Young Girl Wants To Avoid Christmas Eve Due To Childhood Bitterness Towards Her Stepbrother, Gets Supported By Redditors

"I understand that happened 6 years ago, but he faced no consequences"

Filip

• Published in Interesting
• November 20, 2023

Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year when the whole family gathers to celebrate together, to have fun and joy. But if some family members don't get along well, it can be stressful, too.

In this story, a Reddit user explained why she doesn't want to celebrate Christmas with her family and asked if she was wrong in her stance. The OP is a 23-year-old woman.

She said she is grappling with the unexpected news that her 17-year-old stepbrother, with whom she has a troubled history, will be joining the family for Christmas celebrations. Their relationship soured due to a series of unsettling incidents in the past.

The stepbrother, in his younger years, had committed acts like stealing money from her room and setting her makeup brushes on fire in the bathroom sink. This breach of trust and respect led to a strained relationship between them.

At the time, the stepbrother's punishment was insufficient in the OP's eyes as he was only forbidden from visiting them for a weekend, but she was allowed to install a lock on her door to protect her belongings. This year, her father and stepmother had originally planned to surprise her with his visit on Christmas Eve.

However, their plan was unexpectedly revealed ahead of time by her younger brother. In response, the OP decided to avoid the family Christmas party and intends to lock herself in her room when they gather at her grandmother's house.

Initially, she felt justified in her decision to distance herself from a situation she anticipated would be uncomfortable and possibly painful. However, her brother accused her of being overly dramatic for not wanting to participate in the celebrations, which led her to question her reaction.

So, she wonders if her desire to protect herself from a potentially uncomfortable meeting is an overreaction or a reasonable response.

OP asks:

The OP said she and her stepbrother don't get along well:

She explained why she didn't like him:

But her parents invited him over for Christmas Eve:

So, the OP plans to lock herself in a room during the Christmas party:

However, her brother tells her she is overly dramatic:

A Redditor said the OP was not wrong for wanting to protect herself

"OP is 23 and acting 13"

OP responded:

The OP has the right to choose who she spends her time with

"The holidays are meant to be enjoyed"

The OP should give her brother a second chance, as this incident was six years ago

"It’s time to let it go"

"You are mad at your parents for not punishing him as much as you wanted"

Even though many Redditors told the OP that she might be in the wrong for holding the grudge from their childhood, they still told her she has the right to choose who she spends her time with, especially Christmas. As for her stepbrother, they had disagreements a long time ago, and maybe he grew up to be a better person, so she should give him a second chance.

Filip