just being real

As the Holidays approach every family realizes they are so very loved and with that love comes a multitude of  invitations and expected appearances. Consequently, we have to prioritize and in the process, feelings inevitably get hurt.

So I'm going to bare my soul and try to explain our position and pray that we are understood and our choices are accepted without offense.

Abigail and Amelia are very blessed and extremely loved. But they are also little girls who deserve some consideration and mercy instead of being pulled like rags dolls and expected to preform like perfect little angels in a white picket fence, "norman rockwell" family.

They have 2 families, Mom's and Dad's. Which then get split again into Dad's and M's and Mom's and R's. Now that mom and dad both have other children it is even more complicated because we have the responsibility of making sure each family gets time with "their" grandchildren. It should not be this way, but it is. Christmas break is only 2 weeks and driving between College Station, Dallas, Stephenville takes a toll on us. We have to coordinate between the Gaither's and McCormick's for Abigail and Amelia's time...and when faced with the reality of having to choose between the two, I choose Gaither's for Abigail and Amelia because Gaither is their blood. Axel will see the McCormicks, but during our limited time with the girls, the Gaither's come first. Not that we do not love the McCormick's...but Abi and Mia didn't choose that family, I did and I will not impose my decision on my daughters in the way of family obligation. They are not obligated to preform at family functions. Of course, we want to try to include everyone, but some years, we just can't make it all work.

We will come to Dallas when we can, with all three kids, but during this precious Holiday season, please understand that we have to look at things differently and will make the decision we feel is in ALL of our children's best interest.