I Want Some Joy for Christmas
Holiday Cheer
It’s three weeks ‘til Christmas and already I’m stressed. There’s so much to do. Shopping, decorating, a tree to buy, gifts to pack and ship to the US, thank you notes/gifts/money for teachers, charities, trash collectors, our postman. The school raffle and fair. Christmas memories to plan, maybe a Panto (madcap British musical) or ice skating or a carol service.
“When are we decorating the house?” my daughter asks. “Do we even have a wreath?”
“Of course we do!” I say. (Add “find wreath” to To Do list.)
Normally, we don’t decorate because we’re never home for Christmas. We fly to the US to be with family. This year I decided to be “selfish”. Our daughter just turned 15. All she wants is to be in her pyjamas in her own home on Christmas Day — that and three dozen things she forwarded me on a GoWish list.
“Are we sending out Christmas cards?” my husband asks. “Leave it with me,” I say. (We haven’t sent Christmas cards in years.) I add “Take happy family photo” to the To Do list.
I hate Christmas. There I’ve said it. It’s a month of chores for a morning of “joy”. It’s about ticking items off a To Do list. Nevermind the real point of the day. By the 25th, I’m exhausted.
