Yes, I know it’s the end of January. Yes, I know everyone else has already moved on to Valentine’s Day décor and pastel sweaters. But I’ve been busy catching up from the holidays, getting my routines back in order, and honestly… I needed a minute to process everything that happened. So today, we’re finally talking about how Christmas went.
A Quick Recap Before the Chaos
Before Christmas even arrived, things were already messy. Sarah, Emily, and Cam decided they hated me and Izzy. Why? Great question. We still don’t know. They threw us into a group chat just to fight (I wrote about that whole disaster already), and then they took my dad to the aquarium. The only silver lining was seeing Willow (my niece) for the first time since being uninvited from everything. She’s already so big, and it broke my heart a little.
But me and Izzy decided to bite our tongues and go over for Christmas anyway. Because sometimes you choose peace even when other people choose drama.
Christmas Eve Morning: The Setup
They picked Christmas Eve morning, which was fine. Eleven-ish. Reasonable. But the night before, Emily texted only my tia saying to come early because she “had to work” and wanted to see “everyone.” Sure. Totally believable. I didn’t care enough to question it.
I got up around nine, got ready, packed my stuff for Izzy’s afterward, and we headed out. We thought it’d be an hour drive… it was twenty minutes. So we had twenty minutes to get it together. That was not easy.
When we pulled up, there was a car we didn’t recognize. Emily answered the door which was funny, because it’s not her house. But okay. She told my dad they were upstairs getting ready, and then I saw Summer and Jon sitting there with her. They’re Sarah’s friends, and I actually like them. They’re sweet. But it was weird seeing them with Emily, and even weirder that no one mentioned they’d be at a family Christmas.
Willow: The Bright Spot
Then Willow came downstairs.
She’s walking. She’s trying to talk. I got to hold her and play with her, and honestly, that alone made the whole trip worth it. She was the calm in the storm. She wanted to be there with me and I felt loved by here.
The Vibes? Immaculately Awkward
Sarah was being fake-nice, which… fine. At least she tried to talk. I can work with fake if it keeps the peace.
Cam, though? He kept glaring at me like I personally ruined his life. Didn’t speak to me. Didn’t acknowledge me. Just acted like I didn’t exist. It was bizarre.
And then there was Emily. She spent the entire time loudly announcing that she has a job, that she’s an adult now, that she’s always hanging out with Sarah and Cam, that she’s always over at their place. It felt like she wanted a gold star for existing. No one cared. I dont care. Life isnt a game.
And then it clicked: she’s living with Summer and Jon. But still pretending she isn’t. Still calling me the liar. The irony could’ve knocked me over.
Gift Time… Sort Of
After we ate, me and Izzy opened gifts with Willow. It was a sweet moment — one of the only ones we get with her — and then Emily kept interrupting with, “Let’s do my gift! Let’s open mine!” Like… can we have five minutes with the baby we barely get to see?
Then the whole group Sarah, Cam, Emily, Summer, and Jon opened gifts together while we just sat there watching. I wasn’t expecting gifts, but the whole setup felt weird. Like we were guests at someone else’s family Christmas even though it was supposed to be ours too.
Also, Summer’s mom got Emily a Bible, and I don’t know why, but it sent me. I had to hold in a laugh so hard.
Leaving With Clarity
When we left, I felt… lighter. Not because it was fun, but because it confirmed something I already knew deep down: I’m okay without Sarah, Cam, or Emily in my life. Truly. I don’t need that energy.
But Willow? I will always show up for her. I will always fight to be in her life. She’s the part of this family that still feels like home.
We Survived Christmas
So yeah. We did it. We survived Christmas with them. I feel better having it behind me. I still have a lot of feelings frustration, disappointment, confusion but I didn’t let any of it pull me down to their level. I stayed calm. I stayed myself. And that alone makes me proud.
Here’s to better holidays in the future, with people who actually want to be there.
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