The holiday season is in full swing, and that means many people will be celebrating this season of joy with their families. However, for a lot of folks, that isn't possible. Instead, going home for the holidays is a stressful time. For whatever reason, many young people find themselves unable to visit their families this holiday season because their families don't accept things about them as people or things about their lives.
I am lucky enough to have a supporting family, and I don't have any problems going home for the holidays. My mother always had a place for my friends who had nowhere to go, and many of my friends' parents do the same. (Shout out to the Rogers, my fellow Odyssey creator Darren's family, for having me on many occasions where the weather didn't allow me to drive home to Hartshorne, Oklahoma.)
I always joke my mom "adopts strays". She's done it my whole life - if someone needs a mother, my mom will happily give them all the motherly love they need.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as me in the family department, and not everyone's problems returning home for the holidays have to do with the weather. Some families find it difficult to welcome home their LGBTQ+ family members for Christmas, others find it difficult to bring their significant others home if they are of a different race (we can talk about the fact race is a social construct later), or they are involved with someone who is much older or much younger... Yet, for whatever reason, they aren't welcome home, or if they go home, the atmosphere may be awkward or tense.
A grandfather isn't accepting of his granddaughter's child because she had him with another woman, a mother and father won't let their son bring home his boyfriend, a white grandmother "feels uncomfortable" with her granddaughter bringing home her African-American boyfriend, and a Mexican grandma doesn't want her grandson bringing home his "white girl"...
These are all situations faced by friends of mine. These situations are all real, and it makes me sad. If I could, I would bring every single one of them home with me for Christmas. (NeeNee's house isn't that big, but come on, y'all. I'll figure it out. Just bring your air mattresses.)
The problem here is these are not isolated incidents. These are only examples of an ongoing reality for many young people, and I just want to say I am so sorry, y'all. It hurts me inside because this is my favorite season and part of what makes it my favorite is spending time with my family.
So this is for all of you who will find yourselves alone or without family on Christmas, New Years, or whatever winter holiday you happen to celebrate - I love you. I may not know you, but I love you, I'm proud of you, you are special, and you have a friend in me.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from my family and I, to you and your's!
