We had to kick my in-laws out on Christmas Eve.
My husband’s parents live 3 hours away and arrived late at our house on the night before Christmas Eve to stay for a few nights. We had to tell them to leave the next morning.
Pack it all back up and head home.
They were going to be at our house for Christmas morning. It was supposed to be a nice treat to have them enjoy that special time with us.
But it turned out the cold I thought I had was actually Covid, so I had to effectively cancel Christmas. We had to tell my in-laws that they should probably leave so that they could stay healthy for the rest of the holiday season.
Which also meant no hosting Christmas Eve with my extended family. No Christmas dinner with my sisters and parents. No gathering for dessert with the even more extended family.
My being sick was the Bumpuses’ dogs who got into Ralphie’s house and destroyed the turkey in A Christmas Story. A big mess and people were pretty disappointed. Only not as comical.
It’s pretty unfortunate that the best holidays, when you want to be closest to family, occur during the time of year when everyone is most susceptible to getting sick.
Especially when you have kids.
There was the year of Covid ruining things; there was the one with RSV; there was that time with head lice…
There always seems to be something to make things a little extra … let’s say exciting. Keeps you on your toes. Builds character perhaps.
Let’s be honest, we don’t want to have any character building keeping us on our toes during the holidays. We wish for the excitement to be confined to the wonder of the gifts and seeing your loved ones and the magic of Santa.
If your holidays end up keeping you on your toes with illness or lice treatments or illness again, take a moment to be grateful that you have people you love who might potentially get you sick or who you have to kick out of your house.
If the holidays come with family, that means they come with drama and viruses and disappointment when things go awry. But I choose to embrace it. Because, as annoying as it may be to pivot and roll with it when someone is sick again, it’s totally worth it to see the people we love, even just for a moment.
Plus, think of all the character my in-laws built as they packed everything back up and drove home for 3 hours.
If you’re having a hard time pivoting and rolling with the changes that crop up during the holidays (or any time for that matter) a coach can help you find new ways to manage. Send me a message if you are interested in finding out more.
And cheers to whatever excitement this holiday season brings you!