I think holidays should be happy occasions, at a minimum, so maybe we could rotate years. But that does not happen.

Dear Annie: I broke up with the mother of my children two years ago. We have had a very rocky past. I treated her badly for the first couple of years, and we separated for two years after our first child was born. We got back together 18 months later.

Dear Avoiding Ex: The best way to convey to your adult children that you would not like to be around your ex for the holidays is to tell them that. But understand that might mean less time with your kids.

How do I convey to my adult married children that I do not like being around my ex? My son lives several states away, and he invited my daughter and her family, my ex, and my wife and me for Thanksgiving together.