Forever thin skinned

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Christmas #1 with the in-laws is complete, but it always seems to jar my sore spots. The saying goes no one can make you feel lesser without your permission, but that doesn't deflect the patronizing looks and backhanded gestures. I'm still miffed, so I am going to rant on a bit...

I don't live in a nice house. I don't have a white collar job. I can't go haunting off on exotic vacations. I don't buy the latest fashions. I am not religious, but you are when it suits you. It's all about the gift wrap vs what's inside. I am socially awkward which is the true death knell.
There was a nice book with a family bio--everyone had a little paragraph. Too bad mine was half fiction. I wasn't a "Mexican restaurant manager", I was slugging out the night shift at the Taco Bell drive thru, so I could work opposite my husband because there was no daycare. I was a stay at home mom for two years, but only because my infant son would refuse a bottle and not eat when I was away.
Former spouses (not mine) were cleverly omitted. My husband's father doesn't even exist in this book. It's something made to be a family keepsake, but I would love to just watch it burn.
I just hate their value system. I hate how some struggles are unseemly. I have been with the family for over a decade, but am forever other.

I just can't seem to make my peace with it. Any ideas/advice? I've got three more Christmas parties to get through, and it feels like an endurance run already.

Not to go to them of course, but that isn't really an option is it. I usually just bunker down at these sorts of things and just read a book or browse my computer and make the occasional conversation. I could also get away with the legendary excuse of having homework I need to work on so I need to go to the basement and be on my laptop for 5 hours, but I think you're too old to get away with that . Why do the holidays suck so much for so many.

Homework isn't just the youngsters' domain, but I doubt it would fly if I tried it.

The holidays are notorious to some for being miserable, but I wish I wasn't so d#mn hypersensitive. Less dwelling and more yoga, I guess.

Thanks for the input.

Have you tried to find some common ground with some of these people? Maybe you should consider making a list of talking points for each individual person at the party (or at least for the ones you don't completely resent). You can always search on google for talking points during Christmas parties, or maybe just search up talking points in for whatever interests your or them. Who knows, maybe you'll find a friend who shares your viewpoints in life and it might make these parties actually fun!

I imagined you quite thick-skinned.