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Traditional Christmas
by
Yolanda Barker
 Books and films have a lot to answer to. Christmas is the idyllic
time when as a mother your head and your heart dreams to make the festive
period a joyful season for the whole family. Realistically you have
spent the last 3 months racing around shops, cramming presents in every
hidey hole you can find and generally been burnt to a frazzle.
BUT
Each and every year we still attempt to recreate the scenes in our
heads.
I think my dream Christmas starts with all the presents being bought
with ease and having someone come in and wrap them all in beautiful paper
with frilly bits on. Now don't get me wrong I love buying people
presents but find it really hard to make that final decision. I see
so many things I am sure so and so will like but cant quite make up my
mind. Then it comes to wrapping. If only I was the remote bit
arty then I could create some of those beautiful masterpieces that I receive
by others.
I don't know what
its like in your household but finding somewhere to store these lovingly
bought presents is another problem. This time leading up to the
festive period seems to turn my bedroom into some kind of workhouse.
Carrier bags, bits of cellotape, peeled off labels. You name it, its
usually stuck somewhere in my room. Why does cellotape peel off the
paint on the window sills. ahhh. This year I have decided that
I am going to purchase those little tabs to do my pressies. I bet
though I will get to the store and see the price and bounce right back to
having a window sill with tabs of tape on it.
The perfect Christmas
would be to wake up to a rather heavy falling of snow. I think the
children would be delighted and so would we. It would be so
magical. I have noticed that my own children associate the snow with
Christmas. I don't know why as its not like it is likely to snow on
Christmas Day in South East England.
Christmas morning we
all awaken at a reasonable time - 7-7.30am and stroll downstairs.
The children are happy and friendly towards each other and we open the
lounge door to be greeted with the most beautiful sight. All the
fabulously wrapped presents are looking stunning under the tree and when
everyone is presented with each present they take great delight in opening
them and being thankful for whatever they may receive.
Of course
unfortunately this probably wont happen in my household. The
children will be fighting and screaming, they will be grateful for
pressies and they will love them but it wont stop the bickering and
general misery. Christmas Dinner - I am usually very lucky as this is
usually my Hubbies department. I know I am probably one of the
worlds worst cooks so its a blessing that he takes that
responsibility. I do help. I lay the table and prepare things
to make it more festive. As we gather for lunch everyone enjoys
conversation and eats all the food on the plate - er probably not. I
would expect at least a few problems with whets been served and then the
way someone is eating their dinner.
The afternoon continues
about 20 minutes later as with no guests you tend to eat rather
quickly. Usually rather pigged out after dinner we may take
a stroll or play more games.
Now is grazing time. You don't need to eat but well you have to dont you!!!!
As the evening falls the
curtains are drawn and the toys are being played with, constructed and
have eventually robbed a battery out of something else to make it
work. The day is almost over and another year is
done. Next year I am sure I will be more organised and I
will do it all differently.
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