Holidays

This year the holidays are going to be different for a few reasons. Tis the season for a reason... I do like rhymes. Anyway....

Thanksgiving is going to be spent at my mom's. Given all of the normal family issues, it will actually not be very different.

But Christmas is another story.

There are no small children. In fact, there are only adults. 18 and 24 are not fun ages to buy for. I miss the days of sitting with my friends and planning our holidays. In our efforts to teach the children cross-cultural traditions, we, very irreverently, had tamales on the first night of Hanukkah.

I am in a different house, by myself, and all of the Christmas decorations are in storage. Now I LOVE Christmas. But it will be hard to get all of the stuff out and decorate all by myself. I think there maybe a new tradition to work in here somewhere. One in which I invite my friends over, ply them with food and then give them alcohol and tinsel.

In past years, the family schedule varied little. Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at Grandma Judy's was almost always standard , and Christmas Day at my mom's or if she was out of town, then it was Christmas at her house on the 26th. We always tried to fit Grumps and Myra in early but sometimes the whole holiday was spent in Maryland or Missouri. We were always with grandparents and rarely in our own home on Christmas.

This year will also be different because of the divorce. Just recently, the children (18 and 24) asked what we were doing for Christmas. I told them that it would be the same plan as always. In fact the parenting plan from the divorce states that the 18 year old is required to spend the holidays with her grandparents until further notice. (A nice coup on my part I think.)

In reality, I think the holidays will be hardest on the adults who will sense the awkward, readjustment they are facing as old relationships have grown cold and new ones are starting. Ours was always a "blended" family and on more than one occasion, there were at least two if not three ex-spouses and new spouses all in the same room and having a good time. I hope that we are graceful enough to bridge the gap as well.

I love Christmas. I drag those surrounding me into the fray as well, with Secret Santa at work and my annoying cheerful, enthusiasm for Christmas music, books and videos (all AFTER Thanksgiving of course). When my marriage was so bad, there were a few bad holidays. But, despite all the changes, I am getting very excited about this Christmas and plan on having a rousing, good time.