Office Talk
I was chatting with a co-worker the other day and she was telling me how overwhelming the Holidays are. Everyone has such expectations she was explaining. I think the people who have the highest expectations are us moms. I know I want my kids to be enamored with everything Christmas. Much of my time involves creating fun things for us to do and then they don’t want to do them or seem unmoved by them.
Spouse Chat
The other evening I was watching a Great American Christmas channel movie with my husband and he laughed at the main star, Candace Cameron Bure. He kept saying she is you. She was bubbly and always trying to plan family fun. Her pre-teens and teens were not impressed. The whole movie was about simplifying and letting some of your expectations go.
Simple is Better
Over the years I found that simple is better. When I try to go big it flops. But when I suddenly say hey, get a warm blanket we are going to drive around and look at Christmas lights they seem ok with it. We make hot chocolate and use my lights scavenger hunt and we have a ball. There is no big expectation and things just work.
Favorite Memories
I have asked the kids about their favorite Christmas memories and they always are simple times. One daughter liked the time we dropped a present off at a young girl’s house who was seeking cancer treatments. Another daughter liked the outdoor church service we attended. My third daughter enjoyed when the heat went out and we all slept in front of the fireplace. These are all simple things.
Season of Hope
Since Christmas is the season of hope and Christ, I ponder what being a Christian means to me. God gives me the centering and the foundation to help me put what is really important into perspective.
A friend said it best, let there be space for conversation. Really what I learned this season is that listening is better than talking.