I have a confession to make: I pretty much dread the Christmas season.
The mad rush, the searches to find the perfect gift, the craziness, the commercialism, the traffic, the crowds, the cost…
Don’t get me wrong. Once upon a time, I loved Christmas and all that came with it. Those were the days when others were making Christmas special for my sake! Now, however, I am one of the grown-ups who is tasked with making Christmas a delight for others. I become frantic as I realize all that needs to be done. It’s not the most enjoyable time of year for me.
Still, I muddle through and do the best I can. And then, little moments get me: I am gratified when I see the awe in Cupcake’s eyes. Hearing BabyMuffin break into chants of, “Kiss-mas kiss-mas kiss-mas,” each time we go into any store that has holiday decorations (and let’s face it: they all do) makes me realize that it is new and extraordinary to him. And Bito’s thoughtful calculation of what to say to Santa when he goes to visit him at the mall amazes me with how this holiday is HUGE in his life.
And nevermind the sheer glee of Christmas morning! That alone may make it worth it.
So that’s The Reason for the Season*. It’s not about me. Making the holiday sparkly and wondrous for The Crew is my goal, and of course I’ll work hard to make it exciting for them. I’ll try to keep that in the front of my mind as I rush around this year.
I was so glad to find your blog the other day. Thanks for taking the time to share what life is like for you and your family!
What I learned about Christmas with my marriage is that my husband tends to be very low-key. (Not that Christmas things aren’t important to him. They are, but he’d be happy taking care of them on Dec. 24th, which is impossible…) So in my house I’m the Keeper of Christmas regarding purchasing, wrapping, baking, visiting, traditions, etc. When we were first married and I was teaching full-time, that really frustrated me. In the last six years, I’ve been home with my children, so it seems a little easier to get things done. It makes me wonder how that balance is in other families?