So last night was our ward Christmas party. Hmmm..
"Come on kids .. let's go .. have ... some fun at the Christmas party"
"seriously mom .. nooooo.... I don't want to go ... please noooo mom".
Seems as not one of my darling children wanted to go.
"OH NO!!! This is Christmas .. so get your ass in the car!!!!!!!"
In the car now. We had not even pulled out of the driveway before Jackson and Hayley got in a fight .. Hayley swung her arm around and caught Jackson square in the face. He gets out of the car and runs into the house screaming.
My head is down on the steering wheel at this point. It would be sooo much easier for us all to get out and put our pj's on and call it a night. But I had already made it a big deal so couldn't back down. Got Jackson back in the car. Turned the music up real loud.
We pull up and park and Eli starts in about how his jeans don't fit and there's NO WAY he's going in. He gets out and I lock the doors. He starts kicking the car. HELLO .. THE NEW BEAMER???!!!
Grab him gently by the stomach as he's digging into my side with his finger. Walk through the door .. missionaries greet us "good evening .. Merry Christmas". I think I smiled.
So we are late. The usual. I share a chair with Eli. He and I are very loving towards each other now but no one else would share with him.
At that point .. I am at the end of the table with just my children to carry on a conversation with. The same children who are loathing every second of being there. Awesome. I eat dinner in silence. Awesome. Chit chat with Hayley so I don't look like a total loser. Look around at all the happy families. Complete families. At least they all had a spouse to talk to.
Wait .. then the program starts. It's a slide show type thing. From the Telfords .. who are on their whatever year anniversary to .... of course .. Hawaii. It's 5 degrees out. And I have to watch picture after picture of the beach .. and sand ... and then their smiling tanned faces at the end. Seriously I wanted to up chuck. That or throw the rest of my ham at the screen. What kind of sick joke was this?
Oh .. at some point Eli asked if he could just go sit on the couch in the foyer. I was so willing to let him go. I got the chair to myself and no more poking in my side. Peace. Until that is .. someone came to get me because they were trying to sneak "santa" in and Eli was laying there. They needed me to move him .. because ... heaven forbid he may see the santa he no longer believes in. That was another fight to move him .. as they are all standing there watching, waiting.
I stayed to the bitter end ... the very bitter end I tell ya. Right down to the Santa line.
Nice. What was nice was to pull back into the driveway. Why do I bother? Did it make us a stronger family? Did we all enjoy a nice holiday program? Do we now feel ready for the holiday season? No, no and no.
I know .. wah, wah, wah. Just leave me alone and let me be a baby. I need a better attitude .. but for now ...
HAPPY FREAKIN' CHRISTMAS!!!
7 comments:
Oh Girl!!!
I totally side with you. For whatever reason, my kids (And Hubby) are able to ruin ANY holiday!!
God bless you for doing it alone!!
We went to the ward Christmas, and after the food we ducked out...AFTER ALL....ALL THE TABLE WERE FULL, EXCEPT THE WE SAT AT....ALONE!!!
Okay...I can't help but smile when I read your stories. It's as though I'm right there with you. YOU make me smile! And laugh! And feel!
I know those xmas parties are PAINFUL...w or w/out the spouse.
And I don't think I would of been able to sit through the beach slideshow. Oh...the pain!! So kudos to you for going and supporting the ward!!
You poor thing! Next time, leave them and you might be amazed at how much more fun and memories you have without them!
A couple weeks ago, my kids were being rotten and couldn't get their acts together before church...shoes missing, clothes not on...fighting... I finally said my not so polite goodbyes and just left them! They couldn't believe it! And for the first time in a very long time, I actually enjoyed church! Go figure!
Maybe that'sa clue to change Denominations
Sorry I didn't come. I would have sat next to you. I could have told you corny jokes and make a fool out of myself. Instead i smelled like angies for the rest of the night. It was yummy though.
Man, your family sounds sooo much like mine. It makes me feel a like I'm not alone. I'm lucky this year though - My boys birthdays coincide w/ the ward christmas party, gosh darn it. Solution for you: just have a few more kids and make sure their birthday is the beginning of December. :)
its your very own.... A Christmas Story! really make your life a reality show and more people would watch it than jon and kate! funny my kids actually love to go to the ward dinners...they like the food! but its pete who hates them which makes it so much fun for the family when he pretends he wants to go. however he will chase after salem. i remember one christmas he was in iraq when we had the ward party. ashton was playing Mary for the play and all i had to bring was her and the baby jesus...any babydoll i had would do wrapped in swaddling clothes...did i remember the baby doll. uh no. baby Jesus...the whole reason for the christmas dinner! so embarrassed. not to mention i didnt realize it til they were all ready to begin. meanwhile salem is taking off from me every chance she gets b/c she had just learned to walk...very fast i might add. it was lovely and yes there was not enough tables either...i think its a prerequesit for the mormon functions! i have done them with and with out pete and i swear i dont know which is easier...different battles with each but i do know one thing...at least he is feeling my pain and i dont feel so all alone! i love ya honey...and know right now i am screaming at mine ever so nicely to get their butts ready b/c we are going to be late for church!
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