Getting Out of Family Events and Holiday Functions Excuses
Friends we need a page of excuses for getting out of a family events or
holiday functions. Sometimes family members will plans things that, for one
reason or another -- or one PERSON or another -- you just don't want to attend,
but you also don't want to hurt anyone's feelings ... and these people know you,
so you can't make up anything outrageous. So maybe here we can list excuses here
to get out of these events so it would be easier for people that want to have a
place to search for excuses to get out of them. Plus it might be great to also
hear other peoples stories about dysfunctional family get togethers during the
holidays. So what do you think? Let's get this party started, or get those
excuses here so people might be able to get out of those times the family events
might be too unbearable to attend.
Note: The first one is an email someone sent me asking for help and actually
suggested the new page. Great idea I wish I could have helped her out. But I
thought it was good reading and could help get this page started.
1. There's a Christmas family gathering (my
husband's side) scheduled for about a month from now, and I have no
intention of going. My husband doesn't want to go either, even though he
knows they want us there, but he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings --
and he's the type of person that would sooner go by himself (a six-hour
drive each way) than hurt his people .. which is okay with me, but he really
doesn't want to go at all, and certainly not alone. The thing is, we both
love these people and I would be happy enough to see them any other time of
the year, but what goes on at their Christmas thing sets my teeth on edge.
It's at the house of his elder sibling, and at Christmas time, her
granddaughter is the star of the show. In fact, I call their Christmas
family gathering "The Traci Show" (not her real name). She is happily given
the lion's share of the attention from all adults present, and my
mother-in-law dotes on her and brags about her like she's not only the best
and brightest child in the universe, but also like she's the ONLY
great-grandchild she has, and they all lavish her copiously with
ridiculously expensive gifts .. while my grandchild (also Mom-in-law's
great-grandchild, who has only attended one of these events -- and for good
reason), might as well not exist. These Christmas family gatherings of
theirs are normally held at Mom-in-law's place, about two and a half hours
from here, which is bad enough -- but at least that's a day trip. This year,
however, without consulting anyone, "Said Sibling" decided she was staying
home and we would all come to her, which means a weekend trip. We can't
claim that either of us has to work that weekend because they know we don't;
his is not that kind of job, and I don't work outside the home. We can't
claim that we can't afford a hotel room, because (a) they know we can, and
(b) she'd put us up if we couldn't. I've thought about claiming illness, but
I really don't want to "put that out there," and besides, we don't get sick,
and they know it. At last year's Christmas thing, over half a dozen people
took ill afterwards, after being exposed to one contagious person (who
didn't know she was at the time). Out of everyone there, only my husband and
I didn't subsequently get sick. (We take and swear by garlic supplements, a
strong antiviral agent.) I don't know why I'm telling you all of this; I
surely don't want it put on your web site -- because I've given enough
details here that if either the sister-in-law or the mother-in-law were to
read this, they'd see themselves and know who wrote it. I guess I'm just
saying that, unfortunately, people need excuses for things other than what
you have listed ... and if you can think of anything that might help me,
please let me know!! Thanks. (Editors note: Further email discussions with
her we decided it would be ok to post this one. It was edited a bit to make
it harder to figure who this was about. If anyone has a good excuse for this
person please send it in soon. Xmas is 24 days away!)
2. To the woman who wrote looking for an
excuse to miss the annual Xmas debacle... She commented she worked from home
and I don't know what hubby does but what about something like this:
"I/hubby have a major relicensing/certification exam soon and must spend all
of my/his free time studying for it. It's so difficult that we can't
possibly come for the weekend as it would squander too much valuable
studying time and I/he cannot come alone because I/he is showing support by
helping me study. If I/he don't pass this exam I may lose my job/ rupture my
spleen/ never advance at work/ give birth to a rhino- pick the 'end of the
world' scenario!' They can't prove something like this is not happening and
we all have to update our creds from time to time. Good Luck.
3. For family functions - especially if you
have a child and someone else has a "star" for a child... Blame the child.
"We were getting ready to leave and little Blly just started throwing up. We
don't know if he was exposed to something or had a rection to something he
ate. He never gets sick, we're taking him to get checked out (just don't
mention by who - pick a neighbor and ask does he look alright to you? so
your not lying) We would just hate to infect little Suzy and ruin the
festivities." People must think my kids stay sick because I use the kids
being sick to get out of a lot of funtions and they are two of the
healthiest kids around!
4. Family Christmas is a competition of accomplishments and upstaging other
gifts with outrageous presents. I hated going before but now that certain
relatives have passed, I am finding few reasons to go every year. I was
thinking of using one like this: the homes in my neighborhood have been
burglarized recently. Our home was almost broken into but I a)randomly went
home for lunch b)am always home. We have started a neighborhood watch and we
all need to be around as much as possible to nick the problem in the bud. I
have noticed how quickly homes look unattended and are soon burglarized. I
hate to miss the holiday but I need to stick around for a while.
5. What, you want to go to my family's
party? Why, did you find someone in my family that you haven't slept with
yet?
6. I'm sorry, but there is no way in hell
that I am visiting with your family unless I am dead drunk. And I haven't
even started drinking today, so it's too late for me to tie on a good one
before we go. Give them my best, though, would you?
Well friends this is all for now. I hope you enjoy this place and
please go to the Submit Excuses page and send your excuses in!
If you like this web site, please
Email a link to your friends.
Madtbone
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