Need some advice? A shoulder to cry on? Or maybe you just want to complain? The Hingham Housewife has your back! Our new, weekly segment with local author Alexandra Slater debuted this week so we had a listener submit her current dilemma:
Dear Housewife:
My mother wants to host Christmas at her house this year, but I have my own nuclear family now and want to just stay home at our house. I don’t want to upset her, but we don’t want to go, and my husband is pressing me to tell her “no.” What should I do?
Rob, Beth, and Alexandra all had their own opinions on this topic, and how they personally handle family holiday tension, but we also received some great feedback from listeners:
Nina from Scituate says:
What worked for me was telling my Mom how magical it was to wake up in our family home and run down to see what Santa brought. I explained that many times the elves are up all night putting bikes together and are exhausted by happy when they see the faces of the kids. She started laughing and said she completely understood because she remembered what that was like. She and my dad began coming to us later I. The day to enjoy the festivities instead of us going to stay with them. This is the season for love and magic!
Listener who wanted to remain anonymous:
Regarding Christmas with families and parents, my husband and I did not have children and his parents were elderly so we had no problem having Christmas with them on Christmas day and then having our own Christmas a week or so later it didn’t matter to us what day we had ours. That’s a good way to satisfy everyone
Mary Ellen from Hull:
I don’t have children and I’m not married but life is too short not to spend time with your parents at Christmas. At least make an appearance.
My parents have been gone for years and miss them every day.
Patti from Marshfield:
I think putting on the oxygen mask is very healthy, but as a 70 yr old mom, daughter of a wonderful 96 yr old dad, and “Gammy” to a delightful 2 yr old, family moments are fleeting so try to meet somewhere in the middle. You won’t regret it down the road. And Beth, absolutely yes to a walk or… champagne in the bathroom!!
Judy from Whitman:
If the daughter and husband want to spend the holiday at their home; that is what they should do. Mother has to back off as she stated her own traditions at some point. There should be no hard feelings. When you marry and have children most like to have their Christmas with their own traditions. Been there, done that 😂❤️
It needs to be asked WWHHD? What Would Hingham Housewife Do? Listen and find out her advice:
Hingham Housewife airs weekly on Wednesday mornings at 9:10.
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Ask the Hingham Housewife!
Need some advice? A shoulder to cry on? Or maybe you just want to complain? The Hingham Housewife has your back! Submit your dilemma below and we will talk about it on air with the Hingham Housewife!
