What to do for Christmas?
So some back story I guess would be needed! I (27f) have been married to my husband (27m) since August of this year. Small, COVID wedding, with just the most important people. We have, however, been together for 7 years prior. I am from a small town in upstate NY, and my husband is from Long Island.
2 years ago, October 2018, my little brother passed away. My mom found him in his childhood bedroom, it was horribly traumatic for everyone, I’m sure you can imagine. It is an incredibly large weight on my heart every single day of my entire life. I think about him everyday and my heart hurts and breaks everyday, with every reminder that he’s not here.
2 weeks after my little brother passed, we found out that his girlfriend was pregnant! (Did a paternity test and everything) We love him (my nephew - now 17 months old) so, so incredibly much and he brings so much joy to our worlds and honestly he’s one of the lights in my life because nowadays, I just have to focus on the good.
Last Christmas I spent at home (8 hours away from my then fiancée) with my parents, my nephew, and my entire family. This Christmas, it is my first Christmas married to my husband and he would like for me to spend it with him. I am a teacher and I do get off a good amount of days for holiday break. However, this is one of the few times a year that I can spend about a week at “home” AND my nephew will be coming for Christmas at my parents.
I, honest to god, have no idea what to do! In one way, I feel that I need to be there for my parents. They have never spent a Christmas without one of their children. We are still going through a deep amount of grief together, and my nephew, their only grandchild and their only link to their son will be there. I will be able to see my grandmother (my only remaining grandparent - socially distanced in her driveway probably) and all my other family. I’ll be able to be with my nephew and see his eyes and his smile and be able to be surrounded by memories and my family.
My husband on the other hand, wants me to spend Christmas with him and his family. It is the first Christmas we are married, but he is working almost the entire time! Half a day on Christmas Eve and he is off Christmas Day. So effectively I would be spending my holiday break alone, without anybody. Except for Christmas Day! Which I would be able to spend with my lovely, amazing husband.
I honestly have no idea what to do. Any advice would be incredibly helpful.
Edit: my husband has, and will continue to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his entire family - mom, dad and step mom, brother and step siblings. And they all have a wonderfully relationship. So he will absolutely not be alone if I am not there.