Easter has long been a stressful and sad time in my family. We've lost several loved ones around this time of year in the past. I just don't look forward to it at all. My memories of Easter weekends are not good for the most part. So...here we are... Easter just around the corner and I'm beyond stressed again. And feeling guilty for not wanting to do anything with family. My husband and I don't have any kids to enjoy the holiday with. So, sometimes we just do our own thing. But, this year I'm feeling more stressed than usual for some reason. And all my stress and anxiety goes right to my stomach. My brother never has to worry about stuff like this. I just tell him what time we are eating for any holiday and he shows up. He's single. Not a care in the world...but the holidays, etc. always fall on me. Just needed to vent, I guess....thanks for listening.
Years ago, before I learned to say the No word, here's how one Easter went down for me while I was the primary care giver for my mother with late stage cancer. Sister and brother didn't get along very well at the time. So, silly me, I said I would make two (yes two) seperate Easter dinners so they could have some sort of holiday with Mom and not be around each other. I made, from scratch, two entirely differnt meals for them and their kids. Mom thought it was great. Of course no one offered to bring any thing-although I should have asked, but hey, I wanted everyone to have a nice time. Meal one was glazed ham, vegetables, baked potatoes and cake for dessert. Meal two was salmon, vegetables, rice and pie. The meals were four days apart. So, I was busy. It was a blur, but got through it.
Now, years later, I have learned to say no, never again to cooking like that now for anyone who will be visiting us-and dealing with my husband's dementia. I've ordered take out, gone to restaurants. Have had to repeat to my husband (ya know-dementia) that I am not cooking, cleaning (ya know, the company coming kind of cleaning stuff) for anyone this time around as a caregiver. I simply can not do it. It's too much. Nor do people care, they think all we do is while away the hours as we enjoy the blissful state of caring (insert angelic music here) for those who can't care for themselves. Magically making everything run smoothly, gracefully and with joy in our hearts always doing everything perfectly.
Two weeks ago, made a brunch reservation for the two of us at a very nice local restaurant for Easter. Don't know what they'll be serving, food has been very good in the past, and am quite sure we will have a very nice time.
Easter is autumn here, and the weather is usually very pleasant. Many many families go away camping for the weekend, and the rivers are often lined with tents. Easter Sunday lunch is normally a very simple BBQ. Tea with grandma perhaps, but I don’t know anyone who even thinks about catering for 25 relations.
Whatever you do, I hope you all manage to enjoy yourselves.
Treat this weekend like any other one -- mow the lawn, go to the movies, get Chinese food -- anything that will tell you that it's just another day, because it is.
What would you like to do instead of hosting the family get-together? Do that. Tell your family, with all love and kindness, that you and DH are - whatever. Playing bridge. Waterskiing, A sponsored walk on Kilimanjaro. Watching the grass grow. - and they must make their own arrangements. Send them an Easter basket if you feel so inclined, not if you don't.
Learning to please yourself is a skill we all need to work on, I think.
Assuming it's too late this year, tomorrow being Good Friday and all, and you're lumbered like it or not, you will have to throw yourself into the spirit of the occasion for this last time and make it enjoyable for everyone else even if you can't manage it for yourself. Let the sad commemorations wait until afterwards.
This 24/7 caregiving gig has smothered any desire that I had for holidays, my birthday, Mother's Day, etc. We do Thanksgiving and Christmas at my home because I can't leave my mother, so most of it falls on me and frankly I'm over it. So I'm fine with being able to skip Easter.
I now have church on my own. I listen to J. Vernon McGee on Thru the Bible every morning as he goes through the Bible.
All of that to say .... life changes in unexpected ways and is short. Do what you can and let the rest go.
Time for your brother to grow up and put on big boy pants. He can make a reservation or bring take out or cook for the four of you just as easily as you can.
Tell him how tired you are just like you did here on this forum. If he really cares for you as a sister he'll get it.
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