The tree is up, the lights are twinkling in the yard and the cards are in the mail. I've even managed to get some shopping done. I would say that our house has a decent handle on the season, which is saying something, believe me.
I have had this sensation that I have been missing something though. Is it a decoration lost in storage? An unlisted gift item? Christmas can be a stressful and anxious time for everyone but it has been my experience the single most effective way to power through the season is to surround yourself with children so you can appreciate your own recollections of the holidays of yesteryear.
Eighteen-year-olds aren't as interested in the festivities and traditions as they used to be and that is what is missing at our house. Don't get me wrong, we are having fun, except in a more adult way.
I am somewhat sad in knowing we haven't had an empty wrapping roll sword fight for a few years. And, we haven't had to use special Santa gift wrap so there won't be confusion as to who got what from whom. Those days are etched in mind though and that's comforting.
On Christmas morning we will not be waking up at seven to check out what Santa left in our stockings. Rather, we will wait until sleepyhead pours herself out of bed before we force feed her bacon and sausages.
Long gone are the mornings of playing with dinosaurs and making creations out of plasticine amongst the paper-strewn living room floor.
Whoever said, "Christmas is for kids," got it right. I have many lucid childhood memories of the big day, but I think it is the parents who have total recall on the Christmas front.
I can remember each one with our daughter, and fondly recall the Christmas Eve moments reading together around the fire, the morning breakfast feasts and the present openings from Tickle Me Elmo to iPhone and everything in between.
And the exquisite dinners? When everyone was in an "on year," and not with the in-laws, cramming us all around a couple of tables in an interesting evolution of seating arrangements, including booster seats and high chairs, did, and still does, make for delightful chaos. Throw a few dogs in there and you have Christmas in a bottle.
Things have worked out great for the extended family the past few years. My mom now comes out to Tsawwassen and we feast at my youngest brother's home a couple of blocks away. I cook the turkey at our house and cart it over to Dave's at dinnertime.
The best thing about this scenario is there are still lots of toys to play with my young niece and nephew and I am looking forward to that. I hope Santa gets them a hockey net because that would be really cool for Uncle Mike! This is an "on year" for the Schneider family, so I am looking forward to absorbing the festive pandemonium. Uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters and cousins all, and a mom for the ages, primed for a couple of days to count our blessings. (Miss you, dad!) From our family to yours, have the merriest of Christmases and make an effort to get that sword fight in with someone you love.
