The Enemy of Good

As someone who puts a lot of pressure on herself to do everything just right, you can imagine what the holidays look like–an unreasonable level of pressure for perfection. But I love Christmas, so it is a fun thing to do do usually.

When you have stepkids, rotating holidays in the custody schedule, in-laws, your own personal traditions, and your own extended family, holidays don’t–and can’t realistically–look the same year after year. And actually, it’s strangely liberating. That’s probably surprising to hear from me; but it’s true. We were married days after Christmas in 2014 and the three Christmases we have had together, no two have been alike.

Tim loves a live tree; I do not (so.high.maintenance.). We are two for three on celebrating with the genuine scent of pine in the living room.

My mother-in-law and I tried to create a  tradition of going to the Nutcracker ballet with Ana. But life happens and we are two for three.

We started a nice tradition of adult dinner out on Christmas Eve. Two for three.

To force the children to recreate my childhood, I taught them about making a paper chain. One and a half for three (I basically did the one this year).

So while I am a little sad when I hear of friends who have regular, tried and true traditions with their families and their kids, I remind myself that it just isn’t an option for us. And I breathe a sigh of relief that I have both a mother and a mother-in-law who remind me that Christmas is about time spent together, whenever that may be.

There are 276 days until Christmas Eve. Time to make some plans!