I can sympathize with the family Christmas horror stories. Holidays stress me out in general, but family has generally been fairly low key about them until recently. My sister got her feelings all hurt last year because she couldn't make it to the big extended family Christmas celebration, but that is what moving 1000 miles away will do. So, now the family has switched it to a different day so she can make it. Well, I probably can't make it that day because that is when we usually go to DH's family's stuff but that is OK with me. I am very flexible. But, now the rest of the family thinks I should change things. So, I just had to be firm and say sorry we probably won't be able to attend this year.

Then last week DHs mother calls to say they may be doing Christmas at the beach and we are expected to attend. UGH WHAT??? I expected DH to say no way, but this is the biggest guilt trip ever because his mother is very ill with liver cancer right now. So, we might end up giving in, because "what if its the last Christmas?" I told DH there would be no last Christmas next year if there is some crazy scheme then. Christmas = DHs family drunken mess. Beach = DHs family drunken mess. This already sounds like a disaster in the making. I am really hoping they don't go through with the planning, which is quite possibly likely.