Double The Families, Half The Time | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Double The Families, Half The Time

A divorced kid's guide to surviving the holidays.

Haley Johnson
Dec 25, 2016
Georgia Southern University
47
Double The Families, Half The Time

1. Accept that your Christmas will never be "normal" again

Coming from a divorced and blended family, it gets extremely hectic around the holiday season. Everyone has to work together so that the week leading up to Christmas can go as smoothly as possible. The days are gone where you relax all Christmas Day. You'll most likely be spending the days leading to, and even Christmas Day, shuttling from house to house. Every house will be in the same fashion, just different relatives and still trying to fit in the time to spend time with every one of them. You might get a little bit overwhelmed at times, but you'll be thankful for the experiences in the long run.

2. Learn how to eat rationally for all the meals you'll get

Lots of families = lots of food. You might run into the situation where you'll have to eat brunch with your mom, but then lunch again with your dad's family. There's really no way around it. While other families like to try to make all the schedules fit, this does happen sometimes. You definitely don't want to be disrespectful and not eat one of the home-cooked meals.


3. Learn (quickly) to be a good and frequent helper

Again, the holidays can be a crazy time for any family. Add on a few extra step-siblings and other family members, and you got your classic divorced/blended family! Extra family means extra food. You'll need to help out around the kitchen just so the Christmas dinner is ready in time.


4. If you're in a blended family, you'll receive more gifts. This doesn't mean less gratitude.

If you're at the point when you're officially a "blended" family, you'll most likely be in the running for more presents. New additional gift givers include your step-siblings, step-parents, and new sides of the family. This doesn't mean accepting and expecting the fact that you'll receive more gifts than you did in the past. With receiving more gifts, you want to give even more gratitude.

5. Embrace the family you have while you still have it.

You never really know or value what you have, until it's gone. This holiday season, accept your family for what they are and not what they aren't. Your family may be different than others; that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sure you might have to divide up more time because you have more families now, but that's just more people to love! Christmas is a time of reflecting on who you are and what makes you, you. Everything I am and will be is because of my family.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

AI music threatens creativity

The Soul of Sound: How AI Challenges Human Expression in Music

903754
Humans and robots face off in a rock band battle with guitars and drums, under dynamic lighting.
StableDiffusion

In an age where artificial intelligence can mimic the voice of Freddie Mercury or reimagine pop hits as synthwave ballads, a new frontier has emerged — one that blurs the line between innovation and erosion. While AI offers undeniable benefits in technical domains, its intrusion into creative arts, especially music, raises urgent questions. Not just about copyright, but about culture, education, and the very soul of artistic expression.


Keep Reading...Show less
ai generated music
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

Miami University
1187476
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
music
Entertainment

Why Your Astrological Sign May Not Match Your Personality

We are all more than just one sign.

SUNY Plattsburgh
1090641
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
astrology
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

UNC Greensboro
1077075
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
spring
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

Sacred Heart University
4310750
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
good person

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments