[Jazzynitter]

You got that right, in Nicolas family, her mum is a control freak, and it causes a lot of tension, everything has to be done exactly when she says and nothing Is ever good enough where Nicola is concerned and it’s really hard on her mentally. We all love her very much and always tell her so.

Then I would call you her family of the heart. She's a lucky girl.

 

[Jazzynitter]

🤣 Pancakes makes a lot more sense. Lol
Unfortunately, it's hard to change the tradition, but the easiest way to do it, is just announce that they're staying home, and then, do that. Easier said than done though, hope they can find a solution.

When my youngest son started his family, I told him it was more important to begin their own traditions instead of being expected to always come home, especially when that meant travelling. When you're working full time, those days off during the holidays are precious downtime.

 

[Jazzynitter]

The first couple years after we got married we travelled between both families (around a 2 hour trip one way with us living at the midpoint between them) but once Maryanne was a toddler we decided it was too much to manage so started alternating each year. And that created friction with David's mother who was not happy. And even worse when one year we decided to just have a home Christmas- by then we had moved and around 6 hour trip to either family. Well that was just not on as far as MIL was concerned. Not that she succeeded in stopping us staying staying put.

My sister married into a family where her MIL demanded that her three sons come home for every holiday, birthday, Mothers and Fathers Days. I can't remember the last time we got to spend Christmas together, even though we were only an hour apart. I don't understand needing that kind of control over other people's lives, even if they are one's family.