Couple Always Ends Up On Air Mattress On Family Holidays, Woman Loses Patience

When I arrive at my parents’ house after traveling halfway across the world to visit for the holidays, I exhale a huge sigh of relief. Finally, I am somewhere I feel safe and cared for, and I always enjoy the most restful sleep that I’ve had in months. There’s just something magical about that bed! But unfortunately, that’s not everyone’s experience during the holiday season.

One woman recently reached out to Reddit for advice after finding herself in a difficult situation with her boyfriend’s family. After years of being forced to sleep on an air mattress during the week of Thanksgiving, she decided that she’s had enough. Below, you’ll find the full story, as well as a conversation with the post’s author. 

This woman was excited to finally sleep in a comfortable bed at her boyfriend’s parents’ house

Two women sitting on a sofa, engaged in a heated discussion about family holidays.

Image credits: namii9 / freepik (not the actual photo)

But before she arrived, she was informed that the first come, first serve rule was no longer being respected

Text describing a couple's family holiday sleeping arrangement frustration.

Text explaining a couple's frustration with always sleeping on an air mattress during family holidays.

Text excerpt discussing holiday plans and room arrangements with family.

Text message reveals frustration over air mattress arrangement during family holidays.

Text describing impatience over family holidays and air mattress misunderstandings.

Text describing a family holiday dispute over rules, involving Nathan and Mary.

Hands inflating an air mattress during a family holiday setup.

Image credits: alidrian / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text exchange discussing frustration over being assigned an air mattress on family holidays.

Text discusses a couple's frustration over always ending up on an air mattress during family holidays.

Image credits: One-Street5122

Later, the woman responded to several readers and provided more information about the situation

Comment thread discussing family holiday sleeping arrangements and air mattress issues.

Reddit comments discussing family sleeping arrangements during holidays.

Reddit comments discussing a couple's issues with always ending up on an air mattress during family holidays.

Reddit comments discussing family holiday issues and frustrations over sleeping arrangements on an air mattress.

Surviving the holidays with your partner’s family can be challenging

Family gathering at dinner table with festive holiday meal preparation.

Image credits: gpointstudio / freepik (not the actual photo)

The holidays are supposed to be a time of relaxation and reflection. You should be sitting around the fireplace with your loved ones, enjoying a comforting meal and catching up on what’s happened in your lives this year. Work should be the last thing on your mind, and your stress should melt away like the butter on your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.

Unfortunately, however, we all know that that’s not how the holidays will actually go for many of us. Family drama often interferes with enjoying these special days, and it’s hard to savor a slice of pumpkin pie when your uncle wants to have a political debate over dessert. And of course, the holidays can be even more challenging when you’re spending them with someone else’s family.

To find out more about this situation, we got in touch with the post’s author, Reddit user One-Street5122, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. She actually just posted an update with even more details, which can be found here.

As far as what she thought of the replies to her post, the OP said she appreciated the comments, as she feared that she was overreacting. “But based on most comments, I was under reacting, which was a surprise to me,” she shared.

We were also curious as to why no one in the family ever offered to stay in a hotel or Airbnb. “As I address in my update, the big driving factor in no hotel (other than the parents not wanting that) is that each evening, until late into the night, all the kids play board games and drink,” the author explained. “Where they live, the closest hotel is about an hour away, and there are no Ubers.”

But apparently, it’s not surprising that Jack and Jill created an issue around the beds. “Everyone has had conflicts with Jack and Jill in the family,” One-Street5122 revealed. “We ended up having the air mattress in Luke and Millie’s room since they offered.”

Millie also requested two nights in a row that they could all play board games in Jack and Jill’s room, as their room was larger and wasn’t already crowded with things and an air mattress. But the couple refused.

It’s always a good idea to mentally prepare yourself for uncomfortable encounters

Woman looking frustrated, resting her face in hands, sitting on a sofa.

Image credits: lifestock / freepik (not the actual photo)

When it comes to surviving the holidays with your partner’s family, your first instinct might be to fake an illness or indulge in a little too much wine. But The Zoe Report got in touch with some experts to find out some healthier tactics for staying sane. First, they recommend following your instincts. If you began to feel hesitant the moment you received an invitation to Thanksgiving, don’t ignore what your gut is telling you.

Imagine how you’ll actually feel showing up to the gathering and spending an entire day there, and if you’re dreading it, it might be a sign that you should decline. However, if you’re definitely planning on going, psychotherapist Tina B. Tessina, PhD, recommends anticipating any challenges that may pop up during the celebration.

Does your partner’s mom always criticize your cooking? Will your partner’s aunt badger you about why you’re not pregnant yet? Or will their father ask how much money you’ve saved this year? If you are prepared for all of these uncomfortable situations, you can be mentally prepared to let them roll off your back. Plus, you might even be able to come up with responses ahead of time or safer topics to switch the conversation to if need be.

It’s also a good idea to go into the event in a great headspace. Repeating positive affirmations to yourself can help you feel calm and centered before the chaos begins. And if you need to set boundaries with relatives, don’t be afraid to enforce them. Just remember to remain cordial, even if someone has been rude to you. You don’t want to spark family drama or escalate a situation if it will turn your partner’s entire family against you.

Finally, The Zoe Report recommends making sure that you have access to your support system before and after the holiday. Schedule an appointment with your therapist, make plans with your best friend or schedule a phone call with your sister. If you need to vent after it’s all said and done, you’ll feel relieved to know that you have someone with your best interest at heart waiting to talk to you.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this woman did anything wrong by standing up for her right to have a comfortable bed? Feel free to share, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda piece featuring family drama during the holidays, look no further than right here!

Some readers took the author’s side and suggested that she and her boyfriend enjoy Thanksgiving in their own home

Reddit comment discussing frustration about air mattress situations on family holidays.

Reddit comment discussing moving to a twin room and avoiding long drives during family holidays.

Comment advising a couple on solving holiday air mattress issues with family.

Text comment discussing a couple's recurring family holiday issues.

Comment on Reddit discussing air mattress issue during family holidays.

Comment discussing alternatives to staying on an air mattress during family holidays.

Text discussing frustration over a couple always ending up on an air mattress during family holidays.

Text comment expressing frustration over family holiday accommodations.

Text discussing frustration about always ending up on air mattress during family holidays.

Text conversation about a couple ending up on an air mattress during family holidays, expressing frustration.

Comment suggesting a couple stay at an Airbnb due to air mattress issues during family holidays.

Reddit user comment discussing fairness of travel and holiday plans.

Reddit comment about couples ending up on air mattresses during family holidays.

Reddit comment discussing family holidays and ending holiday visits.

Reddit comment expressing frustration about being on an air mattress during family holidays.

However, others thought that all parties had made questionable decisions

Comment on couple's holiday struggles and patience wearing thin.

A Reddit comment discussing frustrations over family holidays and dealing with an air mattress situation.

Text exchange discussing couple stuck on air mattress during family holidays.

Text conversation discussing frustrations with family holiday accommodations on an air mattress; advice on staying in a motel.

Reddit comment discussing couple on air mattress during family holidays, addressing relationship and family dynamics.

Commentary on family holiday dynamics, focusing on a couple's air mattress experiences.

Some even called out the woman for accepting the air mattress for multiple years in a row

Text conversation discussing family holidays and relationship dynamics.

Comment discussing a couple on an air mattress during family holidays, highlighting frustration over repeated experiences.

Comment advising a couple to make new traditions after always ending up on an air mattress during family holidays.

Text comment criticizing a couple for tolerating others' behavior during family holidays.

Comment discussing being on air mattress during family holidays, suggesting to take a mini break instead.

And some thought it was unfair for the author to behave this way as a guest in someone else’s home

Text exchange about couple sleeping on an air mattress during family holidays, highlighting patience lost.

Comment criticizing a couple for always ending up on air mattress during family holidays.

Comment about guests on an air mattress during holidays, suggesting they get a hotel if not satisfied.

Comment reads sarcastic response about holiday and air mattress issue.

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