It's just so irritating that Friend believes what they say. Once someone becomes a grandparent, the can only be with their grandkids on holidays, even if that means putting them in an incredibly awkward/ difficult/ uncomfortable situation. I keep trying to tell them that they can invite anybody they want to Christmas, but they have to respect when people say no. Friend is laying a huge guilt trip on their parents in an attempt to manipulate them into coming.
I don't have kids either, so I'm totally horrified that Friend thinks that Child-free is "stealing the grandparents." Whatever. Are they stealing them, or saving them from having to attend a horrid situation? And why is Child-free unworthy of their parent's attention on Christmas? Friend just keeps coming back with, "But they're grandparents now. They have responsibilities."
I can't stop rolling my eyes. No they don't. I'm pretty sure you didn't consult the grandparents before you decided to have kids. Pretty sure they were not part of the equation at all.
Plus,these people see their grandkids like 4 times a week. It's not like they only come to visit a couple times a year. But Friend seems to think there's something wrong with their kids opening grandma and grandpa's present on a different day and one set of grandparents not being there on Christmas morning.
Also, Friend won't speak up about the other relatives. Friend's in laws are there Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and another day before that. Your in-laws get 3 days, but you can't/ won't carve out an afternoon for your own parents? If they were really so important, you'd find a time for them.