My parents made me hate Chinese New Year.
I know it’s still early till CNY but I wanna get this outta my chest as the date draws near. For context, I’m 29 Chinese.
I understand CNY is like Christmas, families getting together, eat nice food and have a festive good time.
But due to my family’s circumstances, I hate CNY. My parents have been divorced for a long time, they no longer talk to each other but I am still in contact with them both.
I stay with my mom, dad supports her with money. My relationship with them are rocky but it’s all okay till Chinese New Year.
Every year, I am forced to choose between go eat reunion dinner with dad or mom. No matter who I choose, one of them will get angry and scold the hell out of me, pulling the “do you appreciate me?!” card.
And trying to explain myself and choosing every year based on who I think it’s fair has been stressful. Make dad happy, mom angry. Make mom happy, dad angry.
The worst part is they do not sympathise with my plight at all and accuse me as a bad son when I’m trying to compromise between them both.
Honestly I wish I can skip Chinese New Year every year so I do not have to go through this stress. Never had a happy CNY.
Going out with neither of them is not an option either as that’s an asshole move.
Sigh, another CNY, another battle. I don’t think I’ll ever celebrate CNY with my future family. I much prefer Christmas.
Netizens’ comments
- Prepare a picture of a covid positive test
Send them a picture of positive test
Stay in room and game - Tell them to grow up and meet together once a year for everyone’s sake.
- You ask them to play scissors paper stone over video call and you spend CNY with the winner.
- Adopt a strict alternating year policy.
But really, hardly anyone likes CNY. It’s just a pain and pretty toxic giving out those yearly status reports to relatives you meet once a year, being compared to others around your age. And the horrible music, the garish decorations, the expensive and repetitive foods.