Every year, every holiday, I wish. And wish and hope and pray, this will the year you do something for me. You'll surprise me. But every year and every holiday there is just nothing......I stopped wishing or caring many years ago.

When I was nine years old my family, along with ten or so other families whose father's worked with my father, took over a small resort near our home for four days. On the third day my father began looking for my mother. For over an hour he searched, becoming more frantic by the minute, as we were on a large lake and she could not swim. He finally found her, napping in one of the campers. I've often thought that she would have been better off if she had drowned that day, and I know I would have missed out on a lot of stress, holidays ruined by alcohol, and hurt feelings.

I am going to disengage from my MIL and SIL. I don't want to cut them off because of my husband, but I think being polite a few times a year around major holidays is all I have left in me.

Dear MIL: We get it. Knock it the fuck off. "My babies will always be my babies," quoting that creepy Robert Munsch book... she's done this about 15 times on FB today, my feed is flooded. It's really irritating. Your son is rolling his eyes and everyone else thinks you look psycho. (This goes for anyone else going on about Mother's Day obsessively as well. Hallmark holiday, anyone? And no, I don't expect anything on Valentine's Day.)

Dammit, why the fuck do I wait til the very last minute to do something nice for my wife on every damn holiday? And why does everybody and their mother have to be at the mall....everyday?? I think I'll just steal some cute pics of the kids off of her laptop and just buy a nice frame . Bad idea? Help a brother out...

I remember when I was little my mom loved all our homemade gifts. When I hit 12 she said to me "now that you have your own money I want gifts from the store. you can still put in thought but I don't want only homemade gifts anymore" I wasn't hurt, it was funny....thats my mom she knows what she wants and she doesn't mind telling you. Now she gives me her list about a month before any holiday...lol...she was right, I mean I wanted gifts from the store too...except if my dad makes something, then its always better then anything store bought anyways.

I told myself this morning if DH ruined our outing today this was it. I was leaving. He has some kind of outburst at every outing & holiday. He must have read my mind because for the first time he behaved. hmmm...

I don't understand why all these other religions get so much respect, but when it comes to Christians and the holidays associated with them (ex. Easter), they are berated and bad-mouthed all over the place. Why can't Christians have the same amount of respect that is given to everyone else?

I don't do family things for holidays. It's just a bunch of irritation and bother. Staying home with a good book today!

Husband and I got off the family holiday train a long time ago. No commitments, no running around buying food to make the perfect meal, no exchanging gifts, NO BULLSHIT. Husband and I are the happiest we've been in YEARS. I think many here would benefit from doing some critical thinking about why they feel obligated to participate in holidays with family every year and do the same!