Reply #3: Why do you have to spend Christmas there?

[SheilaT]

Next year, make alternative arrangements. Get a job that requires working that day, or volunteer to work in a homeless shelter on that day. Or just tell the family that you prefer to be alone.

Sounds like you don't have kids, and when you don't, other people's children are endlessly irritating, even the supposedly well-behaved ones. Don't feel apologetic about it. Just remember that the parents who live with these kids are so used to the behavior that they don't really notice it. I'm not doubting that these two are truly terrible -- I'm hoping this is coming across as sympathetic. But it's torture to endure screaming kids when you don't have any (when you do, you're more used to these things and it doesn't seem so bad).

Good luck during the coming year.

This is why we live far away from most family.