We parents are rulers of the roost and guardians of the gates, circus ringmasters, chief inspectors and bottle washers. The 24-hours currently allotted for our workday are woefully inadequate to get the job done, and now here come those blessed, cursed holidays.
Special meals, meaningful gifts, thoughtful traditions to reflect well-formulated values, helping out the less fortunate, fun and joy – how, exactly, are we supposed to make all this happen? It's a good thing that time marches forward oblivious to our protests, or we might not ever allow the next day to start.
The wax will be dug out of the candle holders on the Menorah only moments before the first candle is lit. By mid-December, my husband will haul out the mildewed inflatable Santa and plug him in up on our balcony. Our neighbors will be happy to see Santa perched precariously up there again, swaying in the wind. Our 1-year old granddaughter, Anya, will be stunned.
A couple of days before Christmas, our big kids will walk in the door from L.A., N.Y.C. and Ann Arbor, and they'll bring along one boyfriend, one husband, a girlfriend and girlfriend's grandma. We should have the Christmas tree put up by then, although one year we didn't get one until 7 p.m. on a wet, cold Christmas Eve, when we climbed over the fence at the abandoned tree lot. The lonely tree we took home must have been hugely relieved to be rescued and, only hours later, the center of attention in a warm, cozy home. One of our teenagers will again be shocked that the stores are closed at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with her shopping list far from done.
Watching the holidays roll toward us, I'll resist the urge to run and hide. I'll be there again this year, not taking this great gift for granted but, instead, immensely grateful that I get to put my arms around loved ones, eat mashed potatoes and turkey by candlelight, and walk our neighborhood all decked out in colored lights, showing Anya the wonder of it all.
Wishing you happy holidays!
This was written in 2011 but Ann Bergman continues to view the holidays as a blessing and a curse.
