I was stuck with a malignant narcissist (yes, that’s how I recognized the orange shitgibbon early on…) His birthday was March 30. For years, we had to have xmas decorations up from just after Thanksgiving until *after* his bday… Yes, FOUR months every year!
One year, my mum came to visit for the holidays. New Year’s was looming and as we were sitting around one afternoon, she suggested it was a good time to clear the clutter and start the new year fresh. Yes!
He came home from work that day and just exploded. Everything had to be put back up and collect dust for another three months.
Took me 23 years to figure out how to be able to support myself (a secret loan from my mum got me through a medical transcription course online) and when I had the opportunity, I bailed. Still lots of self esteem (still haven’t even considered dating…) and poverty issues even 20-some years later, but the biggest lingering thing is Christmas. The kids agreed we don’t need the pressure of gifting, and decorating is out completely—except for the year son won a Charlie Brown xmas tree at work, which was somehow very us.
Not burdened with religion (my family was catholic and ex became a holy roller thanks to a lunatic boss at his job), so we’re fine doing doing more nature-related stuff and otherwise ignoring the glitz and pretense.
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