Anonymous wrote:Anyone else secretly thrilled that you’re saving money on not throwing big bashes for graduations, weddings, big birthdays, etc? Or even small gatherings of family you don’t like? I am. Celebrating immediate family milestones with just us is stress-relieving and saves money.

I bet many, many people feel the same about not having to see you!

Are you my SIL OP? Ha. We are relieved we have an excuse not to see you too!

Anonymous wrote:I’m thrilled to not be throwing my kids a birthday party. Mostly because I’m sick of family attending. I love all the little kids, it’s our family members that make it lame. They stay at my house and then just sit the whole party. I wish kid parties were just about the kid

When my kids were young, I never invited adults to their birthday parties and I actually like my family members. Instead, I would host a “family party” which meant CAKE only for the family celebration. I also don’t really understand millennial parents who think they must have a kid party every.single. year with parents in tow. No wonder you are tired.

Anonymous wrote:I wish this would extend to Christmas. I’d love a Christmas at home!

Yes, hopefully more and more people keep dying, losing their jobs, facing food instability and falling into depression, so that you can skate by with this excuse instead of growing a pair and learning to say NO, WE'RE STAYING HOME THIS YEAR.

I’m thrilled to not be throwing my kids a birthday party. Mostly because I’m sick of family attending. I love all the little kids, it’s our family members that make it lame. They stay at my house and then just sit the whole party. I wish kid parties were just about the kid

We never invite people we don't like to begin with.

I wish this would extend to Christmas. I’d love a Christmas at home!

I had the most wonderful Passover EVER of just us. No drama. No digs. No guilt trips. It was glorious. I don't want to ever go back!

I am thrilled beyond belief not to have to see some difficult family members. The family I created is wonderful and I am happy to quarantine with them. Unfortunately I have an elderly parent guilt tripping for visits because her neighbors kid does it with the grandkids. I wish we lived much farther away so she wouldn't even ask. She is such dark cloud of cruelty and negativity.

I am hoping to milk this even once we go back to a more normal life. I would love to not attend an event we don't want to attend by saying we are still nervous about Covid.

I am absolutely thrilled to be off the hook for various weddings in my husband's extended family. We sent a check worth twice what we would normally give. I'm sure he'll want to make up for lost time, but the whole wedding hassle with outfits, managing the kids, getting them a sitter in a strange hotel, etc., is not something I enjoy.

Anonymous wrote:Why would YOU host for graduations, weddings and big birthdays? I only host for my immediate family. Attending would be another matter.

If your child were getting married or graduating, wouldn’t you be inviting extended family? Or if your MIL were turning 80, wouldn’t you at least chip in on a party? Sure, I am also saving money not attending these things—travel, gifts, clothing, etc.

I don't host people I don't like.

Why would YOU host for graduations, weddings and big birthdays? I only host for my immediate family. Attending would be another matter.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else secretly thrilled that you’re saving money on not throwing big bashes for graduations, weddings, big birthdays, etc? Or even small gatherings of family you don’t like? I am. Celebrating immediate family milestones with just us is stress-relieving and saves money.

Yes! You are not alone. Not all of us are blessed with happy and functional families.

Anyone else secretly thrilled that you’re saving money on not throwing big bashes for graduations, weddings, big birthdays, etc? Or even small gatherings of family you don’t like? I am. Celebrating immediate family milestones with just us is stress-relieving and saves money.