Long weekends, easter break, christmas break, thanksgiving, the list goes on. The issue is my family is really bad, we can't spend 20 minutes together without getting into fights. And yet, they are offended if I don't want to spend the holidays with them. A 4 day weekend would be lovely on my own, but it is miserable when I have to spend it in their presence. 

 

If anyone else has evil parents, how do you deal with situations like this? I can't always lie that I am busy or I'm traveling.

Make up an excuse

No one forces you to spend your holidays with your dysfunctional family. It's your days off from work, use them to regenerate your mind and relax.

I love Christmastime. I love decorating; it puts so much light and color and warmth into a dark and dreary time of year. So many of our decorations have been collected from different family members, and it's nice to feel their presence through them. I love wrapping presents. I spend all month listening to Christmas music because it's so uplifting and nostalgic and like a cure for seasonal depression. 
 

I don't usually enjoy Christmas day much. We don't do big family gatherings anymore and a small holiday is kinda just sad. I'd love to have a full house all day long and it just hasn't been like that since I was a teenager basically. And I think maybe the reason I love Christmastime so much is because it compensates for the actual day generally being underwhelming. 
 

 

I kinda hate Halloween. Who wants a bunch of random kids coming to their door all night? Plus the gays tend to be pretty annoying online with it. 

i did when i was an edgy teen.

hated Christmas because everyone was happy and loud. but then i moved to Japan in my early 20s where it's not an actual holiday, away from my family. it was only then that i realized how much i loved spending time with my loved ones even if they annoyed the sh*t out of me.

 

 

You don't have to do anything, you can set your own terms and boundaries with your family

 

If you think one day with them is enough, go one day. At the end of the day it's their fault for being insufferable, and if they get offended over that that's also their problem

 

I know it feels tough but if you set boundaries with your family they will learn to accept them, there's nothing they can do really

Just lie and make up something to not go visit them?

 

You are sick, already booked a vacation, are going a trip with friends etc LOL

I love all holidays because that means I am off from work

No, I love holidays

 

It's the money earning 🤑 💰 days for me because I'm a veggie seller and people will go to the market a lot these days

I hated it when I was younger because I was forced to go to a family gathering, and I loathed most of them, but now I'm 30, it's been years since I was forced to go to them or anywhere else that I didn't feel like it.

 

Yes Valentines, even my own birthdays 

 

 

you have freewill, like others have said just make up something and not visit them and spend time alone or whoever you would rather spend it with instead, unless you live with them then that's another case

I do love holidays because I don't have to work.

not me

 

i really love the holidays, always looking forward to xmas season

2 hours ago, Cain said:

You don't have to do anything, you can set your own terms and boundaries with your family

I did that the last time I saw them, three weeks ago. It resulted in a huge fight which will make meeting them tonight even more awkward & uncomfortable  I wish I could do just one day, but it will be four. Grandma's birthday. 

I love Christmas and Halloween because it's fun to decorate and wear costumes. 
 

And I love any other holiday where I don't have to work. 

28 minutes ago, PillowCase said:

I did that the last time I saw them, three weeks ago. It resulted in a huge fight which will make meeting them tonight even more awkward & uncomfortable  I wish I could do just one day, but it will be four. Grandma's birthday. 

I am sorry to say it but you seem like a pushover/suckup for them to control easily. That fight was them trying to prevent you from escaping that leash LOL

 

At the beginning it will take some fights but you need to fight it now to have your freedom later. They literally have no choice but to accept. You are not their slave.

 

If I were in your situation I would just stay one day for the birthday and then excuse myself by saying I am meeting friends the next day. End of the story. Let them fume over it, it's not your problem.

1 hour ago, PillowCase said:

I did that the last time I saw them, three weeks ago. It resulted in a huge fight which will make meeting them tonight even more awkward & uncomfortable  I wish I could do just one day, but it will be four. Grandma's birthday. 

And so what? Are they gonna lock you up there? I'm sorry but people not wanting to be around them is the result of their own actions and if it takes a fight to make that happen then so be it

Only cause the work piles up after I get back

 

I used to love them as a kid but now they're depressing when you think of how much has changed, how much you've lost, and how unhappy you are compared to back then. 

For me, it's the contrary. I love holidays, especially the big three being right after the other—Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. My favorite holiday is New Year's Day. I'm just festive, though. I like having a reason to further romanticize life.