Christmas Concerns

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. I’ll try my best to convey the story as clear and non bias as possible.

My husband and I just got married in May. We’ve been together for 6 years.

This year was especially traumatic for me. House fire in January, lost my Dad exactly 2 months before our wedding and then managed to build a home that we are only moving into now (Dec 2023). I am tough but I am exhausted.

For the past 6 years, we’ve been good about celebrating everything holiday with my husband’s family and visits in between. Two dinners a month as minimum. The pandemic changed that from our prior every Sunday family dinner that included my MIL.

MIL lost her husband to a tragic disease 2016. Has no partner since then and lives on her own.

We spend a good amount of time thinking of ways to include her, dinners, celebrations, visits and even family photoshoots.

This year, we want to start to make our own traditions as we look to start a family.

The issue is balancing all the families involved plus taking our wishes into account.

We all worked together for this schedule.

Dec 23: Dinner with the whole family hosted by MIL Dec 24: We are hosting a lunch at our new home. Brave, I know; given we are currently moving in. Dinner with my birth mom. December 25: Just a day of activities and fun for the two of us. We skipped having a honeymoon and decided it would be nice to have a good Christmas taking in what we worked so hard for.

Problem: MIL is upset. She goes no contact shortly after and we are a bit confused.

Any takes on the situation or advice would be appreciated. I’m always open to mending things and possibly executing things better. :)