In law & Step grandparents etiquette ? Christmas, ect?
954158
I kind of know how you feel.. when I was a kid, my mom remarried and her husband had two other children... I was never acknowledged by my stepfathers parents, on any occasion. And even after he died, my stepfathers brother had written the survival and named his two kids and my mom as survivors and didnt even mention me. oh well i guess i didnt exist.
871679
best greeting christmas on christmas...greet them "Merry Christmas " with a big smile coming from your heart. if you mean ,,,,gift or presents.. material things are nice but.., it doesn't matter. Be a true persoon to them and give them what you can dofor the sake of each others relationship.\nMerRy Christmas to you, may you spend your christmas with peace...
323652
I believe she should be seated with the "friends of the groom" section. I'm saying this because of my own feelings. I am estranged from my mother. My step mother and I are very close. (by the way I am 35 so I am speaking from a adult perspective) and if I were to ever get married again or renew my vows with my husband I would want my step mother (the one who has always been there for me) to be close to me on my special day. I don't want to be forced to be polite to someone I really care nothing about on what is suppose to be my day.
602405
I can't stand my inlaws!! They are so fake! They act like they like me but, behide my back they talk about me. I have acually heard her talk about me! I can't believe they can be that way! I had tried so hard in the begining to get along with them but I stopped that a long time ago! I guess first impressions mean alot because that was when she brushed me off when I said hello. If my husban is not home and she calls I don't pick up the phone and she knows I'm home. I know that get's her upset. But I love it!! So my suggestion is focus on your fam and avoid her! But ofcoures say hello once in a blue moon. I know you not getting along with her came create unwanted problems in your relationship! Best of luck:)
931096
DO NOT TRUST THEM. I don't want to see your story in the paper! I don't want to get an Amber Alert on your baby. Keep him with you. If he wants to see his grandparents, go with him, meet them in a neutral place, and DO NOT leave him alone with them. You're being very smart to wonder about it. Be careful. And, of all times to need him close, it's at a family holiday like Thanksgiving. You need his company way worse than they do.
800398
be nice to people, even your mother-in-law.
901852
Yes,Grandfather leads the prayer..then we go around the tables (large family)\ntelling what we are thankful for during the past year..Corny & the kids hate it but its a tradition we refuse to quit..=)
985933
I used to, then I got a divorce.  It's all good now.  Sorry if that's not an option.  Seriously, just be as gracious as you can, and enjoy the people you do like.  Do the in-law thing first(Christmas Eve?), so you have fun with those you love on Christmas Day and have something to look forward to.  Good luck sweetie.
141487
I'd say that you'll have to be strong on this one with your grandmother. If it's too hard to say that you only want to invite certain people and not all the extended family, see if you can pin it on the place where you're at (room to small, already committed to the head-count). There used to be a time when you could invite some people and not others and no one took offense to it. But nowadays in this "please me" society we are ever more careful not to offend. If questioned by relatives as to why they weren't invited to the party you can respond "I regret that we weren't able to invite every person we thought of!" and leave it at that. You owe no explanation beyond that. Hope that helps - have a great party!
916281
My mother-in-law told my husband and I she was not doing Thanksgiving or Christmas this year because of money, because her diabetes is getting worse and because she is tired of her son eating and running.  She does not take into account that her son works at night and has to sleep during the day.  She fixes the meal according to her schedule only.  Since she told us she wasn't cooking, we made our own pans to invite my brother over, as he has no other family in the area except us.  My husband told his mother when she asked later if we ever made other plans.  He told her and she got ill.  She went off on him because her, her husband, and her mother  weren't invited over.  He tried to explain that the seating just isn't there and she said we'd have to make our own plans.  Now she is doing nothing but laying guilt trips on him and it's working...to a point.  She will never change.  Part of it is because she is selfish and needy, though perfectly capable.  She is also jealous because he doesn't spend as much time kissing her butt.   \n\nYou are not alone.  It will either blow over or it won't.  You and your husband need to come up with a plan for the holidays.  The one you have sounds like a good one.  Either alternate holidays each year at her house and your mother's, or do Thanksgiving at your mom's/Christmas at his mom's this year.  Next year swap out.
778047
1st thing:  Breathe!  You'll get through this & have some great memories in a few years.\n\nNext, don't be embarressed for your in-laws.  It's not YOUR fault they are the way they are.  Your parents/family KNOW this. \n\nRegarding the kids, plan on doing a children's table.  2 reasons:  keep them seperate from the adults so you can have "grown up conversations" and you can use that same table for activities such as puzzles, games, crafts, etc. \n\nFor the menu:  Tell them that you had planned on traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  If they would like to make & bring barbeque, that would be great!  Then both families can share what they consider traditional.\n\nHave fun!  Remember this won't be the only time the families get together.  Make the best of it!
959345
Since you have so many places to be and so many people to see, I suggest you guys use the whole week before xmas to celebrate. I would spend a couple of days with his father and wife and then a couple of days with his mother and her husband and then spend a couple of days with your parents. But make sure you are back at your home for Christmas day to celebrate each other. What a great way to spread holiday cheer and make everyone happy. This way no one can be mad about who you spending Christmas day with, since it will be with each other at home. I realize this is alot of running around but thats what the holidays are all about, the hustle and bustle. However, I would get married and a bigger place so you can have everyone over at your house and let them do the traveling.....Merry Christmas and Good Luck!!
505814
Because they are way too nosy (the inlaws and insecure) this seems like you are hurt by this sit down and talk to her about it so it doesn't cause any gaps in your relationship good luck
748209
Remember this is your battle with the inlaws not your sister in law's.  Do not make her choose sides.  Be happy for her that she has a better relationship with them than you do because I'm sure you wouldn't wish what you are going through on another.  Maturity is called for here.  Stick to your guns for yourself, don't expect other's to choose sides.  She sounds like she's attempting to be neutral.  If you don't like hearing about what's going on with them, simply ask her not to go into detail about them or what they do or don't do.  Keep your friendship.  That's more important than allowing the in laws to drive a wedge between you two...and likely, that's what's happening.
707635
Dude i couldnt agree with you more.  No offence but for their own good put them in a looney bin and do it fast.  Thisnk about all the things peopl will say about you and your family when they see them.  Is that in itself worth it?
270638
Who would you (and your husband to be) like to be there? We invited parents (& step-mother), siblings, aunties&uncles, cousins, grandparents (& step-grandmother) in addition to closest friends and their boy/girlfriends. But it's up to you. Do you want a small or a big wedding? Maybe you & groom should to sit down together and decide what you want the day to be like before you start doing anything else.
432372
Patience is a virtue, I always say. If you live with them I feel for you. Just a few things to remember, 1)if you love him then you will learn to appreciate and deal with the family that you married into. 2)Although, everyone disagrees sometimes try to bond with your inlaws and things will go better than being upset. 3)Get to know your mother-in-law as mother than just a mom but a friend or gal-pal. 4)Do something as a family together. Go out and do something that you all will enjoy.