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Like or dislike the holidays and why?
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<blockquote data-quote="Hound dog" data-source="post: 612403" data-attributes="member: 84"><p>My mother was odd about holidays. Well, in all fairness, she was odd about a lot of things......but holidays were one of the major ones. ALL of the holidays, not just this time of year. </p><p></p><p>Thanksgiving was ok I suppose. The extended family usually got together, a rather large extended family.......7 adult children and spouses, 17 grandchildren, grandma (although she never hosted) for a big meal and some visiting. But mom found a way to ruin it for us. We'd have to sit in a designated spot lined up in a row, quiet as mice unless we were eating. God help the child that spoke, fidgeted, asked to play with cousins or in some other way broke the rules. The only time I enjoyed Thanksgiving was at my aunt Janet's house......and that is because she confronted mom over her rule in front of the rest of the family and flat out told her it didn't stand in her house. </p><p></p><p>I don't mind the holiday but honestly I can take or leave it. I did try to make it a big deal and enjoyable for my kids.....as did mother in law.....and I still do for kids and grandkids. </p><p></p><p>Christmas is another matter all together. Maybe it is because it was the only holiday mom showed any interest in other than negative, I dunno. I do know it was the only time of the year I was filled with hope. Hope for what? I'm not really sure exactly. But whatever it was, I never gave up on that hope. </p><p></p><p>Mom decorated, not much by many people's standards, but for her it was extravagant not only due to the decor but because it required time and effort. Mom also baked. The woman can't cook worth a darn, but she certainly can bake. Baking was her xmas "thing", the only part of it she really got into other than the Bible movies. Mom did let me watch the holiday cartoon specials........all of them......no matter what else was on tv......no matter what time it was......if it was xmas related, I could watch it. I lived for them. Santa wasn't an icon in our home......except to me. In that legendary person was the hope. I couldn't get enough. Sadly year after year.....I was heart broken xmas morning because Mom wasn't big on presents. If we were lucky there might be something or maybe 2 presents for each of us under the tree.....2nd hand toys she snatched up not caring about their condition or socks/underwear. There was the one year my dad got fed up and bought us xmas......which ticked mom off so she made it into a competition........and we were flooded in nice presents, <strong>real</strong> presents. It is the only xmas I truly vividly recall. I was thrilled to my bones, Santa had come through in spades. </p><p></p><p>Now it seemed to make me a bit nuts when it comes to xmas. I don't just like the holiday........I throw myself into it. From thanksgiving until xmas was the "season" in our home....full of fun things to do, xmas movies, baking.......house decked out. I didn't spoil the kids.....or flood them with gifts.....instead I listened to them sometimes for months prior to find out exactly what they really wanted, not the latest toy fad on tv. The limit was 5 gifts, one of which was from Santa....and usually something special. I wore xmas themed sweat shirts the entire month. I hummed carols. LOL </p><p></p><p>Along the way........developed the story that I am an elf, now retired. <img src="/community/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/emoticons/elf.gif" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":elf:" title="elf :elf:" data-shortname=":elf:" />There is a long back story developed over years packed full of Santa facts. This was backed up by the fact that somehow......that special something, even if they'd kept it to themselves, that they were wishing for often found it's way under the tree. Santa wrote to them. Santa even called them one year. When Nichole was a baby........they met the "real" Santa face to face, he even knew their names. I can answer a child's questions concerning Santa without blinking. Rolls right off my tongue. This has now become a contest between a coworker and myself. She'll toss out a random typical child question and I answer automatically. Blows her away every time, so much so she gets caught up in the conversation and forgets we're talking about a legend. lol My children were convinced beyond a doubt their mother was an elf. My grandchildren are convinced their grandmother is a retired elf. I swear there are still xmas mornings when my kids give me that "I wonder" look because of something I've given one of the grandkids. lol <img src="/community/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/emoticons/santa.gif" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":santa:" title="santa :santa:" data-shortname=":santa:" /></p><p></p><p>Decorating is work. I have to have a spotless house to decorate or it ruins the holiday. (thanks mom geez) But it's work I love. There is nothing like a house decorated to the hilt for xmas. The meal is planned with care so that everyone's favorites are included. It's just not xmas without the baking. Carols blast through speakers. I'm still glued to the xmas cartoons and movies. It's just not xmas without Rudolf and It's a Wonderful Life..... I'm using making several gifts.......as well as searching for special ones. I even helped Katie find Kayla's most wanted gift this year......a pair of Converse shoes......new, in our thrift store, at a price she could manage when she had made up her mind the child would have to be disappointed. </p><p></p><p>It's crazy here xmas day. The dogs open their gifts before guests arrive. There is the food to prep. I've got to get into my xmas attire......that sweatshirt is now a fancy sweater. (I know people think they're gaudy but to me they're beautiful) If I didn't wear it everyone would think something is wrong with me. The crowd arrives with kids in tow.....loud, excited........and our wonderful holiday begins. </p><p></p><p>This year my kids decided not to buy for adults except Travis because he doesn't have children yet. Uh.....ok. That's not gonna happen. lmao </p><p></p><p>But there is more to it. There are others I help during the holidays especially. If I can bring one child the hope I had when I was a child.......</p><p></p><p>Xmas is MY day. I look forward to it all year. I plan for it all year. I'm working on it all year. It is always on my mind. </p><p></p><p>It is the one day I <strong>will not</strong> compromise. Thanksgiving can be done any day, same for any other holiday and often is to accommodate in laws schedules and plans. Christmas is the one day I refuse to do so.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hound dog, post: 612403, member: 84"] My mother was odd about holidays. Well, in all fairness, she was odd about a lot of things......but holidays were one of the major ones. ALL of the holidays, not just this time of year. Thanksgiving was ok I suppose. The extended family usually got together, a rather large extended family.......7 adult children and spouses, 17 grandchildren, grandma (although she never hosted) for a big meal and some visiting. But mom found a way to ruin it for us. We'd have to sit in a designated spot lined up in a row, quiet as mice unless we were eating. God help the child that spoke, fidgeted, asked to play with cousins or in some other way broke the rules. The only time I enjoyed Thanksgiving was at my aunt Janet's house......and that is because she confronted mom over her rule in front of the rest of the family and flat out told her it didn't stand in her house. I don't mind the holiday but honestly I can take or leave it. I did try to make it a big deal and enjoyable for my kids.....as did mother in law.....and I still do for kids and grandkids. Christmas is another matter all together. Maybe it is because it was the only holiday mom showed any interest in other than negative, I dunno. I do know it was the only time of the year I was filled with hope. Hope for what? I'm not really sure exactly. But whatever it was, I never gave up on that hope. Mom decorated, not much by many people's standards, but for her it was extravagant not only due to the decor but because it required time and effort. Mom also baked. The woman can't cook worth a darn, but she certainly can bake. Baking was her xmas "thing", the only part of it she really got into other than the Bible movies. Mom did let me watch the holiday cartoon specials........all of them......no matter what else was on tv......no matter what time it was......if it was xmas related, I could watch it. I lived for them. Santa wasn't an icon in our home......except to me. In that legendary person was the hope. I couldn't get enough. Sadly year after year.....I was heart broken xmas morning because Mom wasn't big on presents. If we were lucky there might be something or maybe 2 presents for each of us under the tree.....2nd hand toys she snatched up not caring about their condition or socks/underwear. There was the one year my dad got fed up and bought us xmas......which ticked mom off so she made it into a competition........and we were flooded in nice presents, [B]real[/B] presents. It is the only xmas I truly vividly recall. I was thrilled to my bones, Santa had come through in spades. Now it seemed to make me a bit nuts when it comes to xmas. I don't just like the holiday........I throw myself into it. From thanksgiving until xmas was the "season" in our home....full of fun things to do, xmas movies, baking.......house decked out. I didn't spoil the kids.....or flood them with gifts.....instead I listened to them sometimes for months prior to find out exactly what they really wanted, not the latest toy fad on tv. The limit was 5 gifts, one of which was from Santa....and usually something special. I wore xmas themed sweat shirts the entire month. I hummed carols. LOL Along the way........developed the story that I am an elf, now retired. :elf:There is a long back story developed over years packed full of Santa facts. This was backed up by the fact that somehow......that special something, even if they'd kept it to themselves, that they were wishing for often found it's way under the tree. Santa wrote to them. Santa even called them one year. When Nichole was a baby........they met the "real" Santa face to face, he even knew their names. I can answer a child's questions concerning Santa without blinking. Rolls right off my tongue. This has now become a contest between a coworker and myself. She'll toss out a random typical child question and I answer automatically. Blows her away every time, so much so she gets caught up in the conversation and forgets we're talking about a legend. lol My children were convinced beyond a doubt their mother was an elf. My grandchildren are convinced their grandmother is a retired elf. I swear there are still xmas mornings when my kids give me that "I wonder" look because of something I've given one of the grandkids. lol :santa: Decorating is work. I have to have a spotless house to decorate or it ruins the holiday. (thanks mom geez) But it's work I love. There is nothing like a house decorated to the hilt for xmas. The meal is planned with care so that everyone's favorites are included. It's just not xmas without the baking. Carols blast through speakers. I'm still glued to the xmas cartoons and movies. It's just not xmas without Rudolf and It's a Wonderful Life..... I'm using making several gifts.......as well as searching for special ones. I even helped Katie find Kayla's most wanted gift this year......a pair of Converse shoes......new, in our thrift store, at a price she could manage when she had made up her mind the child would have to be disappointed. It's crazy here xmas day. The dogs open their gifts before guests arrive. There is the food to prep. I've got to get into my xmas attire......that sweatshirt is now a fancy sweater. (I know people think they're gaudy but to me they're beautiful) If I didn't wear it everyone would think something is wrong with me. The crowd arrives with kids in tow.....loud, excited........and our wonderful holiday begins. This year my kids decided not to buy for adults except Travis because he doesn't have children yet. Uh.....ok. That's not gonna happen. lmao But there is more to it. There are others I help during the holidays especially. If I can bring one child the hope I had when I was a child....... Xmas is MY day. I look forward to it all year. I plan for it all year. I'm working on it all year. It is always on my mind. It is the one day I [B]will not[/B] compromise. Thanksgiving can be done any day, same for any other holiday and often is to accommodate in laws schedules and plans. Christmas is the one day I refuse to do so. [/QUOTE]
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