All I Want For Christmas Is a Few Extra Hours
Once upon a time, I spent every available December moment playing with twinkly lights and glitter and glue and trees and ornaments and spray snow and ESPECIALLY twinkly lights. If there was a surface to be decorated, I found it. I conquered it. I loved every minute of it.
Now, just two weeks before Christmas, I look around and can't believe my eyes. There are railings without garland. There are shrubs and trees that are naked. There are ornaments in plastic tubs. There are lawn decorations still in their boxes. IT'S HORRIFYING.
I can't believe how little is decorated, especially outside. I don't even recognize myself.
I remember thinking years ago how fantastic it would be to be a child growing up in our house during the holidays. In my mind, the Christmas tree isn't sufficiently lit if you can't read by the glow of the twinkly lights. The yard isn't done until fuses start blowing when you flick a switch. Our house has always been so obnoxiously festive that it looked like a kid HAD to have been involved with the decorating.
And then we had Alexis and I figured out a little something.
The people who manage to decorate enough to fulfill every child's holiday decorating dreams are the people WHO DON'T HAVE KIDS. Once you have kids to deal with, there just isn't time for all of those shenanigans.
Or at least that's my excuse.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Reader Comments (13)
Woman, that's why we parents drive our children through other neighborhoods after dark this time of year. Otherwise we'd stay home and admire our own lights. Look at this as an opportunity to enjoy the hard work of all those childless couples.
Just a thought, but have you ever considered a decorating party? Kind of late now since you'd have to at least offer to help those that helped you, but maybe something to thing about for next year. Get a group, put your names in a hat, and take turns helping each other decorate. Decide the order by pulling names from the hat.
We just put our tree up yesterday, and haven't put any decorations outside yet, if that helps you feel better. The weather hasn't been real cooperative this year.
Yeah, it gets harder every year in part because there's so much to do and so many places we have to BE.
Look how long Alexis' hair is getting!! Such a pretty girl!
We've been seeing this company go through the South Hills who decorate your yards for you. I thought it was crazy until i saw the houses lit up. sweet lord are they nice!
I had a bug up my arse when it was nice out and got the outside done. Being the first Christmas in our house now its like crack for me to walk by a store selling outside decor.
@Jen--The weather has been AWFUL for outside decorating. I'm fine with snow and cold, but rain makes such an epic mess. :-/
@Doogle--I checked on prices to have a company hang just icicle lights and OHMYGAH. NO WAY. It's crazy high and not easy to get to our roof, but I could buy a car for what they wanted.
lemme know if you want help.
:)
That's an awesome picture! We never went crazy, but we were fairly well decked out, inside and out. This year is the first in a long time that we are not hosting my husband's family Christmas (23 people), and BOY did we get lazy.
Just look at her smile. I love that kid.
I TOTALLY agree with your post. I was feeling a little bit like a scrooge...but, now I feel better!!
We haven't decorated outside, save for our wreath and firefighter bow, in years. Kids put a cramp in my style. ;)
I'm sorry you don't have time to fulfill your decorating dreams. I know how much you love Christmas. I don't care much about decorating. That is my wife's turf. I just do what she tells me. But with our kid there isn't time for shenanigans of any type. Some days there is barely even time to eat.
The box! I want to play in the box! Can I have the box!? (Best thing ever. Your kid rocks.)