Holiday celebrations with family
Christmas is ten days away and Grandma is cranking… Most of my shopping is done. My husband got me started before Thanksgiving, and as I brought gifts home, yes and this is true…he wrapped, bagged and labeled them. I have a daughter, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He has three daughters, and then the miscellaneous people you purchase gifts for.
Joe also sends out Christmas cards. I won’t even read them. I hate Christmas cards. However, we still seem to do well together, finding common ground in the middle. Yesterday my grammology partner and her husband joined us for dinner and she told us her husband: “covers her blind spot” We decided my husband does the same for me. I think we’re going to love that phrase and I hope he’s always there to keep me steady.
Joe’s daughters are coming over with their partners and we’re celebrating our Christmas today. The girls love the fact that we observe the holidays a week before or after, allowing them to schedule other family obligations with less stress. We decided it wasn’t the day or date. It was the effort, love and care given when they arrive. We have food, gifts, and comfort within our home. We love our children and grandchildren and tell how much all the time. We respect their other families including Joe’s X wife who is a great lady. And expect to be flexible so everyone can enjoy family celebrations without guilt.
During this family gathering, we’ll have antipasti, baked ham with rye bread, coleslaw, and home made pasta fagioli, along with snacks, desserts and drinks. Our family with be one today. They’ll leave our home, knowing when here, it’s their home. We’ll talk and share what’s up in their lives. We’ll offer opinions when asked, and let them know we’re there when needed. We’ve brought them up to be independent and start their own families which they are doing; knowing we’re the umbrella, if they need something. Reminding them there will be the time, when they’ll have to come back to us, and we need the tender love and care. We think they’ll be there when and if that happens.
Our kids see how we treat our parents, aunts, etc. anyone in our family who needs care. We’ve taught our children you arrive here, in need of attention, and most often leave the same way. Everyone seems to have a story of an elderly loved one who needed tending for sometime in their lives. Helping your family during those times are the greatest examples you can give your children. So don’t hide it, if you have family obligations to someone who’s in need of your support. Ask your children to come alone when you do something good for the elderly. Whether it’s shopping for them, or bringing a dinner straight from your supper table. The happy family member will be a great example for your children to experience. Seeing the joy you brought to this needing family member speaks volumes for you and your upbringing.
Today we will be living, loving, and enjoying our family. Starting Christmas early; what a wonderful way to begin the holiday season enjoying more days of joy, instead of less. Hope it goes for you as well.
15 Responses to “Holiday celebrations with family”
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What a wonderful start to Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful time.
Le gach dea-ghui i gcomhair na Nollag is na h-athbhliana
which means
With all Good Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Grannymar
[...] to Google Latest Content Holiday celebrations with family – 6 hours ago Christmas is ten days away and Grandma is cranking… Most of my shopping is done. My [...]
I like your idea of doing the Christmas thing a week beforehand. Why does everything have to be on the same day? Great idea. We’ve done it in the past with Thanksgiving (having it that Sunday instead of Thursday so we or our parents could go away that week) but haven’t done it for Christmas.
The first part our family holiday celebrations just left. Everyone had to leave earlier then usual because of storm warnings. Robin lives in Snow land…. and we wanted her home before it started. We had such a good time, even though we discussed an upcoming wedding and all opinions were not the same. Remember weddings are always tense..well so why should we be different? However, even if we don’t agree and inevitably this will happen; we still know we love each other, and this too will pass..(I hope)
Thanks grannymar…and thanks Mauigirl..so far so good.. and next is my daughter and her group. Should also be fun.
Thanks so for the comments..I love to read them..
My best, Dorothy
To my “second” (step) mom…
Thank you for a wonderful time yesterday at our Christmas celebration!!!! It was so nice, and of course I’m enjoying the leftovers today!!!
Thank you for being who you are and being so accepting and loving of who we are…
Thank you for your advice without judgement…
I love you!
Robin
Thank you Joe and Eddie for covering our “blind spots” and always being there for us – we hope we do the same for you. Thank you Dorothea for inspiring us all. You show us the way it should be done….elders teaching the younger generations so they someday become the elders of the family – ready to give the values, integrity and generous spirits back to the family and the world!
Linda Davis
Robin, you are such a joy, and a wonderful daughter to love. Sharing our lives, laughing, and having fun… And learning from each other. And of course good food and some Southern Comfort doesn’t hurt our time as well…
We think we’re pretty lucky….to have you girls….enjoy the rest of your holidays and call if you need me…. I miss our dinners, where we gossiped and always caught up on life. Hopefully when the weather breaks we’ll do it again..
Love Dorothy
Linda, I did three different post today, and can’t remember where I quoted you…covering our blind spots…I love it..
I’ve been on this computer since 6 this morning..with two breaks to shower and eat dinner..I’m a nut…quitting in a minute. Almost caught up.
We had such a good time, you and Ed are really fun to go out with…and your not such a bad influence as well…I really know how to pick good parters..don’t I…..?
hugs…me…
Happy Holidays to all of you!!! I love that phrase…covers my blind spot! Very clever.
And I agree, we do show each other love by how we treat others around us. What a way to role model love and family.
Me too, when Linda said the words Friday evening, I knew I’d use and love that word as well. We do love our families and hope we can pass those thoughts and feelings as we move along with grammology. There is nothing more important then family and friends in our world.
Dorothy
We just had our traditional tree/cookie decorating gathering yesterday. This tradition began when the boys were young, I would put the lights and garland (strung beads) on the tree and the boys would do the ornaments. As the boys grew up they were around less, friends, sports etc., but the tradition held. When they went away to college they would return only a few days before Christmas and still the tradition held. I remeber one year they put it off and put it off and were shocked to see that on Chrismas Eve there were still no ornaments on the tree again the tradition held. We now have girls attached to the boys and children attached to them (1 now and 2 more on the way)and much to my delight the tradition is still holding. We had so much fun we love them all! Our boys know how much this means to me and have embraced our tradition. It is so nice for us to get together before all of the hullaballough of the holiday days. I told them all if you show your children love and respect they will give it back Nick and Matt are proof of this. As for weddings I think we are better off letting them make their own decisions and do it their way so they can enjoy it with the family and freinds that are most important to them. Memories are everything and having happy memories of your wedding being the day you dreamed of being shared with those you love is the most important. I for one will TRY to let this happen. Love to you and a wish for a happy happy holiday!!!!
Hello to all and happy holidays. We have so much business this year with moving and selling our home we are not going to celebrate the way we normaly would. I hope our older children understand and still enjoy the holiday with other family members. Concerning the wedding plans I suppose this is one of those areas where mother and stepmother differ. Our family philosify has always been you hurt one of us you hurt all of us. This means also if you marry one of us you marry all of us and we dont intend to change that for anyone so hopefully those comming into our group figures that out before the wedding day so they can change the plan if they dont like it!
I love your philosophies! It really is the love and the gathering, not the date on the calendar. Have a wonderful and happy holiday