A real asshole wouldn't develop a complex, asshole.

This.

**** #4.....they're not important.

In that case, I'll slow down, because it's a long offseason and we'll need ya back here in March to turn all of our basketball threads into football discussions. :D

I generally have a little #1 before my #2 comes.

Yep, I hear Christmas just got a 5 year extension, so there will be another one next year, and the year after that, and the year after that....


My family is so simple. We have Thanksgiving on my mom's side, our own Christmas that day, and then my dad's side has one big family party the weekend after Christmas every year.

It's.

Not.

That.

Hard.

which one has the eldest family member? go to that one hug the bitch real tight and say. Goodbye sweet grandma enjoy hell. Then leave

I know. I was lying.

Just to be an asshole. :)

Word.

My wake up call about Christmas and the commercializing of it (and this happened about 3 decades ago)...

Our kids, standing in the family room with toys, boxes, wrapping paper waist deep. Couldn't even see their legs they had so many toys and crap they were wading through.

One of my sons groped through everything looking for at least one more present to unwrap - to feed the orgy of paper tearing unwrapping they were entranced with.

Not finding anymore to unwrap he looks over to me and says, "And what else!?"

So just have a nice time at your own house, being sure to send invitations to all your family etc. They can make up their own minds if seeing you is worth it...(hehe j/k on that part)

# 5 Stay at your house

invite 1-4 to stop by anytime.

DISCO!!

The season is what you make of it.

We lived away from both families and were making about an 800mile triangle on holiday weekends, with babies that just wasn't going to work long term.

Our families "rotate" holidays....We all go to my folks one year and then spouses the next, so we're all on the same schedule. Christmas, we do our best to visit both sides, and sometimes it takes 2 weekends, but family is important to both of us, and we want our kids to be able to spend time with both families for many reasons. That also means that we don't always get to visit all of the extended family gatherings, but we try to do what we can.

Christmas doesn't have to be stressful, doesn't have to be a burden. I know that I get significantly "more" out of the season since I've really understood that its about other people....family, strangers and neighbors I can spend time with or help.

Sometimes, I've wondered if some of the things I do really make a difference, and then I have experiences like last week where someone cries as they're telling you what happened with your anonymous donation through them, for example. I don't enjoy Christmas shopping at all, but I definitely enjoy making my kids smile. Both of those things make me feel better this time of year than receiving a gift ever could.

^^^^^^^^^gets it^^^^^^^^^^^^
sec