Holiday Planning: I Won't Be Home for Christmas
Submitted by
Sara Meyer
It's almost Christmas and I'm not feeling very jolly. To be honest, I'm sulking.
To me, holiday planning is about planning to go home for the holidays. But this year, we're going to my in-laws' for the holiday. We had Christmas with my family last year—and might I add that it was fabulous! My husband said that it's only fair that we celebrate with his family this year. And while it does seem fair, that doesn't mean that I have to like it ... or have a good attitude about it.
Last night, when he bought the plane tickets, I sulked for two hours. I refused to even look at him over the dinner table. It's not that I dislike my in-laws (they're actually fairly agreeable). I just don't want to miss Christmas with my family.
I don't want to watch my kids run down the stairs on Christmas morning and tear open stockings hanging from someone else's hearth. I don't want to sit down to Christmas dinner and eat someone else's sweet potatoes or someone else's pecan pie. I want my mom's sweet potatoes. I want my mom's pecan pie! I want to go home for Christmas!
My husband reminded me that marriage is about compromise. He also reminded me that our kids watch every move I make and that my attitude could put a damper on their Christmas. I know he's right, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow.
I feel like a kid who just found out that Santa isn't real. Christmas is coming, but it's not going to have the same excitement, the same magic or the same traditions. Is it so bad that my holiday planning has me wanting to go home for Christmas?
Submit!
