I went to Target on Sunday morning, right at opening time to avoid some of the holiday craziness. By the time I left the craziness was in full swing. And I have to say, the behavior of many of the parents I saw was appalling.
I know holidays are stressful for many people. There’s a lot to do on top of everything everybody already does and pressure to make it special. But how are our kids going to feel special if we spend the three weeks before the big day saying things like, “You better not lag behind because I’m not putting up with your crap today.”
Maybe parents spend so much money on gifts for Christmas because they feel guilty about how bitchy they’ve been during the lead up. Just a guess.
So, time for a self-check. Every time I catch myself being impatient and snarly, I’m going to stop and re-new my pledge to have a bitch-free Christmas. Whatever it takes — keeping things simple, letting go of perfection, extra acupuncture and yoga sessions — I’ll do it. I want Nora to remember the love and warmth of the holidays, not the mood swings.
Won’t you join me?