I’ve said before that the holidays are not my favorite time of year. I’m starting to crack from the stress of it all. I love my family, but sometimes I feel as if I’m the one who makes the effort when it comes to considering everyone’s schedule.
Oh my parents are fine, but it seems that our families Christmas schedule revolves around my brother’s family. My brother is typically on vacation during the holidays, however my sister-in-law sometimes works and therefore we plan according to her schedule. I don’t think they realize this sometimes and how much it bothers me.
When you are a single parent everyone naturally assumes that you want to travel to their house rather than host an event in yours. There are probably some single parents who feel this way, but I love to entertain even if my house is on the smaller size compared to the rest of my family.
In the past few years it seems as if I keep rearranging my schedule to accommodate others and I’m tired. When my son was little I started a tradition of hosting brunch on Christmas day and for years it worked out nicely. My parents and Cole’s father (of course he’s always been invited)
attend.
I don’t recall my brother and his wife ever attending — even before they had children. Then two years ago my sister-in-law asked if we could change our plans and come to their house for Christmas. I understood because she just had my niece one week before the holiday.Then last year we held the brunch at my parents because we all spent the night on Christmas eve.
OK, so this year I had planned on having brunch, which is usually at 11 a.m, but my mother tells me she is cooking Christmas dinner for 2 p.m. so that my brother and family can come early and then get back home so the kids can play with what “Santa” brought them. My sister-in-law also has to work the day after and this part I get. So here is my thought — why hold brunch? My parents have to leave my house by noon or 12:30 to get back to their house in time. (they live 30 minutes from me.) They don’t get to enjoy any time at my house and would have to rush so there really is no point.
Maybe I’m being a scrooge who knows, but I enjoy having family at my house and it seems they they never want to come and when they do they never want to stay.
Because of the pressure my son has noticed my mood changes and has even taken some hits (not literally.) I just want the holidays to be over so I can go back to my normal routine.
So what is you family like during the holidays?
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