My Journey

Daily writing prompt

How do you celebrate holidays?

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If you read my last post, you’ll know that I’ve stopped doing things out of obligation. If you haven’t read it, click here.

As a kid, our family holidays were pretty wild – either we’d have a bunch of family over at our place or we’d be hopping between two different family gatherings all day long. It was ridiculous. We’d be up super early and not back until way past bedtime. When I was a kid, this early morning to late-night routine was pure excitement. But as I transitioned into those preteen and teenage years, it started to get on my nerves. And now, as a full-fledged adult, it’s evolved into something altogether different: stressful and downright exhausting.

Now at 28, I’ve laid down some ground rules with my parents. Rule number one: I’ll join in on holiday festivities only if I genuinely want to. This decision led to a fair share of arguments and even a sit-down with a therapist. But finally, I’ve made it clear that just because I’m their child doesn’t mean I’m still a child myself, and that I’m old enough to make my ow decisions. Our household consists of three adults, not two adults and a kid.

Rule number two: I always need an escape plan. If we’re traveling together, there has to be someone available to drive me home whenever I decide it’s time to bail. Holidays, for various reasons I might delve into later, can be quite challenging for me, and I hate feeling trapped. My parents eventually came around to this idea too (again with the help of a therapist).

Take last Christmas Eve, for example: After spending a solid five hours at the family get-together and with no sign of dessert being served or presents on the horizon, I was more than ready to pack it in for the evening. Thankfully, my parents stuck to their end of the deal, and my dad drove me home, then back to the party.

Now, I approach holidays with much less stress. How about you? Do you love your holiday get-togethers or find them overwhelming? Have you set any boundaries, or do you find yourself in a whirlwind? Share your thoughts in the comments!