Viewpoints
Approaching holiday means lots of work
The cool, crisp in the morning air may have just alerted some of you that fall will soon be upon us. And if you’re the kind of laid-back, go-with-the-flow person who is just realizing this, I envy you.
I, like many other busy working moms, have to anticipate the coming of the winter months way in advance. There are coats and new shoes to buy, costumes to pick, decorating to do, gift lists to make, and, above all, scheduling to be done.
This is the part the men in my family seem unable to understand. “Thanksgiving and Christmas are still MONTHS away,” they whine. “Why are we having to talk about it now?” Oh, how wonderful that existence must be. I’d love to proceed throughout the holiday season on a well-oiled schedule, visiting every family member in turn, eating festive meals in each of three states, and all without a care in the world.
But, well, it doesn’t work that way. In order for the holiday season to proceed that way, someone’s got to make all those plans. And who does it? Why, your friendly neighborhood mom, that’s who!
So, here we are. Christmas is 100 days out, and I have schedules to organize, gift lists to compile, budgets to make, meals to plan and secrets to keep. While I’m doing that, I have to make sure all the in-laws are happy, and no child can possibly think he’s less special than any other child.
Oh, you know, and the day-to-day business of being a government beat reporter, a wife, a mother, a friend ... all that jazz.
If this sounds exhausting and unfamiliar to you, then you’re probably not a mom. If you’re laughing and saying, “Wow, that’s my life, too,” well, you probably ARE a mom.
The truth is, it is exhausting. The holidays wear me out. By the time Valentine’s Day has come and gone I’ll be at the end of my proverbial rope. But I can’t help it ... I love the holidays.
I love when the air gets that tell-tale bite. I love pumpkins and homemade ghosts in the trees. I love watching my son crack the wishbone. I love working on Christmas music in our church choir. I love thinking about the look on my best friend’s face when she unwraps the “perfect” pair of shoes I bought her (oops!). There’s absolutely nothing about the holiday season that isn’t worth the rush it takes to get it done.
But someday, oh sweet someday, I hope I’ll have a holiday season where everything’s just taken care of. Where I’m shuffled from place to place, blissfully unaware of the work that went into planning these gatherings. Where my name is signed to the card attached to everyone’s perfect gift. And, well, ideally I’d be able to accomplish this stress-free holiday season without either going back in time and being a toddler or fast-forwarding to my octogenarian days.
Or, you know, without having to endure a Freaky Friday incident and switch places with my husband.
- Viewpoints
-
-
Covering the naked ape
When I was a youngster, I learned by looking at my Aunt Flossie’s National Geographic magazines that natives who lived in tropical and sub-tropical climates don’t need to wear as many clothes as was required here in the temperate climes of the “Bible Belt.”
-
High-dollar ads for the big game
I love the Super Bowl.
I’m a football fan, so the game is the finishing touch to a five-month campaign for a title in the NFL.
More than that, though, I enjoy the spectacle. -
Local jobless numbers show slow recovery
The December unemployment rate for the city of Weatherford improved, compared to November. It was unchanged for Parker County and rose on the national and state level.
-
Yes, Texas Can End the Property Tax
If you’re a homeowner in Texas, hopefully you’ve already paid your property taxes. After Monday’s deadline, what was already a hefty and growing tax bill will become even larger.
-
Poll voters pick Colts
Participants in last week’s www.weatherforddemocrat.com online poll overwhelmingly predict the Indianapolis Colts will come away from Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV as NFL champions for the second time in four years.
-
A blow for free speech
From the commentary in the mainstream media, I thought there had been a coup d’etat in Washington.
-
Voters are running scared, but to where?
Voters in Massachusetts last week were obviously running from something.
-
Online voters pick Riley
Voters in last week’s www.weatherforddemocrat.com online poll overwhelmingly support the re-election of Parker County Judge Mark Riley.
-
It takes a village idiot
Recently a chateau in the south of France was robbed of millions of dollars worth of fine art while the owners were on vacation.
-
I need a vacation from all this relaxing
Recently a chateau in the south of France was robbed of millions of dollars worth of fine art while the owners were on vacation.
- More Viewpoints Headlines
-
Covering the naked ape
