One mom has a very unusual Christmas tradition, and people have a LOT to say about it…
Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year…
The holiday season has officially begun, and we couldn’t be merrier.
From stores adorned with Christmas lights, to Starbucks bringing out their Gingerbread Lattes…
Life couldn’t get much better.
The tree…
You simply can’t have Christmas without the tree… I mean where is good old Saint Nick going to put the presents otherwise?
There’s something nostalgic about the warm glow of the lights and the twinkle of the ornaments that brings people together.
And this has been the case for generations!
Then there’s the possibility of snow…
I think we’ve all dreamt of a white Christmas once in our lives, and when we get that fresh blanket of snow on the big day, it’s even more idyllic.
With snow comes Snowmen…
And no matter what age you are, there’s something pretty exciting about going out and building your first Snowman of Christmas.
Holiday vacation…
Whether you’ve got time off from work, or you’re headed home from school for the holidays, there’s nothing better than getting that much-needed time away.
Family…
Christmas is a time to recharge and spend quality time with loved ones, whether that’s friends or family, or even just your neighbors, it’s the best time to come together.
Hot drinks…
Hot chocolate, mulled wine, gingerbread lattes, no matter what your drink of choice is, as long as it’s hot, it encapsulates that cozy Christmas feeling.
Parties…
Love them or hate them, Christmas parties are a huge tradition and the best way to get to know your co-workers and spread the holiday cheer.
Sales…
Everyone loves a bargain, and with Christmas being one of the most expensive times of the year, the Christmas sales are one of the best times to bag one.
Giving presents…
Although receiving presents is definitely top of the list during Christmas, it’s also important to give during this time of year, and remember what the whole holiday is all about.
Ice Skating…
Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor rink, there’s something incredibly Christmassy about skating during the holidays.
Staying in and getting cozy by the fire…
The holiday season is the best excuse to relax and de-stress, and what better way to do that than putting your feet up and watching your favorite show with logs burning in the background?
This brings us to the movies…
It wouldn’t be Christmas without the classic Christmas movies.
We’ve had a whole range of movies that have become household staples this time of year…
Some of the classics include Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, and Miracle on 34th Street.
But Christmas can also be a time of contention.
Spending time with extended family can bring about a whole host of issues and feuds.
One mom took to Mumsnet to share her controversial holiday plans.
She wants to cancel her Christmas to allow her son to sleep, uninterrupted.
“Our plans were to go to the in-laws on Christmas Day and stay overnight, but due to him being able to climb out the travel cot and far too young and excitable to sleep in the bed, I want to change our plans to just an afternoon visit (maybe for dinner?) between his afternoon nap and bedtime so as not to cause any more disruptions to his routine,” she explained.
“Am I being unreasonable? I feel like my in-laws will be disappointed and my partner will likely sulk, but my main excitement for Christmas is to see my little boy happy and excited and I just think that overtiredness and overstimulation could ruin that for him.
“Also on a selfish level, it would be me that would have to battle with him for hours to nap and sleep at bedtime whilst everyone else drinks!” she concluded.
And it’s safe to say her comments have divided the internet!
“It’s one day. Get on with it,” one person replied.
“At some point he will crash out and sleep. It will be ok,” another added.
While a third suggested: “It’s possible that he won’t be so unsettled because you’ll be there.
“I do understand how you feel but it is a very big deal to make such a big change to Christmas Day plans at this late stage.”
However others offered a different point of view.
“Hi. I have an autistic child and I completely understand you OP. If people don’t they are not properly understanding your situation,” one person said.
“Really surprised at all the people saying ‘It’s only one day!’ If the OP’s experience is that being off the schedule and overstimulated is going to create a miserable situation, she’s probably right to want to scale things back,” another added.
But that’s not the only controversy we’ve seen this year…
People are divided online over one mother’s decision to charge her family for their Christmas dinner.
An annual tradition that she’s been carrying out for 6 years!
And make no mistake, she makes everyone pay up. Even her 3-year-old grandchildren get charged.
Speaking to BBC News, Caroline Duddridge from Wales, UK, said that she makes adults pay anything up to $18, while younger members of the family usually pay single digits.
The idea for the 63 year-old started after her husband passed away and she lost half her household income.
Now, with the UK’s cost of living crisis making things even more difficult, she had to keep it going.
“There’s a few out there who think I’m a bit of a Scrooge but my friends think it’s quite a good idea,” she explained.
“I said to my children, ‘Right, it costs a lot of money, I’m going to do a little kitty jar so you can put £2 ($2.40) away starting in September.'”
No cash? No problem… Duddridge started accepting direct payments to her bank account.
“If you don’t pay by 1 December, you’re not coming,” she joked.
People online have a LOT to say on the matter.
”That’s a good way to lose family, no one in their right mind would do that,” one person said.
Whilst others were in complete agreement with the charge: ”I’m with her, why should she be lumped with the cost?” said another.
What do you think?