If it wasn't for Google, only women who have experienced this terrible thing during pregnancy and their gynecologists would know what this is. I am one of those women so in case you haven't Googled it already, let me spare you the effort. In simple terms, it's something far worse than morning sickness that lasts from start to finish.

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Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration.[1] Signs and symptoms may also include vomiting several times a day and feeling faint.[2] Hyperemesis gravidarum is considered more severe than morning sickness.[2] Often symptoms get better after the 20th week of pregnancy but may last the entire pregnancy duration.[2]
Wikipedia

That sounds about right!
Now that you know what it is, you're probably thinking...What the hell does it have to do with family gatherings? Over Christmas season!!??

The answer is actually quite straight forward. In my case, that is!

See, there's a reason why we grow up and leave the nest. It's just the way it's got to be. "Family gatherings" (and I'll use it as a singular term) IS supposed to be just A gathering ONCE in a while, but over seasons like these, it gets stretched out so far and wide... almost like the nine months of pregnancy with all the morning sickness that comes along with it...in OVERLOAD!

The first thing that comes along with a family gathering, is the in-laws. As a married couple, where do you spend it? With their parents or with yours? It's always an "eenie meenie miney mo" situation and whoever loses, is the miserable one with the fakest smile. I have been lucky enough to dodge that one for the past 5 years and would like to dodge another 5 without pushing my luck. My problem though, is my father. He is like a child himself and teases the kids non-stop. As if it can be so much fun seeing your grandchildren whine about what grandpa did for the millionth time! Perhaps next year, we should get grandpa a toy for Christmas too!

Quite the resemblance, I must say

The second thing that comes with a family gathering, is the questions. It's like your business suddenly got the green light and questions that would normally be avoided on any other day, is now the topic of discussion while you sit there like a hot potato trying to think of the best answer to avoid clever comebacks. Eyebrow raising moments! It's like you can see and hear the invisible buzzers going "Beep, you are the weakest link" whenever the one who should give an answer, answers. Like an examination. If it's not what they wanted to hear, is a CROSS. It's written all over their faces but no one will say it loud.

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The third thing, of course, the one who came along for the food and didn't bring anything! Lazy Suzy who enjoys sitting on her 7th spinal vertebrae, only lifts her bum to use the restroom and doesn't help with anything! No dishes, no food preparations, no nothing. What a disaster it would be if everyone took that position.

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Let's not forget about the fourth thing: Mister Know-it-all! That one clown who married your sister and knows everything about everything. When you say blue, he says red. Goodness me.

That reminds me of the fifth thing...the husband who dare not leave his wife's side in the company of other wives because he is afraid he might miss something that was said. Are you for real? Like we would discuss him anyways?

Exactly like that
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There's probably many more things that would cause the Hyperemis Gravidarum effect to others, but this is mine. And it's not as if you won't do it all again next year, but there's a reason Christmas comes only once a year!

Thank Goodness!