Mom & Pop Culture

Kaboom

 

stressing family traditions

Five years ago, I wrote about how difficult it is to break away from old family traditions in order to start new family traditions. I wrote:

Perhaps it is a natural part of growing up that I eventually outgrew the traditions created by my family of origin and began creating new customs within my new family. I believe that the traditions of my childhood started to lose their magic when they stopped being expressed as "Our family likes to celebrate Christmas this way" and became "WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THIS WAY." And yet, I still believe that traditions are an important way for different generations to build a strong sense of shared purpose, belonging, and longevity. But I also feel that traditions should be flexible and reflect the needs and personality of the ever-changing family unit.

Thankfully, my family has since moved on and has allowed me to celebrate with my family in the way that I want. Now, I just need to figure out how to create magical and meaningful memories for my children at Christmastime...

Any ideas?

amazon.com is the new santa

Even though retail feeds my family (thanks to hubby's job), I hate shopping during the holidays. I avoid the mall at all costs. I hate crowds. I hate waiting in line.  My time is precious -- and I hate wasting it shopping.

Therefore, I do most, if not all, of my major shopping while sitting on my tushy, in my PJ's, using my handy-dandy MacBook.

And thanks to Amazon.com, I get everything hand-delivered to my doorway. This is also great because I hate loading and unloading my car.  This year, I literally ordered 90% of my gifts in about one-hour's time. And I didn't pay any shipping fees. You can't beat that. Plus, as an extra bonus I ordered through the link for an organization called Aspen (Asperger Syndrome Education Network) which will receive up to 20% of my sales.  So my giving has added value.

I just wish the UPS guys would dress like Santa's elves and deliver the packages straight to my Christmas Tree. Then even I would believe in Santa.

scary tv

In honor of Halloween, TV Squad ran a post yesterday, listing the Ten All-time Scariest TV Characters.

I had to contribute to the list seeing as Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I love good old-fashioned scary movies.

My contribution to the list? Widow Fortune (as played by Bette Davis) in 1978's The Dark Secret of Harvest Home. I saw it almost 30 years ago, and I'm still afraid of little old ladies with scissors!!

x-box intervention

I'm so happy, that my husband loves his gift.  I got him the Xbox this year and he's really enjoying it.

But perhaps he is enjoying it too much.  His sister came over yesterday for Christmas and the two of them ended up playing with the Xbox until 4:30 in the morning.  Now, they are both still asleep, and I'm wondering if I should hide the Xbox and the accompanying games before they awake.  Should I do an intervention now before this habit gets out of control? 

I'm going to have to surf the net today and find out if others suffer from this x-box addiction, and what can be done to curb it.  I just hope it is not too late.

and so this is christmas...

The packages have been ripped open, the kids are watching toons, and the husband and dog have gone back upstairs for a long "winter's nap."

If it weren't for the cold I'm holding at bay, I'd say that I was feeling pretty good.   The kids were really into Christmas this year.  They are the perfect ages for Christmas.  At 7 and 4, both of them understood that Christmas was approaching.  Both of them were excited by the sites and sounds of the holidays.  And both of them are too young to start asking if Santa is real or not.

O.K. my Christmas peace has been interrupted.  The kiddies are fighting over - whatelse- the TV.  Gotta run and help settle the war, one of many I believe my children will fight today.  One more thing to note:  I haven't heard "Do They Know It's Christmastime At All?" once this year and that's my favorite.  What's the deal?

through the years we all will be together...

They say that people get depressed during the holiday season.  I don't wonder why.  I think that christmas/new year's eve must have been invented by someone with manic-depression.   

There is so much pressure to "enjoy" the holidays or have the "perfect holiday" that it is no wonder that most of us crash after the holidays and sink into a sinkhole of the blues.

I love the holiday season - the music, the decorations, the gifts, the movies.  But as someone with somewhat manic-depressive tendencies, I know that I can be sucked in too hard and too much.

target shopping

Yeah, I ran into Target today, first thing in the morning to pick-up all those last minute odds and ends (teacher's gifts/wrapping paper/batteries/whatever) and I must say that the place was packed at 9 a.m. I also went against my better judgment (and pre-set holiday shopping rules) and took a minor with me shopping.  It was a bit hellacious, but Jared also kept me on my toes. 

Twice I absent-mindedly walked away with the wrong shopping cart, and Jared notified me, "Ah mom, that's not our cart." Another time, I could hear him calling to me from several aisles away.  I kept calling his name until we located each other, at which point he calmly said, "Ah mom, did you know Aunt G is here?"

I turned around to see my sister (with her own three-year-old minor in tow) hastening down the crowded Target toy aisles.