CHRISTMAS is fun and festive but it's also really stressful, especially if you're a parent.
That's why one mum decided to ditch the celebrations altogether in a bid to keep her toddler's routine normal.
The mum explained that the whole family are supposed to go to her mother-in-laws for Christmas day, but since her 20-month-old's routine was ruined after spending the night away from home recently she's decided to not take any more chances.
She explained on Mumsnet: "I felt so guilty on Sunday knowing he kept my mum up all night and that he couldn’t sleep, he was so tired when we picked him up."
"He’s always struggled with new environments and routine changes, and never has been a good sleeper," she added.
So despite planning to spend the day at her mother-in-law's and stay overnight, the mum has decided to cancel the festivities.
The mum's main concern was her tot being able to climb out of the travel cot, as well as being too excited to sleep.
Although she said they could still go to her in law's for a few hours for dinner in the afternoon, the mum didn't think the celebrations were worth disturbing her tot's routine for.
"I feel like my in-laws will be disappointed and my partner will likely sulk, but my main excitement for Christmas is to see my little boy happy and excited and I just think that overtiredness and overstimulation could ruin that for him," she explained.
Not only that, but if they were to stay the night at her mother-in-law's house, the mum confessed that she'd be the one left to deal with the toddler.
"It would be me that would have to battle with him for hours to nap and sleep at bedtime whilst everyone else drinks," she said.
But fellow parents slammed the mum's decision and said she was being selfish.
"Toddler won't remember how happy he was at xmas. The rest of your family will," one wrote.
A second wrote: "Why can't your partner take responsibility for settling him on Christmas day?"
But others sympathised with the mum's struggle, one said: "So true!! I’m currently battling to get some sanity back in our lives after the weekend nightmare."
Another wrote: "All the people saying to suck it up clearly don’t have the same issues as you so just ignore them."
