I think it's normal to be grouchy about zoom meetings right now.

But, I would also find a way to attend, even if it's for a short time. If it's making other people happy, and it's not a major inconvenience, then I would make an effort.

It's hard to say without knowing any of the parties involved, but your mentioning that the person living alone being the one organizing this makes me feel like he or she might be lonely and in need of human connection.

Some of these family Zooms sound like they're court-ordered.

Anonymous wrote:The behave a single family member who tries to do this too. It’s mostly her siblings so it very awkward for me as she’s just catching up with her siblings. I agree that you can’t really ditch out too quickly. It’s annoying, but I agree that I’m a grouch.

Literally why not? WHY can't a married-in just say hello and leave the siblings to it?

What would happen? What's the consequence? The single person would turn an IL into a potato? They would draw and quarter her? Public flogging?

I agree they feel forced and awkward and go on too long. It’s not like Thanksgiving where you can ditch the annoying cousin by moving to the living room. One thing that does seem to help for us if you have a game preplanned or do it on an app like House party we can play games together.

The behave a single family member who tries to do this too. It’s mostly her siblings so it very awkward for me as she’s just catching up with her siblings. I agree that you can’t really ditch out too quickly. It’s annoying, but I agree that I’m a grouch.

"We" nothing; this is for him to decide. If he skips, you skip. If he participates, you can hop on and say hello, or participate however much you feel like.

My husband's family likes to do marathon Zoom sessions. I say hi for a few moments, but hell no, I'm not sitting through an hour of that.

DH’s family (parents siblings grandparents cousins) is dispersed around the country and pre covid we saw everyone maybe once a year, if that. A member of the family who lives on their own has initiated a family zoom series every couple months that everyone is very strongly encouraged to attend. DH and I both agree it feels forced and it’s the type of thing where if we say we can’t go an attempt will be made to reschedule. Are we just grouches? I’m over zoom gatherings with large groups but we don’t want to be seen as bad guys.