mas Eve off obviously not knowing what would happen. I have learned that the request for both days was approved. To this point, I haven't told the family yet for obvious reasons.

What would you do? I could just let everyone know and do things as normal and get driven out-of-my-mind. I could just say I go no further than my own parent's house as I don't want to deal with my moronic family. Or, I could say nothing, let the wife go do her thing and just hide at home which I wouldn't mind at all.
What do you all think I should do? Right now, I'm leaning towards hiding at home.I read about the nightmare on Thanksgiving.

This is what I would do. Tell your wife your feelings and your days off. Your wife should STAND BY YOU, right? If your wife doesn't, there is a problem. In that case, pretend to be sick and stay at home while wife and son goes to MIL house!

Holidays should be happy and fun with family, right? If they are not, I see NO reason not to be there....I wouldn't go!

I wonder if telling your wife, YOU married her, only to make her HAPPY, and not HER family would be a good thing?

You could always call Dr Laura! Let me know if you do, I listen to her some days.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide!

[Beowulf]

@Warlady. My first topic tells of my Turkey Day disaster.

Caligirl, no kidding, I've seriously considered asking Dr. Phil what he would do. The family is in constant turmoil as MIL continually makes excuses for her younger daughter (I married the oldest) and whenever she falls, Mommy is there to pick her up. MIL bitches and fights with younger daughter but is always first in line to save her.......again. I washed my hands of my SIL when I found drugs in her room. She still does them.
She also drops her children off on her folks and then goes out and she always dates men who take advantage of her and beat her up. I could go on forever.

I withdrew my support of the family a few years ago stating that when people change and start acknowledging there own problems, I'll start thinking about being part of the family again. I bet Dr. Phil would have a field day with them all.

[CzechPrince]

I say stay at home, invite your wife and son to do the same. I think your wife should be able to do that much for you.

You could also use the time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, pray more, go to church more than once on the days you will be at home, or do some CHARITY work, (I know I will be, if you want you can come to VA and do some with me :) ) I know at my church they are having all sorts of stuff, I know you are not Catholic but I am sure your church will be doing things or others will be in your area.

If that does not work, invite some close friends over, watch some football ;)

[Beowulf]

Actually, I am Catholic as is my wife and son. I don't act it much of the time but I am. I'm figuring out what I'm going to do as we speak.

[CzechPrince]

Oh then I am in good company, I thought everyone here was Protestant :P Great to hear!

[Faithful_Servant]

CP's got great idea. Volunteer for a food/gift distribution team. That will keep you busy all through Christmas Eve and leave you too tired (;)) to go to MIL's house on Christmas Day.

[ronin9]

Oh then I am in good company, I thought everyone here was Protestant :P Great to hear!i am(or was)catholic.

[CzechPrince]

Sheesh I could sure use some help when debating theology lol! Kind of hard when you are one against 10. :)