Holidays with two families is sometimes difficult yet rewarding
Most of my family from my Dad’s side at my 17th birthday.
November 17, 2013
The holidays are meant to be spent with family. With my mom and dad being separated it makes spending time with both families pretty hard. My mom lives here in Tracy, and my dad lives in Castro Valley, which is about 45 minutes away.
With Thanksgiving almost here, along with other holidays, I have to start making plans on how to budget my time. Along with my dad and two half-siblings living in Castro Valley, I also have two older sisters who are also half-siblings and they have to budget how they spend their time with their two families.
What is supposed to happen is that every other year I switch which house where I spend my holidays. This includes spring, Thanksgiving, and Christmas breaks. During the school year, I live primarily with my mom and the first, third, and fifth weekend of every month I am at my dad’s. During the summer I spend every other week at my dad’s house.
As a kid it was not too bad having two separate families. I got to have two rooms however I wanted. I was the only child at my dad’s until my little brother was born when I was 10 and at my mom’s I was the youngest. I was spoiled as a kid; I got almost everything I wanted. During Christmas I got double the presents and the same with birthdays.
Yet, as I grew up, it got harder when I started playing sports, doing community service, and became involved in other programs that caused my schedule to change.
Freshman year was the hardest because it was the first time I was playing sports where I could not afford to miss a practice. Basketball starts right before Thanksgiving break and goes through February.
Freshman year was my dad’s year to have me on break, but I also had basketball practice. My dad had to drive me out to practice almost every day or my mom had to drive to Castro Valley to pick me up. Christmas break came and the same thing happened again.
Sophomore year it was my mom’s year to have me on breaks, so it was not so bad. Junior year I had a knee surgery so I did not have to worry about it at all.
I was sad I could not play basketball, but it was my first time in high school getting to spend the holidays without having to worry about sports and that was great. I was able to spend so much time with my family and meet new relatives.
My step-mom has always been there for me and has always made me feel loved. Also her family has welcomed me with open arms.
My step-mom’s family lives in Texas, and I had never had the chance to meet them, but with not playing basketball I was able to go to Texas during Thanksgiving break last year.
I spent the week meeting her family and grew close with them. I was also able to spend quality time with my younger siblings, who mean a lot to me.
Having two families made growing up a little hard, but it helped me grow and appreciate family a little bit more. Sure things were confusing when I was younger, but not only do I have my mom and dad who love me, I have my step-mom and step-dad.
Your mom and dad have to put up with you and be nice to you, but step-parents do not. I have seen some mean step parents. I am fortunate enough to have two that love me as if I was their own.
During the holidays I am a bit more thankful for the time I have off from school to spend with my family.
People ask me sometimes how it is to have two families and half-siblings, and I tell them that family is family and that just because they are a half sibling does not mean I love them only half as much.
The holiday season is a hectic time for my family and me, but just like “normal” families, we spend the holidays appreciating each other.
