Christmas Planning

It’s the middle of August. It’s time to start thinking about Christmas.

Crafter’s usually plan out the following year’s gifts, well, about a year in advance. I used to do this when I was younger. I’d pull out a notepad and jot down names and what to make them during the winter break and start working on projects by spring break. By the time summer break would be over I would be well on my way to finishing my list. The older I got, the further my list would get made and the later my presents would be finished. By college I’d be up the night before starting most of my handmade presents up until it was time to leave for the Christmas party.

Now I find myself wanting to at least do some planning. I’ve scaled back on gift giving tremendously. No longer do I feel compelled to make something for every single person I know. Instead I try to focus mostly on the kids and, if I’m up to it, an ornament for the adults. This year I’m thinking it would be nice to make something for my parents (all sets of them) since it has been some years since actually making gifts for them.

Christmas Day

When I was little, I couldn’t wait for whatever Santa was going to bring me, be it a new bike or a bag of used toys. That magic of Christmas morning is still alive and well.

As I crawled out of bed this morning, I could hear the delightful giggles of my husband’s sister as she not-so-quietly scouted out what Santa had brought her. Dumping out her stocking she seemed just as ecstatic about the socks she’d been given as she was when she saw the new Painted Pony in front of the fireplace. Okay, so maybe not as excited, since she is absolutely in love with Painted Ponys.

I know this morning will be filled with hectic egg poaching (I’ve never poached eggs, so this should be an exciting adventure in and of itself) and hollandaise sauce making and this afternoon with whatever my husband’s dad and stepmom have in store for us, but in the end, the trip always seems worth it. Even if this year we have to vie for the attention of both his parents. Alas, it means I will not be able to visit my family for Christmas. But I have to say that it is nice to be away from home for the holidays. I just hope our cats haven’t terrorized our house sitter!

Merry Christmas, everyone! May Peace and Love fill this holiday season.

Parents

Growing up, I had a multitude of parents. To people who think a family of only one man and one woman is the only legitimate family, I offer a different view.

Yes, I had both a mom and a dad growing up. But I also had a grandmother heavily involved in the first few years of my life, if for no other reason because my parents were so young when I was born. While my parents were married they had two more children, but as life happens, people grow apart, and they eventually separated. This opened the door for stepparents, a role that has got to be difficult to step into. After all, my stepdad took on three kids and had one on the way with my mom. My stepmom went from having two kids to five almost overnight. To say that neither of these people played a significant role in my upbringing would be a grave disservice to them.

Parents come in all forms. Some people are raised by their grandparents, some people by foster parents, some by stepparents, some by adopted parents and some by biological parents. A key word in all of these figures is ‘parents’. So what I don’t understand is why some people feel the need to blast others for taking on a parental role for kids who are not their own. How can having more parents involved in a child’s life be a bad thing? What harm can come from a child growing up with multiple parents?

Personally, I’m thankful my parents got divorced. I’m thankful they both remarried. I’m thankful that my mother and stepfather also got divorced and my dad and stepmother are still together. And I’m thankful that they are all still very actively involved in my life at the age of thirty-four. (Oh gawd, I’m that old already? Eeek!) But honestly, aunts, uncles and family friends played a huge role too. As Hilary Clinton wrote about it taking a village to raise a child, I wholeheartedly agree. So this Mother’s Day I say thank you to the village that raised me.