Ever November, I take a deep breath and try to figure out how to survive the holiday season. I know I should be a fan of these holidays…a time to be with family and friends, to enjoy the magic of the season, blah, blah, blah.
But, I’m not. It’s a hard time for me. I feel like there are heightened expectations that I can’t meet, family drama gets stirred up, and I have less time to do the things I want to do. I’m a grinch and a scrooge (but people can’t often tell because I’m also a mom who feels like she has to give her kids a Christmas experience, so I fake it).
How do you feel about the holidays?
*Seriously?! She’s the only female character I could fit in!
I love the holidays, particularly Christmas, and particularly holidays where I get to see family and friends.
Thanks for the pointer to your 2008 post, Emily. I still love your idea of the “good enough” Christmas. I hope your kids appreciate your putting Christmas on for them even if it’s not your favorite time because it’s such a stress. I know being a parent has made me appreciate how much work my mom put in to make Christmas fun for us, particularly given that she was doing it alone because my dad isn’t a fan of it.
Thanks, Ziff! It helps to be married to someone who lights up the front yard like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The kids love it 🙂
Wow, I hadn’t noticed how sparse the female characters are in this book! No wonder so many filmmakers and playwrights substitute a woman for the boy Ghost of Christmas Past. I did think of one more–I think many people could relate to the wife of Fred (Scrooge’s nephew). “I love Christmas, but my in-laws exasperate me.”
Awesome, April! I should reuse this poll next year and add the wife of Fred. (Really, Dickens?! You couldn’t be bothered to at least name the women?)
I really love Christmas, but the thought of equating myself with Tiny Tim was too distressing, so I put other. This probably makes me a bad human being, but he’s too insipid for my tastes. I generally skip any part he’s in when I can.
I always thought I was bugged by Tiny Tim because he loves Christmas but yes, he is rather insipid, isn’t he?
I had to check other. I relate to aspects of several different characters. Like the Cratchits, I really do try to enjoy the season, but I don’t always make the best of it. Like Scrooge, by the time Christmas Day arrives, I’m tired of spending so much money trying to please everyone (selfish, I know). I have managed to cut back this year, but it still takes so much of my time to find just the right gifts, leaving little time and energy to enjoy the activities. And I hate, hate, hate doing Christmas cards (which I just finished last night, so the hate is still strong in the air this morning). I do love the music though, identifying with the scene in one of the movie versions where Scrooge sees himself as a young man dancing on Christmas Day.
Great point, Catherine…sometimes, I can identify with the other characters at different point in the season, too.
If there were a “spongebob squarepants” or “buddy the elf” character in that story, that would be me: irrationally excited about anything Christmassy.
Those sound much more joyful than Tiny Tim, Annie B. 🙂
I’m definitely in the irrationaly joyful about the holidays camp. It’s my very favorite time of the year. Maybe it wouldn’t be if I had mom responsibilities, but I don’t. And I have refused to allow being single and living with roommates and now alone to mean that I don’t get to indulge in as much Christmas cheer as I want. Nativity–check. Tree–check. Outdoor lights–check. Stocking–check. Holiday pillows on my bed, snowmen, holly, reindeer, carols–it all makes me wonderfully happy. And I love buying gifts for people. It’s not about what I spend, just about finding something that fits them.
yay Christmas!
I need to see that the holidays hold this kind of joy for someone. Thanks for sharing, Amy.
What about his smart, kind, independent fiance? I think I identify most with her.
Ah! Good memory! (I wonder how she felt about the holidays…)
I used to be a Fezziwig–festive, merry-making, maybe even foolish in my exuberance. But this year I’ve come to accept that I feel like a someone slipped me a sauerkraut sandwich with arsenic sauce. The holidays are kicking my butt. Being the Mom is kicking my butt. The economy is kicking my butt. The pressure has turned me from a Christmas lover to a hater. Thanks for being strong Em, and reminding me to keep it together for the kids!
So sorry, my friend. Have some peppermint ice cream with hot fudge!