I’m on a limited budget and have 10 Christmas cards that I set aside for family and some close friends who to me, are like family. Doing these cards has brought up feelings I have toward some of my family. Part of me wanted to reach out to them and let them know that I’m not shallow and only care about money because that is what they think of me based on a event that happened a couple of years ago.

I wanted to tell them it wasn’t me who didn’t want them at a event, it was their granddaughter. I’m allowing them to keep believing it’s my fault they weren’t invited to her graduation to protect my daughter and because if that’s what they truly think of me then why would I want them close in my life more often than not?

Instead, I’ll continue to keep it light and polite. I love my father and step-mother but I don’t need to have them be active in my life all the time. My family in general isn’t close, something I’ve learned to live with but that doesn’t me I don’t love them and that doesn’t mean I wish things were different. I’m just in acceptance with the way that things are.

Sometimes I’m finding it’s better to just keep quiet.