Weddingbee boards

Okay bees, I'd like some perspective on this.

This is the second year I've been with my company. Every year for Christmas, I make it known pretty early on that we travel to visit our families in NY (we live in Chicago). Our company always hosts their holiday party on December 23. I'm always conflicted because my husband and I usually plan to leave that day around 2 p.m. to beat traffic because we drive (eight hours, it stucks), and I always plan on leaving early that day. BUT, our company party starts right around the time I always plan to leave. Last year, because we had just gotten engaged and many of our family members hadn't seen us, I decided to make my family a priority, and I skipped the company party. I didn't feel bad, either.

This year, though, I do feel bad. But at the same time, I feel like the president should accept the fact that people travel on the 23rd, and if they can't make it, they can't make it. I don't think anyone holds it against me, but I don't want to seem ungrateful. Because we're driving, we could technically leave any time we wanted (read: later in the day), but it would cause a lot of problems like getting stuck in traffic, and driving late into the night. However, if I attend the company party, I would leave guilt-free for the holidays. I feel like I should either go or not go because the whole point of leaving early would be a waste if I held off any later (because of traffic).

How do other bees view the company party? Do you feel guilty when you can't go? Do you always feel obligated? Ours are always very low-key, too (I'm not sure if that should play into my decision). I'm more leaning toward going and sucking it up, but I still keep going back to "just skip it."

I know it also sounds like I'm making it a much bigger deal than it is! I just wanted other's opinions.

I can't believe your co. would have the party ssooo close to Christmas. Most co. do this at least a week before. I'm sure you are not the only one traveling and not the only one skipping it. If they haven't clued in enough to change the date, I wouldn't feel guilty about not attending. Your family is more important and it's CHRISTMAS! Are they trying to keep people from taking extra time off in advance of the holiday? Whatever it is, I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe some of you can suggest moving the date next year?

Our company is like 20 people, so it would definitely be noticed if I wasn't there. I find it so strange that we have our party on the 23rd, too, and I'm happy I'm not the only one who thinks so! 98 percent of our office has family that is local, and I'm one of like two people who has to travel, so I feel like people don't understand that. Now I'm leaning more toward skipping it again because deep down, I really want to reserve that time for our own families.