The holidays are always magical and exciting for children, but let's face it: they are downright agonizing for parents. The ever increasing cost of airfare and gas makes planning and budgeting for the holidays an added stress storm, but mapping out visits to both sides of the family can feel like a hurricane.
Do you prefer to forgo the monotony of home, pack up all your travel gear, toys and activities and head to visit family, or do you like having them come to you (after you clean every nook and cranny of the house, obviously!)?
Topman
My husband and I traveled constantly to family for the holidays before we had kids, partly due to the fact that we moved almost every year. But after we had our twins, we put our foot down and decided we were staying home. Our relatives all have older kids now, so we figure it's their turn to make the trek. We're sick of the whole planes-trains-automobiles hassle of the holidays!
1This is my first holiday season with a child and I really wish we could stay home. Not only is traveling with a baby a pain, but I'd love to start our own traditions. But because all of our family is in MI, it makes sense for us to go to them like we always have (plus, my parents are easily able to travel). But I'm hoping we will be able to have more say in our plans in the next few years.
2Visit. I don't like having people in my home. Having someone spend the night is pure torture. But even without that, there's no possible way we could host things like Christmas, our house is waaaaaaaaaay too small.
I generally go visit my parents in Wisconsin leaving a day or two after Christmas so that we get our family Christmas at home.
3We decided a while back that we would spend our Christmases at home so the kids could wake up in their own beds. I'd rather extended family came to us.
4We love traveling with our little guy. He's going ot have his first stamp in his passport this xmas when we head to sweden!
5We have previously rotated schedules: one year my family, next hubby family, next is off. We'll see if this is what we keep up.
When I was little we traveled to my grandmother's house (5 hours away) for every single holiday. Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, the works. I spent one Christmas Eve in my own house, and even that year we left to go to her house the next morning. It was all I knew, so it was fine; but I want my (future) kids to experience holidays in their own home.
We'll probably visit my parents (13 hours away) at the holidays a few times, but it will not be a regular thing. (Plus, my mother-in-law, who lives here, would kill me if we never spent a Christmas at home.)
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