I help my parents with their business, which operates in two different locations. These are both places I would genuinely enjoy spending time at, but historically I’ve never been able to because something always comes up that requires me to rush back.
This year, I needed to come out here to handle an issue just before Christmas, and I brought the kids with me. I invited my in-laws to join us because my husband is very attached to being with his mom at Christmas. She chose not to come, which is of course her choice.
For context, my own family lives 2,000 miles away, and I have never asked to spend Christmas away from my in-laws before. Every year, we do the same routine, and while I’ve always gone along with it politely, this year I felt ready for something different. I wanted a Christmas that felt special and memorable for the kids, rather than repeating the same gathering we already have every Sunday.
On top of that, we are all currently dealing with an upper respiratory infection, which makes traveling back quickly and gathering indoors feel like a poor idea.
Given all of this, I’m struggling with whether it would be unreasonable to say that we won’t be coming back this year and instead staying here to rest and spend the holiday together as a family.
NTA
Please keep your cough at home and send love and well wishes instead.