My partner and I have been together for over 2 years now and we are at that point that we are ready to be serious and live together. But, the distance from Detroit to Erie can seem like a planet away sometimes and it definitely isn’t easy, so I will be spending as much time as I can with him which means I will be spending most of the holiday breaks with him.
I haven’t been home for the holidays in a few years, but this is the first year that I won’t be home for Thanksgiving. While it might seem strange to some and you can hear your parents voices in the back of your head saying “I’d be so disappointed in you!”, it isn’t strange to me. I have been slowly realizing that once I graduate, I will not be anywhere near home so I am slowly trying to get myself used to being away.
For me, this doesn’t seem scary or weird as I have been splitting my time between my family and my partner’s family for over 2 years now. But I can imagine that for some, it might sound really scary to not be home with your family for breaks.
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For those of you that are in the same boat as me, I have a few pieces of advice for you.
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I would highly suggest that you let your family know at least a few days in advance that you won’t be spending the bulk of the holiday with them. This will let them know to brace themselves for your absence because it won’t be any easier for them than it is for you.
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I would also suggest that you get some sort of gift for your family for them to open during the holiday celebrations so they can feel your presence even though you aren’t there.
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Don’t make yourself feel bad for allocating your time differently than in previous years. Your parents/guardians and family will have to start learning that you are growing up and your time spent at home will be less and less. It will take some getting used to, but they will eventually realize that it won’t be the end of the world that you aren’t there!