Couple Gets Accused Of Being Selfish After Choosing To Spend Time Together Over Having Christmas Dinner With The Family
A couple struggles to balance family traditions with their own holiday morning.
Christmas is supposed to be about family, but sometimes the way it’s scheduled can make it feel anything but relaxing.
One couple faced this exact dilemma after realizing their family’s traditional Christmas dinner clashed with the morning routine they’d grown used to since moving in together.
They love spending the morning together sipping coffee, opening presents, and enjoying a slow start; but the family insists on a 1 o’clock meal during gatherings.
The tension isn’t just about timing. This couple does the majority of the work when it comes to Christmas meals, including buying a £130 turkey, dry brining it for two days, and preparing all the trimmings on-site.
With children now older and more independent, they hoped for a compromise, suggesting a slightly later meal so everyone could still enjoy their time together. Unfortunately, their family refused.
Feeling unheard and frustrated, the couple decided to change their approach. They’ll visit family in the afternoon but skip the shared meal, instead having their own Christmas dinner later at home.
This allows them to enjoy their morning traditions and take full advantage of the season without being rushed.
This story raises interesting questions about family traditions, personal boundaries, and the balance between honoring others and preserving your own rituals.
Some might see it as selfish, while others understand the need to protect the holiday magic for themselves.
Check out the screenshots below to see the full conversation and their reasoning for taking control of Christmas morning.
Let’s dig into the details
Reddit.comA bit of backstory
Reddit.comOP and their partner decided not to have Christmas dinner with the family at midday, since it doesn’t suit their lifestyle. This hasn’t gone down well with family members
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OP is eager to get the Reddit community’s opinion on this matter
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We gathered some interesting comments from the Reddit community
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“Offer to come by later with a dessert to share. Or visit the next day.”
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“Do your own thing and don’t feel guilty. There are 6 other people to pull off that meal.”
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“Moving this a few hours makes sense if it would make life easier for the person who is doing all of the work.”
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“Enjoy your day, and eat the food you want to eat, when you want to eat it.”
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“NTA. They can get up at the a** crack of dawn and do all the cooking themselves.”
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“You aren't selfish for meeting your own needs, and anyone saying otherwise is trying to guilt you.”
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“I would tell them that you won't be able to have dinner ready at that time, so you'll have to pass the torch on to someone better.”
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This story highlights how even beloved family traditions can create friction when schedules and priorities clash.
The couple isn’t rejecting family time; they’re setting boundaries to preserve their own holiday experience while still visiting relatives.
It’s a reminder that compromise can take many forms, and sometimes it means rethinking long-standing routines. How families manage these conflicts can shape the holidays for everyone involved.
What would you do in this situation?…stick to tradition or make your own Christmas morning? Share your thoughts in the comments.
