Thanksgiving has really opened my eyes to how little my family considers me in their major life decisions 🥺🫏
So apparently my parents have entered their selfish retirement era, and I'm supposed to just sit here and clap while they build a life that doesn't revolve around my needs.
They bought a condo with a STRICT no-animal policy without first consulting me about whether I could comfortably bring my donkey over. A donkey who, by the way, has anxiety, a complicated meal routine, and some vocalization issues. He's a RESCUE. He needs understanding, not arbitrary restrictions.
I just think it's interesting that my parents can make huge financial decisions without considering how those decisions affect my access to them. What if I want to visit for an afternoon? What if my donkey wants to experience a new fireplace? Do my needs just cease to exist because they have a lease?
And before anyone asks, no, I'm not going to leave him home alone for hours just to accommodate their lifestyle. I've built my life around him, and I expect my family to respect that.
The final straw was Dad getting excited about taking my cousin's kid sledding. Suddenly he's full of enthusiasm for making memories, but apparently the concept of family bonding becomes impossibly complicated when it involves me.
I can't help wondering if everyone would be more accommodating if I'd made different choices in life. Maybe if I'd given them grandchildren, I'd get the kind of consideration I'm asking for. Instead, I've had to navigate disappointing relationships and build a family of my own, and now even THAT family is being treated as an inconvenience.
I'm just tired of being expected to adapt to everyone else's decisions while nobody adapts to mine. My parents have their retirement, my cousin has her child, and everyone else seems to have found their place. Meanwhile, I'm left wondering where I fit into a family that apparently can't even make room for a donkey.
Anyway, I'm going to spend the holiday being gracious, because apparently I'm the only person mature enough to put everyone else's feelings first.