When we were children, the thought of Christmas was so exciting. It was all about the treats and presents we were going to receive in the morning. It is true when they said that sugarplums danced above our heads, but in my case, it was which Barbie Doll or accessory, and of course as I got older, which game (I liked the game of Life the best). Finally, as a full-fledged teenager, money was the gift of choice.
As an adult mom and grandma, I now understand the pressure the ladies
in my family were under as December approached. Beyond the traditional baking that had to be done early, the decorating that was always eventful, the visit list that seemed to go on forever, gifts purchased and wrapped with so much care and finally the eve dinner (all fish) and the turkey etc. for the big day, I watched the women go from exhaustion to something in the area of comatose as we neared Boxing Day.
Now we try to match the work of Martha Stewart, Canadian Living Magazine and Decorator or Us. (I made up the last one) The focus used to be on the food. Now our focus is split on how it looks as much as how it tastes.
I object! I am already nervous about all the things I must do before the big guy arrives, never mind whether the tree matches the skirt, matches the table settings and place cards. First thing (sorry Auntie Fran) the place cards are toast. No time or inclination to determine who sits next to who. We are family after all and if I recall Christmas’s in the past, we really did not have a say where we sat.
Napkins will be paper (sorry again) but nice and festive. I draw the line at paper plates although I looked at a few with Christmas colours with a little bit of desire. Candles will be lit, smelling of cinnamon, apples, and warm vanilla. And food, whether made at home or purchased, and no one will be able to tell once transferred to my serving dishes, will be present in copious amounts. As will the spirits.
So, what am I focusing on? The fact that my children and grandchildren will be home for Christmas. This means an almost 5-year-old, a newly minted one year old and another almost one year old will be staying with us. Oh, and their parents will be here too. As we have all boys I expect a lot of running, yelling, sticky fingers, and rough housing that will only end up in crying. That part their parents can handle.
Grandma and Grandpa are for spoiling, feeding, gifting, and making them happy. (even if it makes their parents a little crazy) I have already looked at all the coolest toys, best winter wear like parkas for the BC group who have forgotten what winter is really like, (not so for those in Winnipeg), sleeping spaces and reading material. And the list continues to grow.
It will not be quiet or serene as we have seen in a Martha Stewart Christmas, but it will be a whole lot of fun, even if a bit crazy. There will be music of the children variety playing in the background (can anyone sing Baby Shark) and pictures taken. It will be glorious, but I do have ear plugs at the ready.
Hope your Christmas season is as fun and festive!
