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Partners
Adele Hamilton, Editor Parent24
The first year my husband and I were together at Christmas, I painstakingly wrote out cards for his six siblings.
“Thanks very much,” said his older sister Felicity sweetly, “but I am married to Tony, not Bernie.”
Turned out I’d confused all the spouses and children and given the wrong ones to each other.
I’ve got them straight now. And instead of being terrified of being with them in case I call the wrong person by the wrong name, I relish the chance to see everyone. It’s lovely to meet the latest additions to the family – this year, new grandniece 2-month-old Stella. Maybe there’ll be a new girlfriend or two, trying to impress with some fabulous dessert.
Family is not maths, it’s salad. Whoever is in the mix is included, and that makes the flavour a little different every year.
Sometimes a complex background makes it hard to define the exact flavour of your family, and often the most complicated relationships can end up being the richest, as this stepchild found.
So no matter if you’re a family of two, or an ever-changing smorgasbord of 30 like us, I hope you have fun together these holidays. Maybe you’ll even be reunited with your child after a break.
Who’s in your family salad bowl these holidays? Come and introduce them.
“Thanks very much,” said his older sister Felicity sweetly, “but I am married to Tony, not Bernie.”
Turned out I’d confused all the spouses and children and given the wrong ones to each other.
I’ve got them straight now. And instead of being terrified of being with them in case I call the wrong person by the wrong name, I relish the chance to see everyone. It’s lovely to meet the latest additions to the family – this year, new grandniece 2-month-old Stella. Maybe there’ll be a new girlfriend or two, trying to impress with some fabulous dessert.
Family is not maths, it’s salad. Whoever is in the mix is included, and that makes the flavour a little different every year.
Sometimes a complex background makes it hard to define the exact flavour of your family, and often the most complicated relationships can end up being the richest, as this stepchild found.
So no matter if you’re a family of two, or an ever-changing smorgasbord of 30 like us, I hope you have fun together these holidays. Maybe you’ll even be reunited with your child after a break.
Who’s in your family salad bowl these holidays? Come and introduce them.
