Image by Kleemo
I'm off to the in-laws on Christmas Eve and while the thought of not having to cook Christmas dinner fills my heart with joy, I'm not sure how well I'm going to handle a dry Christmas with them.We're going to Mr's brother's house this year, but when we visit his parents the itinerary is just the same: we arrive, Mr's Dad is already either in the village pub or rugby club, Mr immediately leaves to meet him (and his brother if he's about) and I am left to make small-talk with his mum and look after K. While I'm not a fan of their local pub or rugby club it would be nice to be asked along, after all I can count on one hand the number of times I've been out to a pub so far this year. My frustration is compounded by the fact that Mr's Dad suffers from pancreatitis, a condition brought on by heavy drinking, and he shouldn't really be boozing at all. Mr just shrugs the whole thing off with a "well that's just how it is".
Can you imagine if it was the other way round?... a 3 hour car journey to visit my parents where I dump Mr and K with my Dad in front of the telly so I can dash off on the piss with my Mum (sadly I can't use this analogy as my parents are divorced and my Mum is teetotal, but still I'm sure it wouldn't go down well).
My MIL and SIL don't object to this all-day, antiquated male-only drinking, bizarrely my SIL seems happy to be their taxi service without ever a cross word. Am I being unreasonable? I don't see why they need to spend so much time in the pub – the whole day, including meals, is planned around their drinking. It feels like I'm travelling 150 miles to look after K but in a different house. And don't get me started on my MIL who turns argumentative after a few glasses of wine.
But apart from that I'm sure it will be a perfect Christmas! At least I have the pregnancy as an excuse to slope off for a nap (or silent scream) when it all gets too much.
*Update* I forgot to mention that it's FIL's birthday on Christmas Day so it's impossible to deny him a trip to the pub!
