[Den]

Dear Mother,

I'm apologizing in advance for what I'm going to do. I love you and Dad very much, but given our recent track record with holidays, my decision to no longer spend major ones around you two and the Sibling is really for the best. We all have our demons. I'm wanting all of us to at least try to beat them down before I'm willing to subject myself to being around you and Dad again. It may seem a bit selfish, but me, and my mental health HAS to come first from now on. I'll still come to The Sibling's wedding, and I promise I will be tastefully dressed, but that's only because you guilt tripped me into agreeing to go, despite the fact that I'd intended, and had begun saving up, to visit my best friend up in Canada for her birthday. I now, instead, will be going up to see her for Christmas next year.

As I said, all four of us have our demons. I'm wanting to at least knock mine out of sorts for awhile so I can try to heal and can start to become the best person I can be.

It hurts to write this, because I know I will hurt you, and likely drive a further wedge between us, and for that, I apologize. But the line has to be drawn somewhere, and boundaries enforced and respected, and maybe someday down the road, we can speak to one another as mature adults, without hurtful words being said and reactions to said hurtful words coming out.

-Your daughter