By Cassie Honeycutt, Features Editor

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Families gathered around the Christmas tree as they grin from ear to ear and their laughter fills the room. 

That may be the cheerful Christmas reality for the majority of people, but for me, Christmas is far from this idyllic scene; this will be my fourth Christmas since my parents divorced. 

I wish there was another way to put it, but the holidays can just suck. There is no waking up on Christmas morning with both parents by the tree, there is no big happy family breakfast or the shared excitement of gifts and surprises.

Don’t get me wrong, having two Christmases has its perks, but it’s also really hard for kids with divorced parents. The bickering texts and emails about scheduling, the not wanting to do something with one parent that you’ve already done with the other, the sadness of lost childhood traditions – that’s only a few of the many struggles that come with the holidays when you live in two households.

As a child of divorced parents, I find myself worrying about hurting their feelings when I’m honest about mine.  It sometimes feels as if I’m choosing one over the other. I always want to do what’s right and make them happy. At times it can feel like I’ve become the parent.

When I am at one parent’s house for Christmas, I feel bad for the parent who doesn’t get to wake up with me on Christmas morning. And when it’s time to go to the next parent, it feels as though my heart is being torn in two.

I stuff my presents away, pack up, and mentally prepare to be holly-jolly a second time that day. There are so many emotions at that moment that my body almost doesn’t know what to do. I am excited to go see the other parent, but I’m sad about leaving the one I’m with.

I feel like many people take their parents being together for granted. I hear kids complain about how they have to be a part of family dinners or spend Christmas break with their parents. They have no idea how much they should cherish that time. Given how high divorce rates are, I know I’m not alone when I say I have very few memories of my family being happy together, all as one. 

I don’t want you to read this story and think, “Oh, poor Cassie!” Definitely don’t do that. Don’t get me wrong, I love both my parents so much and I know they try hard. I have a great life and love both my homes, but when the holidays come around, there’s always a part of me that longs for the past when things were simple and we were all together.

For those of you who are fortunate enough to have no idea what I’m talking about, enjoy every cheesy family Christmas moment – even the matching pajamas. 

For the rest of us, let’s just enjoy the double presents.

Junior Cassie Honeycutt can be reached at 21honeycuttca35@daretolearn.org.