Going back and forth from house to house on the holidays is fun but never easy. I used to love having so many different Christmas's and parties and dinners and gifts but at the same time, I hated having to go somewhere and leave quickly after just to go to someone else's house.

Growing up, it was just annoying. I had my mom's side, her husband's side, my dad's side and then any other extra family or friends. It was so nice getting to see everyone but at the same time, it was EXHAUSTING. I had so much fun but I would get home and immediately go to sleep.

I remember waking up early on Christmas Eve, heading to my grandma's house, spending time with my family. We would leave there and then go to my other grandparent's house and be there for basically the whole night. Then on Christmas Day, we would do presents and my house and then I would leave and either go to my dad's house or my other grandmas.

As of recently, it is even harder. I have to drive to all these places, I can't just catch a ride and now I even have to include my boyfriend and his family! (Don't get me wrong, I love them, but another house???)

Also, being an adult means you have to buy presents and you can't just put your name on what your mom buys and that my friends, is not a good time. Especially with all the family that I have. I love buying presents for my family and all of my friends but I am balling on a college budget and everyone I know deserves more than what I am buying them from the dollar store.

Now, although it was fun, it was also kind of sad. Everyone I knew would just go to one or two houses for the holidays and their whole entire families would be together. I can't say I was not jealous. I would have loved to just go to my grandmas and have my mom and my dad both there with the rest of my family but I was not so fortunate in that sense.

Here is the thing, my parents were never together and I never expected them to be. But I think that being so young, I wanted them to be, but only for the holidays, you know? I think the holidays is when being in a "split" family is most apparent.

I think as a kid it is the hardest because you always want a big happy family as you see in the movies. But as you grow up, you realize that a big happy family, is just that, in the movies. Yes, some families are big and happy but honestly, there is not one perfect family in the entire world.

There is never a time where you can just sit down and relax during the holiday season. You are either at your grandma's making cookies or driving to go see your aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is the most tiring thing. Having a split family makes it even harder because you have 16 aunts and uncles and at least 57 cousins.

I learned to just be happy and feel blessed that even though I was completely exhausted, I had gotten to see and spend time with my whole family, even if it was split up.