Would you rather travel or host?

[jag01]

Would you rather host Christmas or travel to someone else who lives out of town?
I hosted today, and yes cooking and cleaning is a lot of work, and the expense, but my kids were in their own home, playing with their toys, and not stuck in a car, so I’d say I prefer to host.

[dizzycooks]

Host! We do not travel more than an hour anymore for holidays. We haven’t seen dhs family on a holiday in 5 years. It sucks, but my kids need to be in their home most of the day and we need to enjoy the time together. More mouths to feed is the least of my concerns.

[momin2013]

Host! I love that when all is said and done at the end of the day, we're already home!

Besides - leftovers!!!

[court26]

I try to host. I hate to cook, but my kids are better behaved and happier here....and DS has many food allergies (and environmental so dog-loving in-laws not working so well) and it is easier to keep him safe here!

[abs]

Host! For Christmas that is. As long as DD is little and believes in Santa Christmas Day will be spent at home. We traveled to four different houses before she was born but I will not do that now.

[vamoose]

Generally host, but obviously it depends. I would rather travel out of town and get a hotel than host a bunch of people for multiple nights in my house.

[momin2013]

Agree, vamoose - people staying overnight is another story; I need my space at the end of a day hosting (introvert here). The only ones I'm truly o.k. with are my parents, and that's for a couple of nights max.

"A bunch of people for multiple nights in my house" is actually the stuff of nightmares for me; in that case, I'd choose travelling and staying in a hotel in a heartbeat!

[nicolewi]

Host! But with help or informal? Especially when we had babies, it was so much easier for me to have people come here than to pack up the baby and all the gear. Plus, the baby would nap better at home. Now that the youngest is 3, I still love having people here Christmas Eve. It's really nice to just relax, have a cocktail, get the kids in PJs, and not have to think about driving home later.

[cabbagecabbage]

Real answer: neither! We’ve made it very clear we don’t leave the house on Christmas Day. But in the spirit of the question, I’d rather host. I hate being on other people’s turf with my kids.

[penguingrrl]

Host! I love entertaining and cooking and it’s so much easier to be home with the kids.

[dizzycooks]

Those of you who prefer to host...are you actually allowed to host? We don’t get the option. Older family members insist they do it.

[gastro]

We host a lot because most of our in laws live where it snows (east coast and Colorado) and they are dying to get some sun and beach. I love to host if I like the guests!
Thank goodness we didn’t go anywhere this Christmas because both my kids are sick. Like throwing up, napping, sad grumps. Thank goodness they got sick starting last night so actual Christmas morning was great. So to the doctors we go in about two hours for last minute appointments.
But now I have sick kids and I have guests till Friday....

[cabbagecabbage]

Dec 26, 2017 14:47:30 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

Those of you who prefer to host...are you actually allowed to host? We don’t get the option. Older family members insist they do it.

Only kinda sorta. My side is down for a get together anywhere. DH’s grandma still likes to insist it’s more comfortable for everyone at her (dusty and and not child-proofed and full of three times the amount of furniture it needs) house. She’s so old we don’t fight but I am allowed/forced to cook thanksgiving.

[momin2013]

We don't have any older family members who are local, dizzycooks; it's just us and my brother's family, so we alternate - easy peasy.

When we lived in my hometown where we had more relatives, though, it had been gradually starting to shift towards the younger generation hosting; I think largely because the older family members were downsizing, so their homes weren't large enough to seat everybody, etc. Also, with the younger generation starting to have kids, I think it starting being easier on them to host in their own home, with babies/small kids and such.

[cjcouple]

Host!! Christmas is always at my house. DH parents, siblings and kids come. All are in town. I love it!

[maloney]

Travel! I hate having people at my house.

[penguingrrl]

Dec 26, 2017 14:47:30 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

Those of you who prefer to host...are you actually allowed to host? We don’t get the option. Older family members insist they do it.

My mom and her BF won’t let anyone else host Christmas but will gladly let us host the other holidays. MIL and FIL have a really small house and their living room is tiny and last time we had Christmas there it was just too tight (like couldn’t fit all the kids and grandkids in the living room with the tree), so they decided it made sense to let us or SIL host that. MIL and FIL won’t give up Thanksgiving or Easter, though.

[mamaalysson]

Host! We have the only young kids in our family, and I decided early on that our kids will spend Christmas morning at their own house. I am happy to feed/house/welcome with open arms any family that wants to join us. That’s how it was when I was a kid, and I love hosting brunch. A pot of coffee and a handful of quiches are easy to prepare, and I don’t have to make my kids get dressed or leave the house.

[livinitup]

I do BOTH and it’s frigin’ exhausting. Host 15+ For DH’s family on Christmas Eve for a traditional sit-down meal + gifts. And then Santa presents in the morning and a 5 hour drive to my family where my mother does everything and I am a guest with another great meal + presents.

It sounds crazy but I love it. And it takes me 3 days to recover.