Being Thankful Around the Holidays.

You are so right! I'm thankful for my healthy kids, my awesome parents, great friends, home, and job with a great boss. There are so many things to be thankful for, it's put into perspective as I know a family that will be spending their last Christmas with their little girl (she is terminally ill). Also, my brothers divorce was just finalized Monday. It's been a rough year, but now it's over and he can finally move on with his son. Thank you thank you for everything I have!

Kat....God Bless you Sweetie....I read your original question...just so I understood a little more about what was going on with you.
I want you to sit back, take a deep breath and tell yourself that you and your little one are going to enjoy this Christmas...even if you are doing it by yourselves!!!
I have been through a lot of issues in my 42 year marriage, and I understand the real panic, anger, fear, that you are dealing with right now.
You need to sit down and really do some soul searching...do you love your husband? Do you think he has the desire to make things work with you in a HEALTHY relationship? I know that your child is a major player in this decision...but please....PLEASE don't stay just because of your child!!! Children are little sponges...they soak up the environment that they are living in. So it you want to have a really healthy, loving atmostphere for your little one to grow up in. If you think that you and your husband can work through your "issues" and rediscover the love that brought you together...then go for it!!! But...if you think it is broken beyond redemption...it would be better for all of you to make the break sooner rather than later and start building a stable, calm, loving home for you and your child.
Find someone that you know and trust ( A pastor, old friend that you feel like has the knowledge and empathy to listen and help, a counselor) to talk to and confide in.
As for your Mother in law...I know ALL about toxic inlaws...believe me they can make life MISERABLE!!! But don't punish your husband by staying away from family get togethers...go and put a smile on your face...bite your tongue if you have to...and remember that your husband is NOT responsible for what your MIL says or does...and if you don't react to her prodding and nastiness...it may just take all of the fun out of it for her and she might surprise you and at least be civil!!
Good luck to you Kat...and God Bless you
Merry Christmas!!!

I read this post before I read your previous one. Merry Christmas to you, too! Be thankful every day - every minute, if you need to remind yourself that often - for the good things you have right now. And after Christmas, please seek some counseling for the situations you've written about. You have too much on your plate to handle it alone.

Sometimes when things look really bleak, and like they are going to be crappy for a long time, you are blessed with stuff you never would have imagined.

I know for me that has been the case, and it is all because God loves me and you and everyone. I totally know he cares about us individually and sends people and things in our lives to help us through hard times. Also, He knows everything, including the future. Pray, pray, pray!!! And you will be okay!

Stay strong, and merry Christmas to you.

Chin up....you need to get away from the abusiveness of your husband. Yes, it is abusive. And you should not stay married to him for your son, you need to be happy and healthy, or your son has no mommy.

We're here for you Kat...

This message is indicative of how you seem to have been living your life--trying to brush off how you really feel and focus on how it should be. You know, sometimes you just don't feel thankful and all warm and fuzzy about stuff, and that's more than okay. You need to get mad and indignant about the mess in your life and do something about it. You don't owe it to anybody to put on a happy face in the midst of this. Yeah, you should feel thankful for the things in your life. Also, feel thankful for the things that we call "bad" that are designed to get our attention and force us to make hard decisions about our futures. There are times when you need to just be annoyed to the hilt and do something about it. You lose your motivation when you put that spin on it, just trying to focus on the butterflies and daffodils.

Be strong and know that things are reallllllllllllly tough right now they cant and wont stay like that forever. Promise!
Remember that you are loved, by family, friends and your son, and even by other mommys out here who know your pain <3

This too shall pass and try and hang in there!