Oh, the holidays. A time to gather with family and friends to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company and try to minimize the messes, fights and temper tantrums. I love my family and friends but when the new year gets here, I am a little relieved.
With my husband’s family and my family literally within a few miles of each other, we have a lot of gatherings to attend. Back when it was just the two of us, it wasn’t too bad. Two free meals, fun times and lively discussions with family along with an abundance of football made for a great day.
Now, it is a different kind of fun. The kind of joy children bring to the holidays is unmatched. I will never take for granted the look on my kids’ faces when they are playing with their cousins or walking in to see presents under the tree that Santa dropped off. Every year, it is new and different and honestly, more and more fun as they get older.
On the flip side is the fact they are still under the age of 5 and like routine. Shaking up the daily grind can lead to explosive situations. Although naps are not always necessary anymore, during the holidays they are welcomed. After a full afternoon of play, a quick nap can prevent the fits and tears the evening gathering can often bring.
We went 0-2 on Thanksgiving naps and paid the price at about 8 p.m. that night. My oldest is becoming very animated with her tantrums, almost amusing, even for her parents. She has started waving her arms and stomping to go along with the squeaky yell/whine. If it is a really big deal, she will stomp around and sometimes even sit on the ground in protest. We were blessed to see three of these displays before we finally headed home for the night.
I have to say, overall, she and her sister did a really good job playing with kids they only see a few times a year in a new place. Not ones to be shy, they both joined in with the kids, mostly older than them, and had a great time. I am thankful they have those opportunities, as they were times I looked forward to as a child.
Now we just have the holiday of holidays to look forward to. I have not heard the family Christmas schedule yet, and the crazy time may leave us with a few tears, but many more memories.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or
jpierson@newtondailynews.com.