For some people, it’s the happiest time of the year. For others, it’s beyond the worst. Christmas isn’t always a merry time, especially when you add in disgruntled family members, bizarre ideas of what a good gift means, and nasty dinner table conversation. Get ready for some Grinching.
1. Perfectionism At Its Worst
My hubby and I had planned a Christmas visit to my folks' place, which is a couple of hours away. We had booked a hotel to stay for a night, and I had sorted out the dates with my parents. The plan was to reach there on the 22nd and head back home the next day.
Seems they slipped up and forgot. They have had quite a few distractions. My dad recently underwent surgery, we've had some family complications, and usually, my husband and I visit them post-Christmas, and so on. In a typical scenario, any family would be like, no biggie, breeze on in, we'll wing it. But that's not the route this went down.
I suspect my mom might be dealing with some sort of anxiety disorder, undiagnosed. She's a big planner and last-minute changes really throw her for a loop. The idea of a speedy tidy-up of the living room, quickly thawing some chicken, and carrying on with the visit was a no-go for her. Bummer.
The upshot is, that they told us to skip the visit altogether. They were very apologetic and even offered to offset the cost of the hotel booking that we couldn't bail on. But the crux of the matter remained...they advised me not to visit. Sure, slip-ups happen, right? This lingering disappointment had been brewing for a couple of days. And when I picked up the phone to wish them a Merry Christmas today, it hit me that I was indeed, quite hurt.
I feel a tad abandoned. They OVERLOOKED me. When faced with the decision to either hang out with me or not, they chose the latter. Perhaps in light of my mom's struggles, they couldn't have chosen differently. On the flip side, I too am not spoilt for choice. I can't flip on a switch and alter my feelings. I am hurt.
Honestly? I appreciate my husband and his family. I just wish things were a little smoother on my side of the family tree.
2 The Bearer Of Bad News
When I got back home for Christmas, it really put a damper on my parents' mood. My dad was reading a news story about a car crash, and noted how many youngsters these days are getting into serious accidents.
Being a retired high school sports coach, my dad has known many young athletes. Casually, I told him about one of them, a former student, who tragically passed in an accident just a month ago. I thought my dad was already aware, but it turned out, he was oblivious to it. The young man was just 24.
3. Mother Doesn’t Know Best
My mom kicked up a fuss on Christmas, leaving us all quite upset. Why, you ask? Since my sisters didn't stay awake till midnight on Christmas Eve to ring in the festivities a bit early, she was upset. Her reaction left us all completely dumbfounded. Instead of joining us for breakfast and exchanging gifts in the morning, she chose to skip it all. Instead, she spent the entire morning sending us messages claiming that nobody cares or has any love for her. Dealing with such emotional manipulation sure is a joy!
4. If Only We Could Choose Our Family
I've given my dad numerous chances and forgiven him repeatedly. Eventually, I decided it was best for my sanity to distance myself from him, something my twin sister knows well. We were raised by our grandparents because he didn't want the responsibility of raising us.
He would occasionally drop by and we would occasionally stay with him. When our grandparents passed away too soon, he didn't provide the support we needed. As a result, my sister and I were separated at the age of 12.
As we got older, he tried to rebuild our relationship, and I was willing to put the past behind us. However, he would repeatedly guilt me for being raised by my grandparents and insult our largely absent mother. Yet, he didn't seem to think these rules applied to him.
He would accuse me of being brainwashed because I didn't buy into his conspiracy theories. He's incredibly manipulative. But the final straw came after—it was when he sent me a passive-aggressive text saying, "Well I wish you the best in life". He had done this before and it was his way of pushing me away. After the third time this happened, I'd had enough.
His audacity to repeatedly threaten to abandon me, after all I'd forgiven, was too much. I couldn't take the turmoil his presence caused in my life, so I blocked him. Fast forward to this past Christmas. I traveled two hours to visit my sister.
I brought her and her husband's favorite Chinese food and gifts. To my surprise, she revealed our dad was there, despite knowing we haven't been on good terms. She didn't even give me a warning.
So, I handed over the food and gifts, and returned home, spending most of the drive in tears. She only maintains a relationship with him because she needs his financial help, despite him being just as disrespectful and manipulative with her. She just can't find the strength to cut him off.
5. Pulling Double Duty
My sister-in-law blew up today when she saw our mac and cheese dish. Turns out, she'd pulled an all-nighter making the same thing, and our dish felt like an attack to her. We countered that her reaction was uncalled for and this made her even angrier—especially since her kids were listening. We ended up making an early exit.
And we didn't even take our food back. Her temper's always been a problem, but this episode was simply the last drop in the bucket.
6. Thanks, Grandma
My grandmother, unaware of my dog's severe health conditions, gave him five Christmas cookies. Thankfully, he's managed to pull through. However, the aftermath was quite a sight. The poor guy accidentally made a mess of the house—both pooping and throwing up everywhere. Plus, we ended up with a pretty large bill after having to take him to the vet for a check-up.
7. The Black Sheep Of The Family
My family accused me of being self-centered because I had a migraine that allegedly 'spoiled the celebrations'. Then, I received socks, underwear, a few pillows, and some miscellaneous chocolate items that my mom and sister chipped in together to buy, citing financial constraints. Meanwhile, I watched my sister unwrap Bluetooth headphones, a speaker, and an additional clip-on speaker, the entirety of which my mom purchased on her own.
What really sealed the day, though, was my migraine. It sure knows how to wreck a day.
8. One Messed-Up Christmas
Our Christmas turned out to be really chaotic. We planned to have dinner at my aunt's place and drove in separate cars. As most of us were already inside, my mom parked across the street and was about to cross towards us.
Suddenly, a reckless driver nearly runs over her. She loses her cool, shouts at him, and gives his car a kick. What followed was quite dreadful. He stops, runs after her, and pushes her down.
At 75, my mom is on blood thinners. So, even a minor wound on her head was bleeding severely. My dad and wife witnessed this, and immediately rushed out to confront the man. My dad was in front of the man's car, yelling and trying to note his number plate.
The man quickly gets back in his car and accelerates. My dad ends up rolling over the hood and falls on the ground as the man races away. He is also in his 70s, but luckily, he wasn't seriously injured. Several paramedics and sheriffs arrived later.
My mom needed some staples on her head, but overall, everyone was okay. The worst part though? They never caught the guy. Luckily, we didn't let this incident spoil our Christmas. My mom made it home just in time for a splendid dinner.
I was pretty shaken up for a while. I saw my dad getting hit and thrown into the air, but parked cars hid the aftermath from my view. There was a moment where I thought I had just seen my father lose his life while standing with my two-year-old. Thankfully, he's fine.
The incident occurred across from a renowned surf spot. This area is filled with surf cameras, so the police already have footage of the assailant's vehicle.
9. Merry Christmas, Let’s Break Up
Many years back, I embarked on an extensive journey with my soon-to-be wife and her two children. The younger one had started calling me dad as she had no memory of her biological father. We went to visit my grandparents and my parents, staying with them for two nights.
After my parents left, we drove to her parents' house. That's when everything took a drastic turn for the worse. Suddenly, her demeanor shifted dramatically. She alternated between snapping at me and maintaining an icy silence. After enduring two days of this, I confronted her to find out what was going on.
That's when she dropped the bombshell: She no longer loved me and wanted to end our relationship. The following day, we endured a silent 12-hour drive back to her place, despite my attempts to initiate conversation. When we arrived, her cold-shoulder treatment continued. Feeling unwanted and left with no other choice, I retreated to another room and booked a trip back to my parents' house.
The rest of my holiday was spent nursing my emotional scars and harboring resentment towards the world.
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10. Your House, My Rules
My mom's temper can be a real party pooper. Just the other day, we were planning next Christmas while celebrating this year's. My mom surprised us by announcing that my girlfriend and I wouldn't be allowed to share a room. I found that kind of odd considering I'm already in my late 20s, and neither of my parents was particularly religious while I was growing up.
Things took a nosedive from there, and my mom ended up yelling at me, saying I was what's wrong with the world and blaming me for people's lack of faith in God. After the outburst, she started packing to leave early. Although my dad managed to convince her to stay, the rest of the visit was messed up by her obstinate silent treatment for what was essentially a non-issue.
Scratch the surface, and there's a new wrinkle: she wants to extend her "no sharing a room" rule to next year's Christmas, which will be held at MY place. Meaning, she doesn't even want us sleeping together under my own roof.
11. Dine And Dash
In my family, there's this terrible trend where we eat and dash home. This is what we do almost every holiday, and it's been like this for as long as I can recall. This Christmas, I pleaded with them to break tradition because it makes me feel more like a short order cook. Thankfully, they were on board.
However, my husband and I slaved away in the kitchen all day, only for them to arrive, gobble down the food, and bolt within 60 minutes. It's really disappointing.
12. The Sound Of Silence
It's Christmas, and there's this strange, low humming sound that's permeating my home. The source seems to be outside our possessions. This can be attributed to our terraced house setup, as noises from any corner can easily carry through the entire row.
The sound is reminiscent of a fan working. It even strikes an E-note! But here's the kicker—I am the only one who seems to hear it within my house. When I plug my ears, the noise disappears, affirming that it's not a figment of my imagination. Sadly, we don't have earplugs at hand right now. And yes, the thought of this being a permanent sound is unsettling.
Let's trace back. This hum kicked off at noon on Christmas Day. My home, a build from the 1950s, comprises brick and cinder block on a minimal clay foundation. Our inside walls are cinder block, the lower floors made of cement and the upper ones from wood laid on heavy joists.
In the UK, HVAC systems in traditional, individual dwellings are uncommon. Given it's December, we definitely aren't running any air conditioners. While bathroom fans are ordinary, they wouldn't make this continuous hum, nor would they be unnoticeable outdoors.
To tackle stuffiness or smells, we resort to opening a window. Our boiler and the hot water circulating system aren't active overnight, and are hardly noticeable when running. We have two CO monitors, neither of which show deviant readings.
Our last maintenance checks for the boiler and gas intake occurred about eight months back. It's not an electrical issue nor a problem that originates within our house. However, due the terrace design, sounds from the loft or top floors of 5-8 units could be causing this. Our nightmare was far from over.
While the noise is constant, like a fridge compressor, it's definitely a different sound—deeper, louder. It isn't traffic; the closest main roads bear no resemblance to a US highway, and they're only perceptible when quiet.
Our windows and exterior doors are all recent installations. I do suffer from tinnitus, but this sound is a low hum. Plugging my ears actually gave me respite from it at 3 am. Although, a sound-detection app assures me this noise isn't a figment of my imagination. It is real, but what on earth is it?
13. The Invisible Child
I returned from military service eagerly awaiting a warm reunion with my family, only to face a pang of disappointment. It felt as if they had overlooked me. It's not that I was expecting gifts, nor did I particularly desire them. Yet, the absence of even a heartfelt card stung, especially as I sat there for an hour, witnessing them exchange gifts amongst themselves. I had carefully picked out presents for each one of them too. It was simply disheartening.
14. Christmas Fighting For Her Life
My 28-year-old partner suddenly fell seriously ill on Christmas and is now in the ICU on a ventilator and dialysis, placed in a medically induced coma. She's battling not one, but two types of malaria, a rare occurrence. Her brave fight masked the severity of her condition until it reached an advanced stage.
There are encouraging signs though. Her lungs are holding on strongly, needing very little respiratory assistance. Her heart too continues to beat stalwartly. Preliminary indicators suggest that the ongoing treatments are effectively reducing the infection and inflammation. But let's be honest, she's very sick. She's truly fighting for her life.
At present, we're in the UK. Her family has flown in from the US, which is incredibly heartwarming. Such a robust bond exists between our families and this gathering has been a long time coming. Just a few months ago, we had begun calling Ghana home after I secured a job with UNICEF.
I highly doubt we'll be returning anytime soon. I might even have to relinquish my position unless a remote working arrangement can be worked out. We've already paid for a year's worth of housing. We've even purchased a car that's still with a Ghanaian mechanic.
It's quite disappointing because we were ecstatic about the life we'd begun to build and the planned travels around Ghana. But all that pales in comparison to her recovery; all I want is for her to pull through. The separation is profoundly painful, and it's fair to say Christmas didn't exactly exist for us this year.
My mom fixed a splendid Christmas feast, and even my grandma joined in on the somewhat low-key festivities. We managed to share a few smiles before tears overtook the joy. Gift exchanging didn't feature on the day's agenda. Come to think of it, I didn't even wrap my gift.
The sound of Christmas carols was sorely absent. The family reunion couldn't mask the concern weighing heavily on all of us. We remain ever anxious and are doing everything we can to stay strong for her.
15. A Lonely Christmas
I'm employed at the fire station, and it just so happened that my team was on duty for Christmas this year. We planned to have a family feast right there at the station, welcoming all crew members and their loved ones for a grand holiday meal. This Christmas was a special one since it was my son's very first. I wasn't fortunate enough to get the day off, yet the thought of my wife bringing him over to the station for dinner was comforting. Sadly, things didn't go as planned.
My wife had dressed up, as had our little one, but then she misplaced her car keys. She spent roughly three hours trying to locate them, to no avail. There she was, recently having lost her father, stuck at home with our one-year-old son, unable to venture out, and with no familiar faces in our new town.
On the other hand, I found myself stuck at the fire station, helpless to do anything about our predicament. I watched as my colleagues arrived with their children and families, and it hit me hard. All I wished for was to be sharing this day with my family too...
16. Putting The “Ex” In X-Mas
My wife, to whom I've been married for seven years, took off with my car last Christmas. But the story behind it? Even more absurd. She wanted to take a trip with some other man. I was completely clueless…until she sent me a breakup text, that is. She didn't stop there, though. She unceremoniously discarded my mother's wedding ring and later became pregnant. Truly a gem of a person, indeed.
17. Me-Ow
So, our family cat pretty much spoiled our Christmas celebration, but, actually, we were the ones who disappointed her. You see, my sister and I bought a TV for our parents as a Christmas present. The enormous gift got them wondering what might be inside, and I had to swiftly divert their attention away.
In the spur of the moment, I blurted out that it was a kitty play tower that needed to be put together. This plan turned on me spectacularly. Seriously, I wouldn't blame you if this sounds bananas, but I'm convinced the cat picked up what I said. She then looked on curiously as mom and dad unveiled their present, expressing her dismay with a solemn meow upon realizing it wasn't a feline playhouse.
She sulked as she observed us installing the TV and was clearly having a rough day.
18. A Dog-Eat-Dog World
My sister's adopted pup launched at my English Setter inside my own home. I was not thrilled, but I did understand—they're both dogs, and sometimes these things just occur. The problem was, she refused to put her dog in a separate room, claiming it was all just playful behavior.
As I stood my ground with the "my home, my rules" principle, her dog attempted to attack mine once more. This essentially put an end to our evening. My sister ended up in tears and decided to leave. I let her know that she didn't have to go, but she couldn’t let her dog freely wander around my house any longer. Plus, he was no longer invited back.
She struggled to comprehend that I couldn't risk my dog feeling threatened in his own space and that due to her dog's aggressive tendencies, there was a risk that one of us could get bitten.
19. Daddy Issues
Last Christmas was undoubtedly one I'd rather forget. My parents had been going through a separation and eventual divorce. My little sister and I celebrated the holiday with my dad, his girlfriend, and her relatives—and truthfully, it wasn't very merry.
We had to endure the day on an empty stomach, since my dad advised us not to eat too much to leave room for the Christmas feast. You can imagine how agonizing it was to watch them prepare the meal right in front of us.
To add to our discomfort, we hardly knew my dad's girlfriend's family. They'd only been dating for a year, so we just didn't have that familiar bond. It was awkward, to say the least.
Most of the day, it felt as if my little sister and I were invisible. There we were, perched on the couch, while my dad, his girlfriend, and her family mingled and laughed. They did give us some crackers and jam to stave off hunger, but that was it. My dad, the one family member we should've felt connected with, didn't really spend time with us.
All things considered, it was indeed the most challenging Christmas of my life.
20. In-Law Trouble
This morning, following a fun session of unwrapping presents with my family, we paid a visit to my wife's parents' home. As I helped my mother-in-law prepare the festive meals, the time came for us to head on down the hill to grandma's house, and that's when I was struck with an unexpected feeling. Everyone was just starting to congregate at Grandma's, and I realized, I just didn't want to go.
I confess, Christmas is not my favorite holiday. I'm not a religious person. But there was more to my frustration than just that. The disappointment really set in as I reminisced about the gift exchange from the morning. I watched my wife receive gift cards totalling up to around $700, whereas I received...well, nothing. It kind of sucked the joy out of the day for me.
So, I chose to return home. My wife wasn't very pleased about it. At this point though, I'm kind of numb to it all.
21. The Bar Was Low, But He Managed To Fail Anyway
Despite being seven months pregnant, I single-handedly organized all the Christmas festivities. I took care of filling all the stockings, purchasing and beautifully wrapping each gift, and cooking not one, not two, but three festive meals.
Sadly though, my husband didn't get me any present. Not even a small treat or a simple card. I had filled his stocking with all of his favorite goodies. And there I was, just observing as my family happily unwrapped their gifts. I got absolutely nothing. His obliviousness shone through when he later asked me, "Don't you have anything to unwrap?"
A few months ago, I had deemed this situation possible. So, I had bought myself a coffee cup for him to gift me. Yes, the wrapping bag, and tissue too were bought by myself—all for him to conveniently place under the tree. But guess what? He misplaced the cup.
On asking about it after dinner, all he had to say was he had no idea where it was. And that was it. A rather, umm, unique Christmas for me maybe? Merry Christmas, as they say.
22. Turning It Around
Recently, my folks and I needed a break. The past few years have dealt us some tough blows—between mourning my grandmother's loss, enduring three surgeries, and my health hitting rock bottom, we yearned for some respite. That's how we found ourselves embarking on a vacation that, unfortunately, got off to a horrific start with a nightmare of a hotel.
The place we'd originally picked was a complete letdown. Dreary and damp rooms, not a speck of clean, and the lack of food at their restaurant was the final straw. And if that wasn't bad enough, construction noise invaded our room day in and day out as work was happening on our floor.
To our frustration, every other hotel was fully booked for the Christmas season. However, we refused to settle, and eventually, we found an alternate hotel in the neighboring city. Sure, it cost a bit more, but the comfort and quality we've received is well worth the extra bucks.
We're in a plush suite with a stunning view of the rolling hills from our private balcony. The meals are deliciously fulfilling. Plus, we've managed to do a bit of sightseeing, including a calm lake close-by, and even attended a lovely Christmas morning mass at a local church. Now, despite the rough start, our vacation has taken a promising turn.
23. Family Secret
I almost had a disastrous Christmas when I unexpectedly discovered my mom was intending to reveal her pregnancy with her new boyfriend—a prospect I find deeply unsettling.
My reservations stem from an incident a month back when, around midnight, I got a frantic call from my little sister, reduced to tears and unable to utter a word. It soon came out that a severe disagreement had kicked off between my mom and her boyfriend. My brother, in an attempt to intervene, got roped into a violent confrontation with the man.
The whole episode culminated in my brother reporting the situation to the police just as I pulled up in the driveway. The authorities promptly whisked him off to jail. I was aware of the fact that mom had been penning letters to him during his incarceration, hinting at reconciliation plans.
What caught me off guard, though, was the pregnancy. Though she hadn't looped me in on her secret, our cousin had been informed and subsequently clued me in.
24. The Hero Dad We Need, Not The One We Want
Christmas really opened my eyes to the fact that my child has some spoiled tendencies. He was grumbling about each and every gift he unwrapped, right there on the spot. Despite giving him several chances to rein in his reactions, he just couldn't manage it. Yet, I had just the solution. I helped him gather all his gifts, and we took them over to our local Toys for Tots drop-off.
Not only did we bring them there, but I had him carry the bag in himself. Perhaps it seems harsh, but when someone gives a gift, it deserves gratitude—not complaints. Especially when there are children who have nothing at all. Not parents. Not clean clothes. Not even a warm home. And here he was, griping over not having the "correct" Transformer toy.
I much prefer the thought of his gifts going to kids who will truly value them. I hope it's a lesson that will stick with him.
25. Don’t Stay Together For The Kid
During Christmas, my husband discovered the money I'd stashed away to potentially leave him. This incident occurred only after he'd had a outburst because I didn't immediately wipe our son's face, and I'd pleaded with him to avoid spoiling the special day with his usual behavior.
Stumbling upon the money lead to a dispute; he accused me of planning to separate him from his son—our son, whom he barely spends an hour with each day. Despite both of us working from home, he mostly sleeps throughout the day and pays little attention to our son when he is awake.
In his anger, he tossed away the watch I'd gifted him against the wall, belittling it as worthless junk. But it wasn't inexpensive. It broke from the impact, but I fixed it back and plan to pawn it later to recoup some of what I spent.
Aside from contributing to the majority of our rent, he does nothing. All the other expenses, including our child's clothing, toys and other needs, are taken care of by me. I'm the one who manages the house chores, wakes up at 5 am every day to look after our son, and essentially handles everything.
Yet, he dares to behave this way on Christmas day? He's got another think coming. I won't be tolerating his actions much longer.
26. Bad Boy
My pooch had a bit of a tummy issue and relieved himself in my girlfriend's folks' home at the crack of dawn on Christmas day. Together, my girlfriend and I tried our best to tidy up without causing a ruckus and disturbing her parents. Our efforts, however, crashed and burned. They woke up nonetheless, and the little troublemaker hit us again, leaving messes in four other spots while we were still dealing with the first.
Moving on, my faithful pupper accidentally toppled the Christmas tree. It hasn't been the most peaceful day.
27. Playing Favorites
During this Christmas, my kids let me know they didn't appreciate my presents. That wasn't all; they confessed they were mortified of me and couldn't wait to depart to their father's place. I'm scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday and will not get to see them for a duration of three weeks. Understanding that they're just youthful, yet it still shattered my heart.
I purchased all items from their carefully composed Amazon wish lists for them. Nonetheless, their dad gave them a heads up that their grandma on their father's side had bought them an Oculus Rift and AirPods.
Usually, my kids are pretty fantastic and my ex-husband and I co-parent pretty amicably alongside my current husband. I don't believe there was an intention of meanness on his part when he revealed the upscale gifts, but it was a poor judgement call to do so. It essentially dealt a heavy blow to me.
28. The Last Straw
I did all the Christmas gift wrapping for my husband and our son this year. It was quite a task, especially with the number of wrestling figures the little one got. I was the sole wrapper because my husband insists he's terrible at it. Besides that, I sorted out the kitchen just the day prior.
Among my chores were scrubbing dishes not once, but twice. I also prepared a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner, not to mention handling all the after-dinner cleanup. I merely asked my husband to vacuum (having done all the rest), and not surprisingly, got grief all night (plus, he did a pretty poor job at it).
Fast forward to today, Christmas Day. I cooked up our traditional large breakfast feast. In between, I managed to wash the "big dishes" so it wouldn't pile up. I requested him to do his part, to take care of the dishes. His response was super irritating: "Let me enjoy my gifts for a bit". Alright, then.
Hours later, we left the house for dinner, leaving behind a sink full of dishes. We got back home relatively early but the dishes were still unwashed. His refusal to do the dishes, claiming he needed to relax because he has work tomorrow, infuriated me. This is especially vexing since he's been off work the entire previous week.
Looks like we're due for a serious talk tomorrow.
29. When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go
On Christmas Eve, my significant other's mom was busy running chores and wasn't up for cooking dinner. She suggested we all just order pizza from a nearby restaurant, instead of each of us preparing our own meals. We happily agreed and all seemed well, until... it just wasn't.
Come Christmas Day: My partner's mother seems fine, but my partner himself has been making frequent bathroom trips all day. We brushed it off with humor initially, but by mid-day, I too was struck with a turbulent tummy and had to rush to the restroom.
We didn't let this unfortunate incident spoil our Christmas day, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. There was no way of casually walking to the toilet, it was a race against time.
30. Hospitals Are Never Fun
About a month ago, my father was hospitalized, and we somewhat came to terms with the idea that he wouldn't be around for Christmas. But just last Thursday, he was finally moved to an in-patient rehab, which is quite homely and also not far from our house.
We paid him a visit again today, on Christmas. Even though we couldn't exactly bring the holiday spirit to him, we certainly tried our best. After getting back home, we received a call from a nurse within two hours. She told us that dad experienced "difficulty breathing" and the doctor suggested it was best for him to return to the hospital.
Ever since they took him back, I’ve been reaching out to the emergency room around every hour. After about five attempts, somebody finally responded, just to tell me to call back in an hour once they confirm that they can share information with me.
However, I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone since then. So, I’ve decided to go over to the ER tomorrow, show them my power of attorney, and find out exactly what's going on with dad. What a way to end Christmas!
31. The Missing Grandpa
My grandpa is quite set in his ways and can come across a little stubborn at times. He's 63, living with Parkinson's disease, suffering from cataracts in both his eyes, and dealing with poor leg health. Yet with all this, he baffled us when he casually left the cinema on a family outing on Christmas Day as if nothing was out of place.
He even had the nerve to imply we were overreacting when we got home, extremely worried and upset about his disappearance. This wasn't a laughing matter at all—he ditched the film halfway through, had a smoke outside, and then sauntered back home without even letting anyone of us know. But that's not the end of the story.
He's got this odd stance on refusing to carry a mobile phone because he thinks it’s like being tied down. Thus, we weren't able to get in touch with him or figure out his whereabouts. In a frantic state, we enlisted the help of the movie theatre attendants and were just about to bring the local police into the mix and report him missing when we received a call from home. Turned out, he was comfortably chilling at the house all this while.
32. Plain Bad Luck
I was supposed to catch my flight back home on Christmas Eve, right in the middle of the day. However, the notorious equipment troubles led to one delay after the other until it became night. By that time, the flight staff had completed their maximum workable hours, and so they had to cancel the flight. That was bad enough—but my night got even worse.
Spending the night at the airport was my only option, waiting for the next day's flight. I have this health issue, you see, which makes it extremely uncomfortable for me to stand for prolonged periods. Yet, I found myself standing in a queue for more than an hour just to get a new ticket. When I finally flew home on Christmas day, I was worn out and hurting all over.
33. Oh, Brother
During Christmas, my mom and brother found themselves arguing over the final pour of red wine. My mom spent the entire day slaving over the stove, while my brother kept himself busy with games. He was told off by many at the party, sparking a meltdown fit for a toddler in a 35-year-old's body. I, along with several others, were on the verge of intervening. But my mom, being the magnanimous person she is, decided to end the argument, claiming she wasn't willing to let this incident spoil our holiday cheer. I really sympathize with her for having to handle such situations.
34. Oopsie Daisie
My mom had a minor fall on the icy walkway this morning when she was headed over to my house for a day filled with breakfast and exchanging presents. Though she initially waved off any concerns, a few hours later she was struggling to walk.
It turns out that she's fractured her foot and might need surgery. Plus, there's another twist to the tale. Tomorrow's my birthday, so it seems like our plans have now shifted to celebrating in their hotel room.
I wouldn't say my Christmas was spoiled, but it's saddening to know that my parents' day didn't go as cheerfully as expected. With my 30th birthday looming, I already had mixed emotions. Now, all this additional drama just adds more to the pile. I'm however relieved that I was with her during the incident to cushion her fall and prevent her head from sharply hitting the solid concrete.
35. Not The Most Magical Day
I've been secretly organizing a surprise Disney trip for my children since March this year. I eagerly arranged their luggage and couldn't wait to break the news to them. Their reaction though? "I'm off to color". And then, my wife presented me with gifts which I felt were quite lazy and lacked consideration.
Usually, I'm someone who'd rather receive nothing, and in truth, it would have felt better if I had received nothing instead of these. The lack of personal touch was disappointing. And still, I'm the one perceived as a jerk.
36. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying
A couple of months ago, my life changed for the worse—I lost my beloved dog, Woody, who'd been with me for 15 years. This Christmas was my first one without him and I couldn't help but miss him loads. He had a soft spot for Christmas. Woody was a good sport about wearing funny Christmas costumes, and he was quite the pro at unwrapping gifts.
37. A Snap Decision
I had to cut short our Christmas meal at my folks' place because my aunt and uncle turned up with their pesky, noisy dogs, one of which was aggressive towards my toddler. Their dogs are known troublemakers.
A few weeks back, I'd asked whether these dogs would be present, with the reply being no. However, as it happened, my mother hadn't really double-checked and my aunt and uncle took it upon themselves to decide they'd be welcome. If I'd been aware of this, we would have simply stayed put at home and made merry on our own.
The main reason I even considered going was my dad's severe health condition, and the uncertainty of how many Christmases we'll get to spend with him.
38. Sister Acting Up
My big sis is 25 and currently waiting for her first baby. Naturally, her mood swings are all over the place because of the pregnancy. But that's only part of the issue. The bigger problem is she's bossy by nature, always dictating what I should or shouldn't do. This happens even when our mom is around and doesn't see anything wrong with what I'm doing.
I was really patient with her all day, as it's Christmas and the only day I've had off since we've been home for the holidays. About an hour ago, I was messing around with her dog. Even though the pup and I have a great four-year bond, she couldn't stop telling me how to play with him.
I had enough and walked out, branding her as impossible to deal with. Her response shocked me. She's now decided to return home, an hour away, much earlier than planned. Mom worries she won't see the grandbaby often and hints that I'm to blame.
I’m downright fed up with having to continuously tread lightly around her. This situation existed even before her pregnancy and I’m totally done with it. If my sister chooses to use her baby as leverage to get her own way, she will have to face the music alone.
39. This Is Not A Game
My in-laws' house was my destination for Christmas. The experience would have been pleasant enough, if not for my toddler’s persistent fascination with the Christmas tree. He was desperate to play amidst this festive flora and I spent most of the event painstakingly preventing him from dismantling the ornaments. The situation then grew increasingly frustrating.
The root cause was my son's great-grandmother. Her ability to communicate effectively with children was evidently lacking. My son had received some shiny new toy trucks as gifts and was thoroughly engrossed in playing with them. However, she insisted on teasing him by pretending to snatch his new possessions, which predictably upset him. Great idea, right?
My son, who was already disappointed about being denied access to the Christmas tree, found his new amusement source under threat as well. This lady was making him worry about losing his toys. At one point, she even went so far as to physically remove a truck from his grasp, which unsurprisingly resulted in tears. My patience was wearing thin.
In the aftermath, she couldn't comprehend why he refused to interact with her. I had to point out the obvious, saying, "Now he’s scared that you'll steal his toys away."
40. A Family Affair
It's clear my dad's been showering his girlfriend with lavish presents, from a Moncler coat to another diamond ring—the list just goes on. But here's the what gets on my nerves—when it comes to my sister and me, it seems like he doesn't bother much. It's a little hard realizing he's more interested in pampering his model girlfriend rather than his own two daughters.
41. One Moment Can Ruin Everything
On Christmas morning, around 10 am, this guy backed his car right into my living room downstairs. After that, he didn't stop and then crashed into my next-door neighbor's kitchen as well. It wasn't long before the authorities got hold of him, and the fire department showed up to assess my house's structural stability.
Due to these circumstances, we had to vacate our home temporarily. We now have to deal with insurance procedures and seek construction professionals. However, since everything's shut down at the moment, it's unsurprisingly quite a hassle.
42. Uh-Oh
So far, there have been no mishaps with my Christmas. However, my husband did mention, "I hope you don't buy me a coat for Christmas" and guess what? That's precisely what I got for him...
43. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
During Christmas, my mother unexpectedly mentioned the journal I used to write in during my teenage years. The entries in that diary detailed a deeply troubling period of my life that should have remained private. Back then, I was in a very dark place and seriously considered ending my own life. What hurt the most was her discussing it in a room full of people.
I've been stuck in my room for the last two hours, crying and wrestling with a whirlwind of emotions. Even though I'm 25 now, it's as if those old feelings I thought I had left far behind have suddenly resurfaced, and I'm not sure how to cope.
44. A No Good, Terrible, Very Bad Day
Both of my parents have sadly passed away. I'm just 41 years old and my last parent departed just a few years ago. My partner doesn't really embrace Christmas or show any interest in it. He too lost his grandmother, who raised him, like a mother, a few years back. We're now living in a different location without any nearby friends or family.
I don't have any children due to being widowed twice—and this has made things super complicated. My partner also doesn't have any children. My sole remaining family member is my sister who lives two states away. My one Christmas gift, which was from her, unfortunately fell victim to porch thieves.
I tried to cheer myself up by ordering some Chinese food. But, to my unfortunate surprise, my order was canceled just minutes before it was due to arrive.
45. Going It Alone
This was my first Christmas apart from my family. I had the chance to spend a bit of time with my children, folks, and siblings. But it got tough when my little ones started getting restless, asking me to take them home. I couldn't hold back my tears then. After I dropped them safely with their mother, I spent the following hour and a half just letting the tears out.
I was genuinely taken aback by the depth of sadness that overcame me today.
46. The Chosen One
So, someone bet me to smash a gingerbread house using my head. Everyone thought I wouldn't go through with it. To their surprise, I took the dare and, going all-out, I whacked my head against the corner of the house, which was so hardened it left a cut on my forehead. My mom was in the background shouting about getting stitches, but I was too scared to get them done.
In the midst of all of this chaos, my dad was busy taking a video of the whole event, while my grandma let out a shriek. And now, I'm wandering around looking like a less cool version of Harry Potter.
47. Dump The Whole Woman
My girlfriend criticized me for leaving work half a day early on Christmas Eve to spend time with my family. I woke up to her sarcastic remarks implying how "great" it must be for me to be able to sleep in a little, before she told me to "go back to mommy". She said all this for no apparent reason while I was still in bed. It's clear that this has cast a bit of a shadow over the holiday season.
48. Meet The Monsters-In-Law
Oh boy, my in-laws. You always hear these nightmare stories about awful in-laws, right? Well, I've been living it for the last 18 years. This year took the cake though, with them being their absolute worst. Every place we took them to —restaurants, stores, parks, literally everywhere, they had nothing but complaints. They even turned my daughter's 17th birthday into a disaster.
They dragged her to places they wanted to see, all while criticizing her for dying her hair too much and claiming that she's too thin and needs a proper meal.
Despite my daughter's attempts to share her special spots and favorite foods with them, they just responded with harshness. They complained about the service, food, location—pretty much everything, and swore they'd never set foot in those places again.
But the worst of all? My daughter shared that they even bad-mouthed me and my wife. They saw us as failures and hoped they could "save" her by shelling out for a college of their choice.
All in all, it was just a no-good week. They managed to sour the holiday cheer, the only silver lining being that they packed up and went home on the 26th.
49. Spoiled Brat Much?
During Christmas, my daughter expressed that she felt like she "grew up poor". Remember, we gifted her a car at 16, we funded numerous summer activities, and contributed significantly towards her college education. If that wasn't enough, we fully paid for her wedding, too. It's really disheartening to realize that this is the perspective of the adult she's become.
50. I Am What I Am
My wife recently began breastfeeding our newborn just as Christmas rolled around. Both of our moms have been chattering away about our baby's arrival and the whole experience. Suddenly, my mother comes out with a stunning admission. She shared that during her parenting years, my dad used to help her keep her milk supply steady and prevent blockages. Yep, you heard right.
Such a revelation had me scrambling for a hiding place out of sheer embarrassment. My mom, bless her, doesn't have a built-in filter or brakes for that matter. I've reminded her time and time again that not everyone feels comfortable hearing certain personal details, but her attitude is resolute. "I'm not going to change. If people can't accept me for who I am, so be it." Sure, it's solid advice...up to a certain point.
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