You must do what is right for you. A polite 'very kind of you to offer, but I have already made my own plans' is all you need to say. You don't even need to feel obliged to divulge your plans!
Christmas is about goodwill to all - not just those who want to celebrate by over-consumption.
We had our first non-traditional Christmas last year and it was the best in a long time. For the first 3 years after Dad died, we tried for mum's sake to stick with the way we always did it but it was too much for her to take with the dementia and for 3 years it ended in tears for her.
So, last year, she had a roast on her knee in the living room with just 2 of us and loved every minute of it. The other family members also did their own thing, their own way and enjoyed themselves too
Christmas is about goodwill to all - not just those who want to celebrate by over-consumption.
We had our first non-traditional Christmas last year and it was the best in a long time. For the first 3 years after Dad died, we tried for mum's sake to stick with the way we always did it but it was too much for her to take with the dementia and for 3 years it ended in tears for her.
So, last year, she had a roast on her knee in the living room with just 2 of us and loved every minute of it. The other family members also did their own thing, their own way and enjoyed themselves too