tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post2528272479239163088..comments2023-11-05T02:23:23.606-06:00Comments on Raising Rascals: I'll Be Home For Christmas....No, Not Really...Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02831708120022109063noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-64907079339536877982008-12-18T10:02:00.000-06:002008-12-18T10:02:00.000-06:00Last year was our 11th Christmas and our 1st year ...Last year was our 11th Christmas and our 1st year to be home Christmas morning. I, like you, love going to my family and holidays just aren't the same w/out being around them.....but I wouldn't trade being home last year for anything. When Ethan came along we decided that every 3 years we would be at home Christmas morning...1 year my family, 1 his family, then 1 at home. We did that the last 3 years but now that Justin works at a bank he has to work every other Christmas Eve so we will be home again this year! We will pack up and leave after opening our Santa to enjoy the wonderful craziness called family.<BR/><BR/>Others are correct your kids will have great memories no matter where they are....but you sound like YOU will have regrets. Yes, it is okay to put your heart's desires and your wants 1st once every few years. With a family as awesome as yours seems to be they will understand! Remeber that the 2 things...staying home and going to family...are not mutually exclustive. On years like this one you could be home Christmas Eve then leave later the next morning to spend the weekend w/family.<BR/><BR/>I love being w/family but I also love knowing what it is like to be home on Christmas morning! Also, you have no guarantee that your boys will make the same choice that you have made. If I gave up every Christmas w/my kids waiting til the day when everyone would come to me would I be okay if they decided not to come to my house every year? Would I regret not having a few years of memories at my home? When I thought about that I saw things a little differently. I struggled w/it but realized that making hard decisions to put my little families desires 1st a few times was okay. It is hard b/c I love my family and want to see them. Luckily, we haven't had to sacrifice anything to do it...we still see family every year. <BR/><BR/>I know this is long but I'm wraping up. Family can surprise you sometimes too. I told my mom this year that I would love...just ONE year...to spend Christmas in the mountains at a ski resort. Her reply, "You should do it one year. We'll understand."Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527382059025451894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-44236161730716821292008-12-17T23:03:00.000-06:002008-12-17T23:03:00.000-06:00Hmmm...ok sis, if anyone understands, it is me! I...Hmmm...ok sis, if anyone understands, it is me! In fact my family is still in shock that we don't have to travel at all this holiday...a first! However, I guess the Santa thing doesn't bother me like it does you ( mainly because I messed that up early on :)) but I also remember as a small child never being home either. We had Christmas Eve with Nanny and Christmas day with Granny. I have to agree with Lisa...family "traditions" are what you make of them.Michhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430940633112993366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-58396818673086588862008-12-17T13:56:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:56:00.000-06:00I don't think we'll get to spend Christmas in our ...I don't think we'll get to spend Christmas in our own home either. When Darin and I married, it worked out that his family was always together on Thanksgiving and my family all gathered together on Chritmas. Worked out perfectly....but...that means that Thanksgiving, we're in Illinois and Christmas, we're always in Dalls...never in little ole' Arkadelphia.buscher3https://www.blogger.com/profile/06499465801950254731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-6657895674407117032008-12-17T09:22:00.000-06:002008-12-17T09:22:00.000-06:00We usually travel to W. Texas for Christmas. A co...We usually travel to W. Texas for Christmas. A couple of times we've spent the night with my mom and dad. Once we had Christmas at our house w/ in-laws. This year we're going to have our first Christmas at home...just the four of us!! Then, off to my mom and dad's after presents and b-fast, OK City on Friday.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616868660478787205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-73544578298644731742008-12-17T08:02:00.000-06:002008-12-17T08:02:00.000-06:00Well we are in a different situation b/c we have t...Well we are in a different situation b/c we have the only grandkids at my moms so we can do Santa there. <BR/><BR/>I'm mixed...I like doing it both ways. <BR/><BR/>I know Kate still takes all there Santa stuff to her moms...in fact it's there now.Stephanie @ My Answered Prayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01683822293475850157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-26627439127764990712008-12-17T07:54:00.000-06:002008-12-17T07:54:00.000-06:00PS--Tell Lisa that I remember eating at Wendy's wi...PS--Tell Lisa that I remember eating at Wendy's with them one year on Christmas Eve. That was strange to me, but I love remembering that every year. I think the Garners were there too.mer@lifeat7000feethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07169865790593225070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-47073078944420111652008-12-17T07:52:00.000-06:002008-12-17T07:52:00.000-06:00I love my extended family, but I love Christmas at...I love my extended family, but I love Christmas at my own home more.<BR/><BR/>They don't love it AT ALL that we choose to spend Christmas at home. It didn't help that John's parents traveled to see BOTH sets of grandparents every year when John was a kid. It sets up an expectation that I can't (maybe just won't) live up to.<BR/><BR/>This year (for many reasons) we are traveling, and I'm struggling with some resentment about it. I just can't get pysched up for this trip even though I know it's important that we go. <BR/><BR/>Living far away doesn't always make traveling possible, but I will say that the expectation for us to be home at Christmas never diminishes. We have the same conversation every year..."Ya'll think you can come for Christmas?" When we lived in Arkadoo, we were only an hour away from his parents, and 3-4 from mine. PLUS, he was a pastor and pastor's usually work on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, so it allowed us to be home, and I loved it.<BR/><BR/>So...just wondering if you could host Christmas at your house next year? <BR/><BR/>(Reading back through this sounds like I'm so negative. Not really. I just prefer to stay at home).<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your honest emotions in this post, Amber.mer@lifeat7000feethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07169865790593225070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-67374426295748293212008-12-17T07:50:00.000-06:002008-12-17T07:50:00.000-06:00Oh Amber, don't feel sad! Your kids will look bac...Oh Amber, don't feel sad! Your kids will look back at your tradition of traveling with fondness. They won't be worried about where they were or when Santa came because what they'll really remember is WHO they were with! When I was growing up our family "tradition" was getting up early on Christmas morning, opening what Santa brought and then picking one or two of our favorites and hopping in the car for a 4 hour ride to Grandma's in Mississippi. Our traditional Christmas dinner was whatever we could find at whatever convenience store might be open on the way. My mom has always felt guilty that we had to spend all day in the car instead of at home playing with our new toys. But I wouldn't trade those trips for anything. I still miss eating at convenience stores on Christmas Day! It didn't seem strange to me...it was just what we did. I thought everyone did it that way. The first Christmas that Wes and I stayed home was kind of a let-down. We were lonely! Of course, that started our new tradition of going to see a movie on Christmas afternoon. Tradition is whatever you decide to make it. Your kids will never regret missing out on whatever it is you're afraid they're missing because it's YOUR tradition and that's just the way they'll like it.lisa@littlesliceoflifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10999577252413065299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-81739655767750150052008-12-17T07:25:00.000-06:002008-12-17T07:25:00.000-06:00Hmmm...that is a tough one. Could you maybe switc...Hmmm...that is a tough one. Could you maybe switch up and stay home every other year? <BR/><BR/>When we had just the one child we would go to grandma's house. Now, with 3 boys though, we stay home on Christmas morning until mid morning. Then we drive to my mom's house for Christmas brunch. <BR/><BR/>Of course, it is easier for us because my mom lives close by. <BR/><BR/>My husband's family lives further away and we try to visit them the day after Christmas or the following weekend.<BR/><BR/>Last year we did kinda put our foot down and say we were going to start some of our own traditions with our kids. This didn't go over great at first but after we stuck to our guns and explained our feelings it is being taken better this year.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, I know what you mean about loving to spend time with family during the holidays but being a little torn on wanting to spend it in your own home now and again too.<BR/><BR/>I hope it all works out for the best and that you and your little guys have a great Christmas.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07655565801564506338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-16125890322361477382008-12-17T06:46:00.000-06:002008-12-17T06:46:00.000-06:00Amb,I confess there are times when it sounds nice ...Amb,<BR/>I confess there are times when it sounds nice to have a "stay at home" Christmas, even with just the two of us now. As you know, packing, lugging, and living out of a suitcase has been our lot for a lot of your life, and I do get tired of the PL&L. The flip-side, as you have said, is the joy one gets out of watching the kids make their own winter wonderland of wrapping paper snow around the tree. How do you experience that without the sacrifice? So, the "beat" goes on, trading years for the holidays with the other grands. I do remember the truth of what Jo said. Everybody did live closer in the "Leave it to Beaver" years. Had it not been for our "step" grands, Jo and I would not have had extended family to enjoy at all. Nanny's folks passed before I was born, as did my Dad's mom, and his dad was only seen once in a blue moon. I sometimes wonder how it might have been to know them growing up. Ah, well, we're building memories now though. Of course, the fact is that work schedules being what they are, many don't have the luxury of Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter at home and still have time to visit folks at a distance on the days after. <BR/><BR/>Hey, why don't we talk about it next week?<BR/>Love you,<BR/>DadJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08556537857098798281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024494770726686376.post-40618334648353783952008-12-16T23:52:00.000-06:002008-12-16T23:52:00.000-06:00Beaver Cleaver-type families in the 1950's or ...Beaver Cleaver-type families in the 1950's or thereabouts, are the ones who had "traditional" milk & cookies on Christmas eve and stay in jammies half of Christmas day. It was because most of their extended families still lived in the same town. <BR/> I'm sure that today, many people would be thrilled to be able to drive to "Grandma's house" for Christmas. So many people now live too far away to drive or can't afford airfare to get home for the holidays. <BR/> At least that's why I didn't come home for Christmas very often when I lived in Oregon. <BR/> Have a great trip to Michele's!<BR/> Luvya!<BR/> Aunt JoJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01195494797639095053noreply@blogger.com