Don't Fall in the Vicious Circle of your Relatives Manipulative Games

We don't have a schedule. We don't play any sort of "fairness"
game. We don't care where we celebrated the last holiday. Each
holiday is our OWN decision. We might choose to share the holidays
with friends instead of family. We pick where we go or who we
invite to our house because we want to share the day with them, not
because we feel obligated.

I don't care how much crying, pleading and threats of shame I get
from either side of the family. When Athena and I got married, we
started a new family and we are not going to let it be pulled apart
by relatives.

You know, it didn't take long for our parents and grandparents to
realize that we would not be manipulated and controlled. Blissful
relationships aren't easily bullied. They respect our strong
marriage and the decisions we make for our holiday plans. They may
not like our choices, but they do respect them.

No couple should forego wonderful holiday plans just because some
relative will be "mad" if you don't spend it with them. Don't get
me wrong. Spending time with extended family can be important. It is
just not an obligation. Where will you go for the holidays? The
decision really is YOURS.