Tis the Season to be Jolly...

It's been a hectic 2 weeks around here running from one thing to the next and trying to fit in all the extra holiday things --- Ward party, putting up decorations, Andrew's firm party, sending out cards, Christmas shopping, etc.

Last Friday was especially frantic. I had signed up to cook a turkey for our ward party along with a jello salad. I was panicked because it was my first time cooking a turkey without help, hoping it would be done in time for the party that night. The phone rings and it's my Dad calling to tell me to look for some packages coming in the mail that day. He asked how things were going and I just chuckled and said how it had been a crazy few days. He put my mom on the phone and we didn't talk long, but we had a funny conversation about the holidays. I had told her all the stuff that I was busy doing and how I haven't even had a chance to do any Christmas shopping yet or send out my Christmas cards and it was only 2 weeks until Christmas. (She couldn't believe on top of everything else that I was crazy enough to sign up to cook a turkey, which turned out very tasty I might add.) My mom mentioned they haven't put up their tree yet and how much work it is, but at least the outside lights were up. Then we chuckled and wondered why, as a society, do we torture ourselves every Christmas???

After I hung up, I thought about this off and on the rest of the day and every day since. Why do we put ourselves through so much torture every holiday season? Why are there so many expectations for Christmas?

Why do we risk serious injury and climb up on ladders to hang lights on the outside of our houses?

Why do we drive all over town in search of that one toy that's so hard to find?

Why do we stand in line for hours to put our screaming kids in the lap of a strange man dressed as Santa?

Why do we stress over getting the perfect family picture, which is put in a Christmas card, sent to family and friends and then most likely thrown in the garbage a few weeks later?

Why do we worry about getting a present for every teacher, neighbor, friend, mailman, etc.

Why do we agonize over all these things? Will we think less of our neighbor across the street if they don't decorate the outside of their house? Will our kids hate us come Christmas morning if they don't have every single thing they asked Santa for? Am I the only one who thinks about this stuff? It's downright comical to me. Do we go through all of it just to make Christmas better for our kids or to keep up with others? Now that I'm a parent and my kids are older I catch a glimpse of how much torture my own parents probably went through year after year doing these same things. No wonder my mom was always so tired and quiet Christmas morning - it was probably the first chance she's had to sit down and relax in 3 weeks!!!!

I know for me these last few years I've told myself....this year I am going to slow down and really enjoy our holiday season and make it more meaningful. Then December 25th comes and I sit there amongst all the toys, cardboard boxes and torn wrapping paper strewn all over the floor and I feel so sad and disappointed. Sad that Christmas came way too fast and disappointed because of all the things I wanted to do but didn't get a chance to do before Christmas. Then I shrug it off and remind myself that there's always next year.

We are being too hard on ourselves and I know I'm not alone in my guilt. I've talked to so many friends in the last few days who have said their shopping still isn't done, they aren't sending cards out this year, or there isn't extra cash for teacher or neighbor gifts. I heard someone say the other day ---

Christmas will come and go and everything will be just fine, even if I don't finish all the things I would like to do before December 25th.

I love that statement......