Holiday Blues No More!?!
They say be careful what you wish for. And whoever THEY are they’re right.
For the past fifteen years we haven’t had family in town. When the kids were young and we had only one or two, we’d fly to grandma’s for the holidays. Then came number three and four and we drove to see family for the holidays. Not every holiday, but we made the trek, some years 24 hours in the car (with a pit stop half way at my inlaws).
It was fun and exhausting all at once. When the kids got older we started staying home more for the holidays, especially Christmas. Lugging dozens of presents across country was no fun!
Though for the past ten years we’ve been alone for Thanksgiving. There was a couple of years we invited college students over for a big meal, but then the mentor program ceased and so did our big turkey dinners.
Some years following I’d go all out and make the traditional feast, some years we’d trek to our local tourist town and take in a Christmas show. Last year it looked something like this: 
Not very appetizing, I know and it wasn’t. I was slightly depressed about the holidays, wishing for the days of my youth where all the aunts, uncles and cousins would gather at grandma’s house. I missed those days and wanted them for my children.
Well, my wish may come true from here on out, and I’m not sure how excited I am about it. (Actually, this year I am kind of excited!) My sister and her family moved five hours away and my mom will be moving to my town after Christmas. While I’m thankful to have family so close, it will definitely change the dynamics and lazy days of the holidays.
This year we’ll be visiting my sister for Thanksgiving. It will be fun and will feel like a holiday instead of another day like it has for the last ten years. I’m happy about that. It’s all the potential stressful holidays to come that I’m not thrilled about!
Are my carefree holidays of the past only a memory? Probably. But did I get what I wished for? Most definitely!
So did I have it good before or are their better holidays ahead? I’d love to hear your holiday/family thoughts.
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Hey Gina,
I am so happy for you!! I am also separated from my family.
No one lives in the same state. This year it looks like
we are going to forego on Thanksgiving altogether, my
family is very sick from the flu or something as tortuous as
that.
Well, at least I won’t have to cook, right? hee.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21st, 2007 at 8:28 amI’m happy for you! Since we moved from Jersey, I’ve been lamenting the same thing. What happened to the chaotic fun?
November 21st, 2007 at 9:12 amHaving family nearby will be a blessing for you!
November 21st, 2007 at 4:49 pmI’d be wretched without my extended family at the holidays…or so I say. Hopefully I’d rise to the occasion, but it would be lonely, as I’ve always spent it with my parents and siblings. And then we always have a second get-together with my husband’s whole family. Family is pretty important here! But we’d never be able to jaunt 24 hours in the car, or grab a plane for the holidays…
So happy for you that things are changing! Hope it’s a blessing and enjoy today with your sister!
November 22nd, 2007 at 7:26 am