Happy New Year.
It has been a few months since my last confession.. I mean, post. I have to admit that I ate pork on New Year’s Day, but not the blackeyed peas, which according to my mother is a sacred ritual for good fortune in the new year. I always hated blackeyed peas.
Not much has changed in the past two months. Trooping, the insanity of Christmas, the insanity of relatives at Christmas.. It was all relatively calm this time. Of course, that’s in comparison to past years, so it’s not saying a lot about the level of activity.
I forgot to mail Christmas cards. They are still sitting on my desk in the kitchen. There was a mad rush to get them done, and then something happened every single day to make me forget to buy stamps, and now, well, they are just late, aren’t they.
I sound like such a stick in the mud, don’t I. There’s a general malaise that has settled in my bones, and I can’t get rid of it. Even throwing myself into **CHRISTMAS** (which is the way you must say it when you refer to the glizty santa/carolling/decorating part) didn’t help. So, I have decided to be a little grouchy for a bit. Maybe getting it out will help my mood.
Here is my gripe for today: (gets her spectacles and her little old lady complaining voice ready)
My daughter did not have a christmas party at her school. She is in public school, and would you believe, they did NOT have a Christmas party! Not even a WINTER FESTIVAL. Nothing! My son, who is 3, had a huge party, with gift exchange, favors, cupcakes, singing, and cool ornaments to put on the tree. I understand the overkill in being politically correct these days. I feel it’s a fact of life, and we all must live with it. Personally, I think religion is a personal choice that shouldnt’ be forced on anyone. But.. BUT!!
NO CHRISTMAS PARTY???
My daughter was reasonably upset. At first, I thought “great! less shopping for me”, but the closer it got, the more upset she grew, and the more concerned I became. She watched her brother toddle off to preschool, present in hand, rosy cheeked and excited about the Christmas program he was going to be in, and she looked at me, and said “When is mine?” I didn’t know what to say. I do think we’ve made up for it in the family things we did together, but, I realized this was the beginning of the end of the magic for her. Next year, she’ll probably figure out Santa.
The lack of a first grade Christmas Party this year has sparked lively debate among my friends. We all shared recollections of the first time we knew about Santa, and other things that marked the end of childhood. My children are very smart, and our house is pretty small. They will not be believers for much longer. I caught my daughter looking at the packages this year, and noting that the gift tags from Santa were the same as the ones from us. I have to tell you that I did that on purpose. I know she’s questioning things right now, and I felt that if she figured it out on her own, like I did.. and most of my friends did, maybe it wouldn’t sting too much. We plan to induct her into the Santa tradition as soon as she does know, to show her how much fun it is.
I think I got a bit distracted from my grousing.
This is my opinion about school parties. This goes for Halloween as well: Call it what you want, but don’t stop having it. I don’t care if you say it’s a fall festival. I don’t care if you call it a Winter Party, End of term bash.. whatever. Take all the religion out if you want, but leave the party!
Ok.. done now.
I am looking forward to the end of winter. I am looking forward to a 9th anniversary, and a whole solid year without having to change diapers. I am also looking forward to a great deal of love, trust, and friendship. Guys, if you read this, you know I’m talking about you. Thanks for being there for me. I love all of you.
