Redditor Wants To Know If He's Selfish For Asking That His Family Have A Separate Christmas Party Without His Sister's Kids

An unconventional Christmas wish.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• May 22, 2023

It's a scenario that sounds like it could come straight out of a heartwarming, albeit chaotic, family comedy movie. Picture this: A bustling home during the holiday season, complete with noisy, energetic kids running amok—their infectious laughter creating holiday cheer around.

Sounds joyous, right? However, for our 28-year-old narrator (Original Poster), this spirited scene quickly transforms into an overwhelming challenge rather than a delightful holiday gathering.

OP loves his family dearly — his parents, his siblings, and particularly his adorable nieces and nephews, courtesy of his youngest sister. But there's a catch: He suffers from a medical condition that could potentially trigger seizures when overstimulated, making the holiday cheer a bit too loud for comfort.

Imagine him at the annual family gathering, interacting with family and indulging in the joy of the season, only to have to retreat when his sister arrives with her lively brood. He often ends up having to leave the party earlier than he'd prefer, a prospect that can leave anyone feeling a bit disappointed.

However, his earnest attempts to explain his predicament to his sister seem to fall on deaf ears.

Recently, OP's sister couldn't attend the last Christmas party due to bad weather. This ended up being the best family event he had experienced in years —no CocoMelon, no loud toys, and most importantly, no wild behavior.

Later on, the family had a nice lunch to compensate her. But now, OP has thought up a bright idea: "Why can't the family just have two seperate gatherings every year?"

This complex narrative might lead one to the question: Is it selfish to yearn for a separate, quieter gathering? Or should he persistently brace himself for the storm of holiday cheer each year?

That, dear reader, is the crux of this family dilemma. Check out the full details below.

The story in detail

OP has a medical condition that causes seizures when he's overstimulated. Unfortunately, his sister's loud kids make it difficult to bear during family gatherings

OP's sister missed their last Christmas party due to bad weather, but was later compensated with a family lunch

Interestingly, the party OP's sister missed ended up being the best he's had in a long time. Now he's requesting for two separate Christmas parties each year

Important edit

Continuation...

Here's how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

"Nta if she wants to be included her kids shouldn’t be destroying the house and making work for everyone else"

"Her behavior towards you is staggeringly not okay. You deserve to get a Christmas with your family as much as she does"

"Expecting you to travel to them just to leave after a couple hours because otherwise your sister has a tantrum is one of the most disrespectful things I have ever heard of"

"This might be a dreadful suggestion, but has your sister ever actually witnessed a seizure? It might be worth engineering one when she's around so she can see just how awful they are"

"NTA, having two parties is perfectly fine. One where the family can do family Christmas and one where adults can have a relaxing party"

OP finds himself navigating a thorny path, caught between his love for his family and his very real medical needs. It's clear he cares deeply about his sister and her children, even as he grapples with the challenges his condition presents.

And yet, the yearning for a quieter celebration, one where he can fully participate without the fear of being overstimulated, is a powerful sentiment that cannot be easily dismissed.

Amidst the clamor of family gatherings and the persistent need for personal well-being, the answers might not be clear-cut, but the dialogue is essential.

Jesse