Arguing

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Lucy Notarantonio

By Lucy Notarantonio

Senior Reporter

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A grandma who "ruins" Christmas dinner every year has been dragged online after her daughter explains how she is still annoyed about last year's antics.

Over 1,755 people have backed the Mumsnet user @StillFumin who wrote a lengthy post explaining her mom stated everything was under control two days before Christmas last year, but when it came to December 25, she suggested they eat sausages and mashed potatoes as she forgot to defrost the turkey.

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The alternative option left the original poster's daughter feeling upset as she was very much looking forward to a traditional Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings.

Arguing

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Explaining her story, the user said: "After many years of 'hilarious' disaster Christmas dinners we stopped going and did our own at home."

But last year, she felt pressured into celebrating at her mom's again who promised her granddaughter she would get "posh stuffing" and everything else.

However, the family was left feeling disappointed as the turkey was frozen and nothing had been cooked as the grandma assumed nobody would want the other "stuff."

The Mumsnet user wrote: "I wish I could get over this as I'm sure I'll be told I'm being petty and unreasonable but I just can't seem to get over my anger!"

"This year I'm doing Christmas dinner and DD [darling daughter] is again excited. I've invited my mum but told her I'm doing everything and want no help or interference. She keeps asking if I'm still mad at her. I've said no but deep down ... grrrr!!!" she wrote.

U.K.-based family therapist Charlotte Fox Weber, author of What We Want, has suggested that the Mumsnet user speak to her mother about the incident.

"Christmas brews with buried-but-not-forgotten issues. Adults can behave like children and then try to grab power in surprising ways," she said. "The problem with small irritants is that they can be death by a thousand paper cuts—say something in a simple and thoughtful way without it spilling into an aggressive character attack. Intentions are problematic this time of year—there can be big visions of glory and then a lack of follow-through and crushing disappointment."

The popular post has received almost 600 responses and some have suggested that the original poster confront her mom about last year's incident.

Annoyed girl

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"If you don't think confrontation will possibly help, take note of your grudge and take charge of how it affects you so it doesn't fly out in some scattershot way. We can honor some of our grudges without being at the mercy of emotional floods," said Weber.

It seems hundreds of Mumsnet users can understand the OP's frustration.

One user said: "You are still mad with her. Tell her! It will make you feel better. Not sure why you wouldn't. TBH [to be honest] you have my sympathy. As a very organized person, I would find that massively irritating."

"I'd be furious too. It's like your DM [darling mother] thinks it's cute that she's so incompetent," wrote another person.

"Yeah, this goes beyond poor executive function for whatever reason. It's sabotage. Forgot to get the turkey out - what stopped her [from] buying a fresh one or something like beef or gammon to replace it? Sausage and mash is a bizarre p***-take. I think you should be honest that you won't be going to hers for Xmas day again," commented another.

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.

Have you had a Christmas dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money, and work, and your story could be featured on Newsweek's "What Should I Do? section.

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