Holidays ARE confusing!!! I have to deal with Thanksgiving even before I think about Christmas!!! We have some out of town relatives (on H's side of the family) coming and MIL has asked ME to cook. (MIL is in a retirement home and doesn't have a kitchen). H announced that he was coming, too. We have said from the start that ou goal is to be able to make other people comfortable when they are around both of us. He just wanted to know what time I was planning to eat. When I told him I didn't know yet he said that he HAD TO KNOW! I suspect he was trying to work in two Thanksgiving dinners. At least I got first choice of time. I was really tempted to pick mid afternoon which might screw up time for ow's dinner. ;\) Instead I picked noon time so I could be the first! (is that being passive aggresive?)

Reading the story must have been difficult for you! Maybe it affected your wife as well, but she just doesn't want to let you know. On the positive side--at least she sent it to you! I would think your son would be happy that you read it. It is a good place to start discussing feelings with him. Christmas may be different, but would you rather "act as if" you are enjoying being with the kids for Christmas or spend the time alone? There may be a time in the future that you split holidays....but no need to worry about that now. Christmas will be difficult enough this year just being in Iraq!