The ABC's of Double Trouble: H is for: "The Holidays"

H is for: “The Holidays”

Holidays are by far the best time of year. Many countries have very festive celebrations. To name a few:

§ On December 13^th, Sweden, Norway, and most of Scandinavia, they celebrate Santa Lucia Day (a.k.a., The Feast of St. Lucy or Saint Lucy’s Day). In a procession, Santa Lucia (usually the oldest daughter in each family) appears with a wreathe or crown of seven candles serving sweets while others in the congregation carry a single candle each. “God Jul!”

§ On Christmas Eve, in France, the children put their shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel to fill them with gifts and hard candy. “Joyeux Noel!” But on New Year’s Eve, Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre is celebrated. On the menu is duck or goose pâté de foie gras and bacon, or pâté de foie gras tout court or "Strasbourg pie". Foie gras is a rich, buttery, delicate pastry. This course is followed by a course of steak. This evening can be an intimate dinner or a ball all lavished with the delights of champagne. “Le Jour de l'An!”

§ In the United States and Canada, families decorate trees with lights and ornaments days before Christmas Day. They send cards to their families and friends. Children hang stockings by the fireplace if they have one; we always put ours on our bedroom doorknobs. Then after hours of waiting for Santa to arrive on his sleigh, Christmas Eve, the children fall asleep only to awake the next morning with their stockings full of gifts and presents under the tree. It’s followed by a day of embellishing in the overindulgence of a food frenzy. “Merry Christmas!”

But here at my house, we celebrate, we have our traditions, we have a wonderful whirl-wind roller coaster ride.

Unlike most Americans, we begin our festive parties in October. On the 19^th specifically. This marks the birthday of the twinners, Emma & Evan.

Then Halloween hallows horrors our way.

We’ve bought our costumes.

We aspire to be whomever

to whatever

our heart innovatively desires,
even the cutest dreidel you've ever seen.

That’s what Halloween is all about.

Over the years, my kids have chosen to be:

Witches,

Bambi,
Zorro,
Butterflies & Bees,
Flappers,
Wizards,

Hippies, Football Players, but NEVER CLOWNS (too scary),

Minnie Mouse,

Cruella de Vil & the Dalmatians,

Fairy Princesses & Native American Princesses
& Egyptian Princesses,

Danny Zuko,

James Bond,

Pirates,

A Prostitute & A John
(Oops! That was me & my ex! And that’s a guns-drawn story!)

And Emma’s All-Time Favorite, Raggedy Ann!

The Holiday of Halloween is like life;

Be creative; Be confident, Be who YOU want to Be.

As the hallows turn their clocks back… around the corner comes Edie Marie’s birthday, and this year she’ll be 25, a quarter of a century! And then Thanksgiving…And sometimes, Edie’s Birthday & Thanksgiving are one in the same… So, they have always been colossal in my cupboards.

After Turkey Day winds down, the gentleness of the BIG GIGS really crank up. Before the December Holidays begin, the enculturation and education that you instill in your children really shows during this time of the year.

We celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas and Santa Claus; we discuss the value and meanings of all traditions. Not only what they mean to us, but what they mean to other people, too. And if you cannot tell me the meaning of the holiday in question, you simply don't get a gift.

We speak of etiquette and how wonderful it is to work in harmony. The use of tact is of the utmost importance. In other words, quite frankly when company arrives we always

Act Mannerly!

In all honesty, preparing for guests has always been a breeze in my home. Yes, this is when it gets good. I’ve heard so many stories from family and friends about their children when it comes to this subject. Thank God, my children have always been healthy and happy, because this enables them to cooperate willingly and wholeheartedly. Boy-O-Boy, do my children put everything they’ve got into it. By all means, it’s always great

when they jump right into their work

and organize things the way they see fit.

and they never lie down on the job.

They pick their toys right up!

And immediately put them away.

They never hide from responsibility.

They hop right on the laundry when I ask.

Yes, this makes for tactical teamwork that lasts all season long.

And I know most kids are like this:

They’re right next to you one minute

and the next they’re gone,

but not mine.

You can count on them.

They’re always ready, willing, and

stable —

body, mind, & soul!

To see the teamwork my children possess has always made me very content. I know that since preparing for the holidays was so successful, the display and magnitude of my children’s manners during dining would show through, too — sparkling brightly like the bulbs on the holiday tree.

There are some small rules of thumb

I’ve taught my offspring. Well, for one,

don’t sit on the table,

because we know it’s terribly inappropriate.

We have never had one mere verbal confrontation in relation to this matter.

They don’t wear hats or shades to the table.

They know that’s rude.

They've never made any faces at one another.

That's plain wrong.

No toys have ever been brought or played with at the table.
We're at the table to eat... not play.

No one substituted pretzels

for the traditional meal with trimmings

that a certain someone spent countless hours on.
No one ruined their appetites.

No one had the trepidation of Time Out.

No one licked their plates clean.

And by all means,

No one put their elbows on the table.

You may think that you’ve got it made, but I know I’ve had THE BEST MOMENTS A MOTHER COULD ASK FOR. And I have. O! The holidays make me blissfully joyful to be THEIR mum. Yes, I know you could agree: my children have proven to be the rare exception to the rule; they are always on their best behavior for the celebrations in life. They have listened and remembered everything I’ve ever taught them.

And they know exactly when to implement their intelligence on any subject. I am extremely confident that my child-rearing abilities couldn’t have been surpassed over the years. Edie Marie, Evan Thomas, and Emma Jacquelyn have shown their true colours; and what fine tints and hues they have combined.