New baby + holidays!

Anon as some family members use this app! Will update if needed here!

Okay so we are due mid October. We have a lot of family here in our city. There is always 3 thanksgivings, and 3 Christmas’s. Firstly, we don’t even celebrate thanksgiving. We’ve only ever attended those events because of being guilted into it. But this year, and from now on we will be firm on that end. However Christmas will be tough. We really have no interest as it is to sit around with a TON of family, most of whom we never see/don’t even know and be awkward. It’s just not enjoyable. I also don’t feel comfortable bringing our baby who will only be a few months old to these events either. Several family members do not vaccinate. This is a big deal to us, I know it’s not for some.

Also, family here doesn’t quite grasp to stay away when sick anyways. Is there a polite way of declining these holiday invites? We’re already getting hounded with ‘can’t wait for you to be here for Christmas!’ And what not. The people who we actually do care to see during these parties, we already see on a weekly/every other week basis. So it’s not like the people who we actually know do not get to see us. I just don’t want us to be guilted into going to something we are not comfortable attending with our new baby AND toddler. (Lots of boundaries, and rude remarks were made at the last two holiday parties concerning our now toddler. Even from people we didn’t even know.)