Had I stopped to think, we might not have the wonderful family we have now. Had I read the countless books my mother in law sent, I might have gone running out the door. But, luckily, I let love lead the way.
My husband grew up in a culturally Jewish household, I grew up in a mostly Catholic one. This is not always an issue. The guilt factor, for example, is about even.
This time of year is full of challenges and compromise! When will we put up the tree? Does it interfere with Hanukkah? Who gets what presents when? Who will attend community functions that while labeled "Holiday" really mean "Christmas"? Who gets to answer the phone when an angry parent calls because one of our kids spilled the Santa beans?
Not to say that there are not benefits! There is never a question about where we need to spend Christmas. And as you may have guessed from the example above, we don't play the Santa game.
It is difficult though to make it through the season without bloodshed or tears. And we almost always have to explain to friends how we are approaching things and why.
Over the next couple of weeks I hope to write more about our family and how we tackled this difficult season! Maybe it will cut down on my personal tears!
3 comments:
I understand completely -- I was raised culturally (and slightly religiously) Jewish and Kevin was raised christian. His family has a strong sense of faith and is VERY active in their church (FIL is a deacon in the church [as an example]) and since I'M the kids' mother they we follow the thought that they were born "Jewish". However, as they get older, we need to find a balance and that won't be easy. I look forward to reading your future posts as your kids are older than mine......
when i proposed to Cindy it took some alcohol and a handkerchief full of chloroform.
Huh. We've never really had a problem with it. Even after 15 years, it's not a big deal. Maybe because I put the responsibility for Hanukkah squarely on D's shoulders at the onset (if he wants to take out the menorah, so be it) and I do Christmas (although I don't decorate anymore because we're never home for the holiday). This year is even easier - D stays home (due to economics and a wee bit by choice), we go to my parents', we have New Year's together as our small family. In fact I don't remember ever having any arguments around this time of year...maybe it's because D is apathetic about the whole thing? At any rate, it's always been easy - Thanksgiving with his family, Xmas with my mine. Can't get much easier than that.
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