12/16/2025
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean your boundaries expire. 🎄
You don’t owe access because someone shares your DNA.
You don’t owe explanations for choices that protect your peace.
You don’t owe emotional labor, forced forgiveness, or a seat at your table to people who have consistently hurt you.
For a lot of people, the holidays aren’t cozy — they’re activating.
Old family roles resurface.
Unresolved trauma gets poked.
Comments about your body, your relationship status, your parenting, or your faith get disguised as “jokes” or “concern.”
Setting a boundary doesn’t make you cold, dramatic, or difficult.
It makes you regulated.
You’re allowed to:
• leave early
• say no without a speech
• skip gatherings that don’t feel safe
• protect your kids from dysfunction
• choose peace over tradition
If this season is bringing up anxiety, guilt, or dread — that’s information, not failure. Therapy can help you understand why it feels so heavy and how to stop repeating the same patterns every year.