Christmas Day by Day

Christmas Day by Day
December 6, 2009
In my new column in The Tacoma News Tribune, I wrote about how my husband and I saved our sanity during the holiday season by celebrating Christmas every day of December all the way to Twelfth Night – So in this space, for the next six weeks, I’ll be blogging tips, ideas and reflections for turning these days into a truly the happiest time of the year.

With six children in our family, things were different. We were pretty much on the verge of going certifiably insane each year at Christmas. Finally, we established some lasting holiday traditions that made the joyous season – well, joyous. The big secret is to celebrate the whole season. Instead of one big day which begins with packages being ripped to shreds, and ends with migraines and upset tummies for all, plan for a whole month of small, fun, memorable days.December 1 -

Here’s how to start. Sit down with the family – or with friends – or a mirror
or your dog, and think of all the things you can celebrate during this holiday season. Try to think of something for every day. They don’t have to be big things but you should wake up every morning with the absolute conviction that you have something to celebrate.When you’re past fifty you may have to start all over again to create a holiday that fits. Easier said than done. I found advice that made sense to me in Janet Luhers book, The Guide to Simple Living : Her suggestion: “Make a plan with the people with whom you will celebrate Christmas. Remove what no longer works; but for everything you remove you must put something back that does fit. “
Begin by taking out the things that no longer work. That would be the too big tree, the parties that no longer matter. “Add new things that fit.” I’m auditioning a whole list of possible new traditions. I tried Contra dancing. Fast, fun, it has nothing to do with South America. On the turns, partners are supposed to look into each other’s eyes. My batteries have been charging ever since the dance Saturday night. I’m singing in a Latin Chant Choir. It’s quite satisfying. Somehow in Latin, it’s harder to tell that a person can’t sing. I have a friend who treated herself to a facelift. It cost $6500. I’m not quite that depressed. I did color my hair a nice Christmas red. It’s a wonderful shade which never occurred spontaneously anywhere in nature. I don’t even have to wonder if people believe it’s my real color. By the way, red heads do.

December 2 -

For years our eldest daughter woke us on St. Lucy’s day, December 10, with a song and fresh coffee cake, because we had convinced her that this was how the day was properly celebrated. When she found out that none of her friends had to do this, she quit. Don’t be shy about Inaugurating your own holidays like “Mommy’s Nap Day” midway through the season when Mommy is Queen for a Day and the kids make SHHHH Door Hangers.

December 3 -Decorate a little each day. Instead of killing yourself decorating the whole house all at once, put out just one Christmas decoration each day.Let the kids take turns choosing the day’s ornament. No coaching from adults permitted. As one memorable item after another appears, you find that you are developing a new appreciation for these special baubles that you might not have felt if they all appeared at once. The Christmas Creche stays empty for most of the month. We spend a few minutes each day talking about where the “Christmas People” Mary and Joseph and the shepherds are on their journey. What would they be doing today? What would they be thinking? The children are allowed to put straw in the manger if they do a good deed. Some days you’re tempted to make them take straw out.
December 4 – DECORATE A DOOR DAY

This is the time to drag out all of the left over gift wrap, odds and ends, and everyone decorates the door to their room. The house will look festive in no time, and with any luck they’ll keep busy long enough for you to take a nap. Don’t worry if they’re not perfect. This is the chance for the artist in everyone to shine and remember, the decorations are biodegradable.



December 5 – Build Traditions

Christmases change. Over the years our family built a holiday tradition that felt right. We made cookies and burned them, frosted them anyway, got frosting on noses, fingers and earlobes. We did crafts, read stories, lit candles, sang songs. I can personally show you 93 things to do with an empty roll of toilet paper and a full roll of scotch tape. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out.




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Y-MCA – Sing along now
October 16, 2009
i registered at the Y today, so that I can keep up my Tai Chi classes. You can learn lots of

good things at the Y and I just remembered that it was the Y in Spokane many,many, many

years ago that I received my first kiss. From a pudgy boy named Donald. I was 12.

It wasn’t bad. I wonder what ever became of Donald.

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