I suppose it never occurs to these people that their family members on the other side feel the same way about trying harder with them.
Them: "Why are mom & dad so distant around the holidays?"
Me: "Maybe it's because you show up to Thanksgiving halfway through dinner, you stay just long enough to eat, and you're dashing out the door before anybody has even gotten up. Then you always promise to come visit on Christmas, then you call them on Dec. 26th full of excuses as to why you couldn't make the 40 mile drive."