It seemed almost inevitable. Once married (actually, engaged) we would have to alternate holidays between both of our families. Thanksgiving here, Christmas there, days after Christmas somewhere, New Year somewhere else. Both families would want to see us, but one family lives in northern CA another in southern Ca. So the only 'fair' thing to do would be to alternate. At first it felt like choosing which family we liked more. Our days with each side were short, we traveled so much, and it was oh so frustrating.
Being the oldest of my parents’ 3 children, not having a child around during the holidays was a first for them. Hubs being the youngest (his siblings are well into their 30s & 40s), alternating holidays was not foreign to his family, but also not ideal.
This is the third year that we are alternating holidays. I think our families are accustomed to the situation. But it's still really hard. How do you tell your family, your mother, "Sorry we won't see you this Christmas" ?
So what can we do? We want to be together for the holidays and we want to see family. So we travel. Up and down the coast, logging miles and sleeping in beds that are not ours. Enjoying the times that are spent with those we love, and so tired thinking about how we have to go somewhere else.
Are any of you in this situation? Having to start traveling, alternating holidays, ultimately choosing one over the other? How do you cope?
Blog title is from lyrics by Blink 182
2 comments:
As a child I vaguely remember spending different holidays with my dad's parents and other's with my mom's parents (and their respective families). Once married, Mr Fix It and I will need to start the alternating holidays thing as most of his family is in No Cal and most of my family is here in So Cal. I am not looking forward to it...not because we won't enjoy ourselves regardless of where we are but because there will always be another family we are not with that day :( My plan is to start to try to have some of the holidays at *OUR* house and tell both sides of the family to come to us! This way we get the best of both worlds. And of course, when we can't do that, we'll probably have 'mini' holiday celebrations before or after with the family that we didn't get to be with on the 'observed' holiday :)
yes I've very familiar with that situation. we've been doing it for years now and i'm sorry to have to tell you that it'll never get easy. even after 17 years of doing the holiday shuffle, it still agonizes us.
better luck for you and your hubby! :)
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