I’ll start by saying—I have a big family, and we love to celebrate. For years, I was at almost every party, gathering, and event.

But over the past year or so, I’ve found myself pulling back. It’s not that anything is wrong—I’m not depressed or upset—I’ve just genuinely become more of a homebody.

These days, I really enjoy quiet weekends, doing things that bring me peace and happiness like working out, meal prepping, and getting organized for the week ahead. I like feeling prepared, rested, and recharged before Monday rolls around.

I love my family deeply and still want to spend time with them, but with the constant flow of events—birthdays, baptisms, you name it—I’ve realized I don’t want to give up my entire weekend for every occasion, especially for more distant relatives.

My mom doesn’t always understand this shift. If I skip a party, she worries that something must be wrong, like I’m withdrawing or hiding something.

But the truth is simple: I just don’t feel like going, and that should be okay too.

AITAH for skipping family functions in favor of alone time?