[mg1970]

You know, it is stories like these that make me thankful that we decided to have a tradition of just our family Christmas day.

My Mom grew up with memories of having to wake up Christmas morning, pack up presents and getting carsick on the long drive to Grandmas house. When I left home I came home for Christmas, and the first year I was serious with my husband we tried to visit all of our family between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It only took one year of that before I set the expectation that we would not be visiting all of our family between the holidays. We then rotated the holidays across our family.

My Mom always said that she loved having us, but that when we have children we should spend our Christmas at home. She said "I will come to you" -- and she does.

Growing up Christmas was something we did with just our immediate family. Sometimes we would join another family for dinner Christmas eve, but Christmas day we spent the whole day together, most of it in our pajamas. And that is how my family celebrates it today. No friends, no neighbors, no work, no in laws, just us and sometimes my Mom.

I think anytime you try to get that many family members together it is going to be political. I think Thankgiving is a better day for that disaster.

I totally vote for Christmas with your immediate family next year.