Member-only story
12 Ways to Practice Boundaries for the Holidays
It’s that time of year again. Time to start thinking about holiday plans. A beautiful time of cookies, traditions, and time with family — which can be great, if your family is healthy and feels like home, and an absolute wreck if you’re estranged or have strained relationships.
I’m prone to seasonal affective disorder, which starts as soon as the time change happens and the clocks roll back an hour. Suddenly it’s pitch black when I’m driving home from work, everything is gray and overcast, and the holidays are a whole mess of emotional landmines.
I cherish memories of happier times with my family in contrast with the reality that I’m an estranged daughter.
The whimsy of the season and the thrill of finding the perfect gifts for my loved ones gets me through the first couple months of fall, but after the new year starts, it’s three more months of slush and snow and darkness and existential angst.
Additionally, the holidays are hard for me because I don’t speak to my biological parents and I’m not really in touch with the rest of my family on either side. I speak to two siblings and a cousin or two. It makes the holidays bittersweet, as I cherish memories of happier times with my family in contrast with the reality…
