Reply to PSA- Yes, you are a jerk if you don't invite your older parents to Christmas

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Reply to "PSA- Yes, you are a jerk if you don't invite your older parents to Christmas"

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[quote=Anonymous]I would invite my mom if it was just her. But it's her and my dad and my dad is a PITA. He won't participate in any holiday activities (won't play games with the family in the evening, or watch Christmas movies with us, or go look at lights, or go to church, or help cook or bake cookies -- nothing). He will want to stay in and watch TV, usually cable news. But if we go out without him he will complain about being left alone and say stuff like "I guess no one wants to hang out with me" or "That's fine, I guess these kids don't appreciate their granddad."

When we eat meals together as a family, he won't try to engage my kids at all but he will domineer the conversation by ranting about politics. The kids will get irritated at being bored and ignored and want to leave the table early. This is not a huge deal during a non-holiday visit -- we just let them go and then sit and humor my dad while they play. But on Christmas I want to have a nice meal with my family.

If you don't have family members like this, who are totally lacking in self-awareness, suck all the air out of every room they are in, make no effort with the kids, refuse to participate but also don't want anyone having fun without them, then you don't understand. I'm happy to visit my parents at other times of the year or to host them. I don't want my kids' memories of Christmas to be their grandfather shouting about Trump and Biden and watching CNN while the rest of us open gifts. [/quote]

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