Month: December 2018

Now that we’re on the other side of Christmas, reflecting back on the beauty of the holiday, can we just take a moment to acknowledge what a herculean task it is? Making magical memories is hard work, y’all. At ten o’clock on Christmas Eve, my best friend’s husband was outside in the backyard, assembling a… Continue reading Making Magical Memories Is Hard Work

Gifts are a huge part of Christmas. Let’s just admit that, right up front. They’re not the only thing, of course. I do my best to emphasize the other important elements of the most magical time of the year – like celebrating baby Jesus or visiting with friends and family – but I cannot pretend… Continue reading In Which We Buy Many Presents

One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is the importance of taking turns. Don’t hog the Tonka truck, Jimmy. Let Sarah have a chance on the swings, Sally. Learning to take turns helps our children navigate their childhood more peaceably, but I believe these lessons are also training our children to survive their… Continue reading Parents Must Tag-Team to Survive

Can we have a chat about holiday meals? The next few weeks are going to be filled with opportunities to eat. Holiday parties, "friendmas" gatherings, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, etc. Since we’re all going to be spending many hours of our lives eating, I have a few… Continue reading Guidelines for Holiday Meals

In our house, Baby Jesus is a hotly contested fellow. By that, I mean the actual replica personage of the holy child. My children aren’t having a crisis of faith. They fight over baby Jesus figures. I’m not sure if their fixation is due to the fact that tiny things are always the cutest or… Continue reading The Battle for Baby Jesus