Miserable Family Festivities
Because I have step-family, Christmas used to be, visit my dad’s family Christmas eve, then open presents with him Christmas morning, head to my mom’s to open presents there, go to my stepdad’s family (stepmom’s family intentionally celebrated once we went to my mom’s house), and then end the evening at my mom’s family’s party.
Well, my stepdad’s family was always a miserable experience, we were never really accepted by the other children our age, so I would have to cling on to my stepsiblings, but they also wanted the time to see their cousins etc.
The uncles and aunts really did not know who we are, so eventually, my siblings and I would beg my mom to just let us stay home, but she wouldn’t hear of it.
When the family opened presents, it meant sitting around while everyone else received multiple gifts, and we’d get maybe one gift from my step-grandmother. Back to the main story, we are at the opening of presents, all of the cousins received nice toys, clothes, etc., whereas my siblings and I opened up socks.
Now I know lots of people love socks for gifts now, but 11 year old me could tell that it was a sign that we truly were not accepted into the family. Fortunately, it also was a sign my mom could no longer ignore, so we were never forced to attend after that.
The frustrating thing, my stepsiblings on both sides were treated much better by my families, given equal gifts, and being included in all of the festivities. Story credit: Reddit/stpaulifan