Planning issues

So I do not know how this keeps happening, me having two things of near the same importance on the same weekend in December. Or I should say they should be of the same import but they are not. *sigh*

Family Christmas party vs. Dawns Christmas Party and The Scribal Event...

Family Christmas party entails driving to Arkansas with my parents, staying one day for the party and driving back to Chicago. There I would have to deal with the entirety of the family. I don't really want to see my family, but I don't dare tell that to mom. Why don't I want to see my family you may ask? I don't really like them, they don't understand me. I don't want to hear all the crap I'm sure I'm going to get because I'm "wasting my life". And because I won't move away from this general area to get a job easier. The only fun would be me playing with the new babies of the family as we keep spawning.

Dawn's Christmas party and the Scribal Event. Oppourtunity to learn stuff,show off my painting stuff (if I can say its showing off), have fun with my friends. Touch. No bitterness, misunderstanding, or namecalling just friendly fun.

Family Christmas party vs. Dawns Christmas Party and Scribal Event...

What do I do?