Remember my post yesterday about going away for Christmas? I mentioned to my mother last night about our plan, and basically said that we would be be bowing out of any Christmas celebrations this year. She was upset, and then she used my 92 year old grandmother against me! "I don't know how many more years Grandma is going to be with us. She's 92 now. This could be one of her last Christmas celebrations with the family.It makes me so happy to have the family together..."
Now this is what our family Christmas celebrations have turned into. Because my cousin's wife is a huge pain in the ass, we can NEVER celebrate Christmas on the actual day. We have a potluck at my aunt's house a few days before. This involves packing up the car with everyone's presents, packing up whatever food I'm bringing, picking up my grandma, loading up all her stuff and then driving one hour (one way) to my aunt's house.
Then, I'm expected to celebrate either Christmas eve or Christmas day at my mom and dad's, which is a 3 hour round trip. I can't stay over, because I can't bring my dog, and I'm not going to board her on Christmas (I'd feel like such a bad dog mom. I know that makes me weird).
So all in all, it's just too fucking much and I'm tired of it. I want to take a year off, and just celebrate Christmas with my H this year. I don't want any gifts, and I don't want to do any gift shopping. I told my mom it would be just the same as if we went to see H's family for Christmas instead. Is it really that big of a deal? I feel like the reason she's really upset is that she won't have me to cart my Grandma around and someone else less reliable (ahem, my brother) will then be responsible for doing it.
Also, they're hosting Thanksgiving this year. And every year they host, I drive up the night before and spend hours helping them prep. So it's not like I'm not a good daughter! Damn, people!