Having divorced parents doesn’t mean you aren’t loved or that you have a broken family. If they get remarried, there are four sides of a family to worry about and love. During the holidays, it gets crazy. Being constantly pulled in different directions happens a lot since there is so much to do in so little time. Holiday events need to be planned months in advance to make sure you can attend.

Coordination is key.

Thanksgiving Day will definitely result in a food coma, since you have about two or three houses to eat at, and you know your family will make you eat. Christmas Eve and Christmas day are so hectic, driving from house to house, seeing as many people as you can. But before being able to drive, the days were switched off each year. The hardest part being no holiday is spent with your whole family together. Not only do you need to tell people your “gift list” but you need to find out what to get the closest people in your life. When splitting up the list, you need to be specific since you don’t need two of everything!

While traveling around, you’ll have to answer the same questions over and over, tell the same stories countless time. Since this is the time of year when you see distant family, pictures will be taken, so not duplicating your favorite outfit is oh-so-difficult.

How can one enjoy all these festivities when you are always on the go? Holidays become so draining, so if plans change or we can’t experience everything, everyone needs to understand that we are doing the best we can. We have more complex lives but it doesn’t mean we don’t love the holidays just like everyone else.