Christmas Is Over

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
01/03/2017 at 10:33 • Filed to: None

And, to be honest, I can’t say I’m all that disappointed.

Maybe it’s my age and I’ve become a cynical old Scrooge. There never seems to be any time to enjoy the season, there’s no more wonder and awe in it, at least for me. In Texas, it’s always hot and sunny on Christmas Day (this year it was close to 80 degrees), so it might as well be just about any other day of the year when it’s hot in Texas. We hang up the lights and play the music, but it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me any more. Nowadays, I actually look forward to getting the yard cleaned up, putting the lights away, returning all the Christmas tchotchkes to their boxes, and vacuuming up all the pine needles. It’s sort of like doing a reboot on life.

DISCUSSION (17)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 10:38

The wonder in Christmas gifts for me is largely being involved in enough of other people’s projects and activities that you can buy something for them and it feels like you’ve accomplished something. I made one car part and bought others (door seals, taillight pieces) for project cars in the family. I also bought board games that I will most likely get a chance to play with the people I gave them to... Also bought my little sister a drill.

It also helps that I use the time of year and leftover funds to excuse buying myself a few things. Probably.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 10:40

Totally agree. I love Christmas (it actually feels like it here in Iowa), but everything is so hectic now that I don’t get to really savor it like I did when I was a kid. I find myself actually feeling stress about trying to make sure I get a chance to listen to Christmas music and watch Charlie Brown, the Grinch, etc.

It was a surprising relief to take the tree down and pack things up over the weekend.

CalzoneGolem > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 10:45

I’m not as old as you but I still feel the wonder of the season. I didn’t really care for it for awhile and then I had kids.

It’s only as stressful as you make it. We had one stressful day when my wife was making her friend a German chocolate cake and it destroyed my kitchen. I don’t like it when my kitchen is dirty.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 11:19

This year was a mixed bag for us. My mom has cancer and is convinced that this would be her last Christmas. There was a lot of discussion about her upcoming treatment and handling her estate once she is gone.

I learned that there is nothing like last-Christmas pressure.

LOREM IPSUM > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 12:28

My mom passed away this year. She was my last living blood relative (that I’ll acknowledge, anyway).

This was by far the most depressing Christmas and New Year I’ve ever experienced.

I’d probably eat a bullet, hang myself, jump off a bridge, C0 poison or otherwise pull the proverbial plug were I not married with a baby on the way.

functionoverfashion > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 12:30

I’m relieved. I have two young kids who loved it, and that was great. But the stress of getting things all together, the let down after it’s all over, dealing with all this stuff in the house that wasn’t there before.... and not having any time because I’m spending 12 hours every day with both kids. Don’t get me wrong, that part is great - it’s just exhausting.

I prefer Thanksgiving. It’s all the things a holiday should be with no other expectations or ceremony from any direction.

Thomas Donohue > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 12:47

Growing up, my family always celebrated Christmas up until ‘Little Christmas’, or Epiphany, which is 12 days after Dec 25. We would put our tree up on Christmas Eve (always a real tree), though the house was always decorated otherwise around the first week of December.

My oldest brother and I still follow similar traditions. I put up the tree on Dec 21, usually the first day of winter. He still does Christmas Eve. Brother #3 had his tree on the curb by Dec 26. But, it’s not surprising when people are sick of the tree since they put it up on Dec 1. I just choose not to follow the department store calendar.

Anyway, for me today is only the 10th day of Christmas, and I’ve still got lights on the tree, and even some music playing. Looking forward to seeing the family again later this week. Next weekend will be the end of the season for us.

LOREM IPSUM > TheRealBicycleBuck
01/03/2017 at 13:05

My condolences. :(

ttyymmnn > Thomas Donohue
01/03/2017 at 13:06

Nice. We never had many family traditions, and maybe that’s why Christmas doesn’t feel all that special to me. As a trumpet player, I’ve worked every Christmas Eve until about 1:00 am for the last 30 years. It’s good money, but I’ve never been there to put my kids to bed before Santa comes. I’ve always had to come home and build toys until the wee hours, though they’re older now.

ttyymmnn > functionoverfashion
01/03/2017 at 13:07

Yes, I think the expectations are what get burdensome. I understand that my wife and I are to blame for feeding that beast, but so it goes. Are you a stay-home dad?

functionoverfashion > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 13:12

Indeed the expectations are what get me. My wife sets very high expectations and hates to be disappointed. I’m better at tempering my own expectations, but I have to remember that her standards are higher. For nearly everything, really, haha.

I’m not a full-time stay-home dad, but over this past week I was off work every day but my wife was not. So she had two days of work in the middle, I was with the kids every day from the 23rd through yesterday. Clearly I had help and my kids spent some time with my parents, but I was ready to get to work this morning. However, my dog was sick last night so instead of getting a good night’s sleep, I was up half the night and went to the doggie ER at 6:00 this morning. She’ll be ok but that was NOT what we needed to start this work week.

ttyymmnn > LOREM IPSUM
01/03/2017 at 13:13

You clearly have much to live for, so please, don’t do anything rash. Life is a giant cycle—life gives, life takes away, life gives, life takes away, lather, rinse, repeat. For you, I would say that, while one connection to your past has ended, you and your wife are creating a new connection to the future. Part of my Yuletide melancholy is sorrow for joys that have past, but we can only go forward. As Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Best wishes to you, your wife, and you growing family in the New Year.

ttyymmnn > functionoverfashion
01/03/2017 at 13:15

Funny how life has a way of getting in the way of living. I’ve been a stay-home dad for 14 years now. It has its moments, but also its trials.

LOREM IPSUM > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 13:19

Thanks, and best wishes to you and yours as well.

functionoverfashion > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 13:20

I can imagine... yeah it’s interesting and really makes you re-think priorities, all the time and at many levels. Do I want to advance my career? Do I want to eat this chip right now and risk the kids both asking for chips and having to battle whether they eat chips right before dinner?

I do drop-off and pick-up at both ends of the day with the kids, and similarly, it has its moments and its trials. All in all, I’m 100% certain I’ll be sad when it’s over.

TheRealBicycleBuck > LOREM IPSUM
01/03/2017 at 13:42

Thanks.

Thomas Donohue > ttyymmnn
01/03/2017 at 19:31

As an adult, the downside to putting up the tree on Christmas Eve is exactly what you describe. For many years at my brothers house, the two kids hung one ornament each on the tree at ~9 PM and went to bed, because Santa decorated the tree every year (amazing how much free time that guy has!). So imagine the insanity of starting at 9:30 PM, having to decorate a VERY large tree, do all the presents, etc. It was an additional tradition of childless friends and other relatives arriving at 10PM to help....which also translated to a lot of Christmas cheer and some very, very late nights.

Not sure how (or why) my parents did it back in the day with six kids, but I’m glad they did. Great memories that we are trying to keep creating for the next generation.