lizm982's Profile

Most of my friends from high school and college didn't have divorced parents, so reading these comments is shockingly my first experience hearing about others' holiday-sharing dilemmas, and man am I relieved!! It is strangely comforting to relate to everyone's story and to know that I am not alone in this stressful, anxiety-ridden, dreaded part of the holidays. I will never get over the guilt I feel for preferring my mom over my dad during the holidays (for logistical reasons all of you have mentioned here) and since I've been in Spain, I've been home for Christmas only twice and decided enough was enough. Now I go home in August and split three weeks between my mom and my dad, and in fact I've decided next August I want to go somewhere different altogether, but I will never go back home for the holidays as long as I'm abroad.

And when I'm back in the States, I've decided my family will learn to live with missing me on Christmas and my future husband can spend the holidays with his family and I will stay at home in my pajamas eating peppermind ice-cream, watching movies, and browing my favorite home decorating websites ;) This will be my reward for dozens of 8-hour car trips on Christmas day just to make sure no one felt left out.

Also, a reminder to everyone doing their all to make sure no one can blame them for not doing their best to make everyone else happy - you'll be shocked how few people make the same effort for you when you extend an invitation for everyone to spend the holidays at your house. It's very liberating, no more guilt!!