No expectations, no disappointments.
Buddha bless you.
Dude, I went to deliver the beers for the family new years eve party earlier on the 31st and my SIL mande up a fight about nothing as soon as I walked in and told me I shouldn't go to the party. I paid for the beer! She kept it all and now my family don't speak to me because "I wasn't at the party". 2024 began with me crying alone at home with no money for pizza because I bought beer for everyone. FML
family schmamily. surrounding yourself with people who care about you because they want to and not because they're family takes time, but in the end you're worth it.
You should try to explain to the family why you weren't there (if they'll listen)
But honestly if they're being so petty of you missing 1 party it might be time to look more deeply at the kind of relationships you have with them
Personally I haven't seen most of my relatives in years due to a great many of them being really shitty people or being complacent when those shittier relatives are being shitty. And it's been pretty nice how much my stress levels have gone down during the holidays.
Family is the relationship, relatives are blood. Just because someone is related to you doesn't mean they're family.
Sartre and Camus would agree.
That's what I've been saying!
Well ok then!
