As the song says, “ It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Yeah right…try telling that to a mother who is trying to find the last Wii in town, sifting through a year’s worth of photos trying to find the perfect one for her Christmas card (The one where her husband doesn’t look too bald and she doesn’t look too fat, let alone her children look good!!), baking like a banshee, decorating her house and now…. her car, finding the perfect festive outfit for the office party, keeping the balance right with religion and Santa, making sure to do some charitable deeds; all the while still doing laundry, cooking and cleaning!! Even with all the above going on, I still DO love this time of the year. (Let me say it again…I might convince myself!)
Personally I love running to the mailbox to receive holiday greetings. You know the ones where the kids look great and the accompanying letter tells you that each child is on the honor roll while participating in various sporting events. It further informs you that the mom works full time and still manages to go on mission trips to Africa and that the dad’s been promoted to C (something) O of X company and running marathons. I know these well-intentioned friends aren’t writing to make me feel inferior, but it sure seems that way when I read those Christmas letters. I stopped sending those letters years ago and try to write a little personal greeting on each card. However, it usually works out that the beginning of the alphabet gets a nice handwritten note while the end gets zilch. At least I try…maybe I should send my cards from the end of the alphabet this year and then every other year everyone will get a letter from me!!
It is a time of the year though when people get together, do for others and there is goodwill in the air! I love seeing friends and neighbors at holiday parties. Last year I started a new tradition with my daughter. We hosted a cookie swap for her friends. Usually at a cookie swap you’d take your own homemade cookies and share them. At our swap, the girls actually make the cookies at our home and then assemble a plate with the various ones to take home at the end of the party. We also had a gift under the tree for each girl last year. They were all pretty basic and we let each child choose theirs from under the tree. They weren’t labeled and were generic…body lotion, picture frame, etc… I had a little trick up my sleeve though. Imagine my daughter’s friend’s surprise when she opened a size 14 pair of ladies yellow granny panties!! It was hilarious. We are going to host the party again this year so I’ve got to find another size 48 yellow bra to match!
