Oof thank you for writing this. I'm lucky to have a partner who welcome me into their big festive family Christmas with open arms bc Christmas CAN be so fun and beautiful, but at the same time it is draining because personally and privately it is such a tumultuous time for me. Glad to not be alone in a world that still presents and priorities happy nuclear families
I have a very small dysfunctional family who thankfully live overseas and it's a hard time for me. I am a glass half full kinda gal with a huge social circle, but seeing large families celebrating christmas in a way I could only dream of hurts so much to watch. I hope those who have this understand how lucky they are. Bring on the cruise!
My family used to have these huge christmas' every year. Since a part of my family (the religious part) decided to exclude a family member of ours from these events, we've instead moved to smaller celebrations.
As a college student from a pretty frantic and dysfunctional family, coming home for the holidays— any holiday— can be rather frustrating and irritating. The hardest part is definitely seeing the families that have it all together and love each other enjoy it whenever my parents have not seemed to catch on. I disabled my socials for a while to focus on me and have been practicing wellness with what I eat and drink. I also honestly have just been learning to care less. I’ve been anxious and worried about these things since I was a kid. I think I owe it to me to learn to be less bothered by the conditions of familial struggles.
Christmas at my house after realising it will be toxic at my Dad's. Unfortunately, it's not the family that is an issue but my Dad's toxic employee who just got cancer so we cannot fire her now. Sounds cruel but this lady is paid to keep the house clean and look after my ailing Dad. Instead, she hates our family and does petty things on purpose to make our visits awful. Last time, I came down for a funeral with my 2 small children. The room I stay in was filthy and bed unmade. I made the bed with clean sheets and went to the wake only to come back and find that she had stripped the bed and put on dusty, torn sheets! My daughter was 4 months at the time and I was ropable 🤬
I found Christmas a bit sad last year so we’re being more intentional this time. Trying some things that I hope become new traditions that everyone looks forward to.
I’m looking forward to Cheek becoming a CJ Cregg stan account once you start the West Wing
I will be spending the 25th with a phone turned off, basking in solitude with my stocked kindle and not punishing myself with instagram
Yes! Love the advice to shift into your own version of the Holiday Season.
It’s freeing and self validating to make choices for you and not the people who you grew up around.
I can also highly recommend Shani Silver’s advice on the subject too!
Oof thank you for writing this. I'm lucky to have a partner who welcome me into their big festive family Christmas with open arms bc Christmas CAN be so fun and beautiful, but at the same time it is draining because personally and privately it is such a tumultuous time for me. Glad to not be alone in a world that still presents and priorities happy nuclear families
Currently reading All Fours and omggggggggggggg
I have a very small dysfunctional family who thankfully live overseas and it's a hard time for me. I am a glass half full kinda gal with a huge social circle, but seeing large families celebrating christmas in a way I could only dream of hurts so much to watch. I hope those who have this understand how lucky they are. Bring on the cruise!
Yes I love this!! My wife and I are flying to NZ on Christmas Day - screw toxic family and getting pulled back into the bullshit
My family used to have these huge christmas' every year. Since a part of my family (the religious part) decided to exclude a family member of ours from these events, we've instead moved to smaller celebrations.
I have never enjoyed my christmas more.
As a college student from a pretty frantic and dysfunctional family, coming home for the holidays— any holiday— can be rather frustrating and irritating. The hardest part is definitely seeing the families that have it all together and love each other enjoy it whenever my parents have not seemed to catch on. I disabled my socials for a while to focus on me and have been practicing wellness with what I eat and drink. I also honestly have just been learning to care less. I’ve been anxious and worried about these things since I was a kid. I think I owe it to me to learn to be less bothered by the conditions of familial struggles.
Christmas at my house after realising it will be toxic at my Dad's. Unfortunately, it's not the family that is an issue but my Dad's toxic employee who just got cancer so we cannot fire her now. Sounds cruel but this lady is paid to keep the house clean and look after my ailing Dad. Instead, she hates our family and does petty things on purpose to make our visits awful. Last time, I came down for a funeral with my 2 small children. The room I stay in was filthy and bed unmade. I made the bed with clean sheets and went to the wake only to come back and find that she had stripped the bed and put on dusty, torn sheets! My daughter was 4 months at the time and I was ropable 🤬
I found Christmas a bit sad last year so we’re being more intentional this time. Trying some things that I hope become new traditions that everyone looks forward to.