I believe every mother looks forward to having her family home for the holidays when they are grown and have their own families.
Mothers also love having special meals in their homes, inviting their parents.
What if your children-in-law also have parents near you? How do you work that out?
This one is a new one for me. While we were raising our kids, each of our parents was in two different states for the longest time. Planning a visit was challenging.
I know for us, they have the holiday meal at her folks’ house and then another one with us the Sunday following, and vice versa.
More often, we have our special meals at their place now rather than ours so our grandson can have more fun there. We get more time with them before he gets ready for bed.
I have heard stories of negative happenings during family gatherings, including in my family. It’s no fun and can leave anger, hurt, and other feelings. Then, it makes it awkward during future get-togethers.
What really matters is that families get together and make memories. Hopefully good memories.
We have one son in Texas, and coming during Christmas is very difficult with the currier business he works for, so we celebrate great times when we can. One Christmas, or before Christmas, we traveled there.
We have another son who lives in Arizona at the airport, so there is another situation where his visiting for Christmas is a challenge. We have yet to travel to his place. We have often been to Arizona, but not since he moved there.
Another son, his wife, and their son live entirely locally, so we see them often; it’s beautiful. I know I would have difficulty if our grandson weren’t local.
Our daughter also lives locally, so we see her often as well.
My parents and all of my siblings live locally, and we get together for our parent’s birthdays and anniversaries. Christmas and Thanksgiving is a challenge. They each have their own families and their own traditions.
My husband’s parents are gone; one brother and his family live locally, and the other three live in Idaho and not too far away.
Don’t overthink the holidays. Family, that’s what it is all about. Could you get together when and where you can?
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