Every year my in-laws host a big holiday family gathering. Because the three children worked as an OB, a flight attendant, and a restaurant manager AND had their spouse's families to contend with, they got into the practice of having their gathering early in December, when everyone had an easy time getting off work.
We invited everyone to come to our house this year, because the idea of traveling with a 2-3 week old infant is NOT palatable. We travelled to Corvallis, OR with Dylan when he was 3 months old and instead of taking 4.5 hours, it took something like 7 hours because he was eating every two hours and we had to stop to do that, and to change him, and to eat ourselves. I also don't know how much leave time Jonny will have, so it might be a short long weekend.
So that was our thinking when we suggested that the gathering come to us. Well, for a variety of reasons, that is not what the group wants to do. We have been told that we don't really want all those people at our house, and that it will be just fine if we miss a year of the gathering (gee, thanks... what I hear is, "It's not worth the drive to see you, even if you DID just have another baby.")
But now we are being pressured to go down there for the gathering. I refuse to drive, so we are talking about taking the train (still 6+ hours). But I am wondering if it is really worth all the effort, and if I'm really going to feel like doing this. I'm due November 9, so baby will be 3 weeks old, give or take a week.
What do you think, mamas? Crazy idea? Worth considering? Not as much trouble as it sounds like? One way or another, I think that my husband and older son should go, but... I'm really torn.
We invited everyone to come to our house this year, because the idea of traveling with a 2-3 week old infant is NOT palatable. We travelled to Corvallis, OR with Dylan when he was 3 months old and instead of taking 4.5 hours, it took something like 7 hours because he was eating every two hours and we had to stop to do that, and to change him, and to eat ourselves. I also don't know how much leave time Jonny will have, so it might be a short long weekend.
So that was our thinking when we suggested that the gathering come to us. Well, for a variety of reasons, that is not what the group wants to do. We have been told that we don't really want all those people at our house, and that it will be just fine if we miss a year of the gathering (gee, thanks... what I hear is, "It's not worth the drive to see you, even if you DID just have another baby.")
But now we are being pressured to go down there for the gathering. I refuse to drive, so we are talking about taking the train (still 6+ hours). But I am wondering if it is really worth all the effort, and if I'm really going to feel like doing this. I'm due November 9, so baby will be 3 weeks old, give or take a week.
What do you think, mamas? Crazy idea? Worth considering? Not as much trouble as it sounds like? One way or another, I think that my husband and older son should go, but... I'm really torn.
: 
I'm just a hermit I guess!
)
