How to handle the first multi-kid Christmas?

If kids are really young, I had each one sit next to a grown up who helped them unwrap and put their gift in their own pile. Have some trash bags around for wrapping paper. Don’t wait till the end of opening presents to trash wrapping because things get mixed up. As each kid opens presents, save the to-from tag and stick it in the present so after they’ll remember who gave them what. On some Christmas’s we each had a notepad and pen to write who gave us what. I’ve never really seen tantrums from wanting other people’s gifts unless there was a family/combo gift (video game console). I assemble a breakfast casserole the night before and put it in oven while kids are unwrapping gifts. When unwrapping is over breakfast is ready. No one comes to tree and see presents before all are awake and up. I actually put a baby gate in the hall for this. Kids eating different things- once upon a time I tried to make a full meal and have us all sit down. Over the years it turned into somewhat of a buffet and kids & adults can graze whenever they want. This may be good for you his year as you are pregnant. As far as enough food for guests and other chaos- you are pregnant. Ask for help. Maybe family can bring a dish. I think your pregnancy may be able to let you sit and experience this Christmas with a lot of people helping and next Christmas you’ll know what to expect.

Here are some things that I find helped in Christmas (I know how chaotic christmases can be). Note that this is based on my personal experience, so some of these tips may not apply to how your family does Christmas.

1. Once all presents are opened, have everyone take their presents to their bedrooms. Not only will this prevent clutter, it will also prevent presents from getting mixed up.

2. Have a variety of dishes (such as potatoes, vegetables, turkey, etc), and depending on the age of the children, have them dish up their own plates. They can grab what they want.

3. Have clear expectations for the kids. For example, when I was younger, I used to be allowed to open my stockings before my parents woke up, but not my main gifts. When I grew older (and thus more mature) I had to wait for all gifts.

4. Have something to entertain the kids until everyone is ready to open presents. I remember my stepsister put the Disneyland Christmas Day Parade on the T.V. which kept me entertained, and it helped me wait for gifts.

5. Have one person hand out gifts. This way, it will be easier to figure out who was waiting to open gifts for a bit, and who just opened one.

Please don't stress yourself over-thinking this. If you have good family members, then it will not be as chaotic as you expect. (By both sets of families, I assume you mean grandparents/ other adults?) I wouldn't worry about petty kid arguments at all. Your hubby should be able to tackle that, and if I'm reading correctly, there will be other adults to step in.

Just make sure you have enough food and drinks. Kids are picky, if they don't like what you have, they'll survive. Keep some frozen chicken nuggets just in case. Find out if there are any family favorites, keep the rest simple. Veggie trays, cheese and crackers, dip. Wine/beer for adults, juice for the kids.

Holidays are about family and togetherness, not stress ❤ Take this time to enjoy yourself. Most adults should offer to help, be it food prep or pouring drinks. Don't be afraid to accept that help. You'll have many years to get the fine details down. For now, worry about not overworking yourself. You're basically carrying around a newborn lol - that's already enough on your body!

I'm sorry if this doesn't help. I understand anxiety, and I know being told "don't stress" won't stop you from stressing lol. But just try to keep it low maintenance. Good luck!

Forget the usual Christmas dinner. Instead, make it a party, and buy stuff that your kids and stepkids would like to eat. Make it a potluck so that every guest has to bring some food and/or drinks. That should help the guests with dietary restrictions, as they would then be able to eat something, even if it's just their own food.

As for presents, don't force sharing onto the kids. Let them play with their own toys and games. It's Christmas; time to have fun! You have plenty of other days that you can use to teach them the gift of sharing.

One.....make sure your guy is helping fully. Sometimes you get a holiday where you can chit-chat with family or enjoy the football game, but this one isn't THAT......this is the other kind where he should be constantly washing dishes, cleaning up paper-trash, helping with the visiting families (taking their coats, getting them beverages, ushering the fuck out of busy areas like the kitchen).

How are you doing food? This might be a good time for catering. If you have to cook, I usually do not fuck around with a formal sit down dinner. I mean, you have your hands full with it being first-time and being pregnant. I make ginormous amounts of meatballs and sausage in the crock-pots (yes plural) and I just do that......my wife is not involved. Is it fancy? No. But I've never heard anyone complain because I make incredible meatballs and sausage and the sauce is incredible too because I cook the meat from raw in it.

Paper plates and plastic forks are good too. It makes clean-up so much better.

This also helps with the kids and their picky eating habits. I mean, if you're sitting down at the table to eat a goose or something, the fact that kiddo is over there munching on a frozen pizza kinda sticks out AND his disregard for table manners and not interrupting cause problems too. If you free-form it (as I strongly suggest you do) just cook a frozen cheese pizza and put it out next to the meatballs (and the salad and veggie tray and what-not). You'd be amazed and the adults chowing down on the pizza and you just keep cooking them until the eating stops.

Make beverages easy too. This is my second marriage and both wives have had this tendency to have a signature cocktail. Omg....fuck that. It takes too damn long to make peppermint martinis. Do mulled wine in another crockpot. It's festive and easy and people can scoop their own. Beer in a cooler. Box wine. Sodas for kids, of course.

Does that help?