Family Feuds and Christmas Festivities
Shopping today, I noticed that
Christmas paraphernalia has hit the shelves. It got me thinking that it’s that
time of the year when we either dread or look forward to family reunions. Like
it or not, the time has come to start planning Christmas festivities and family
traditions.
I remember the bliss of childhood
innocence when Christmas was magic – no matter what the circumstances were. We
lived for the day when Father Christmas mysteriously arrived, brought presents
and ate the Christmas cookies. The tree, the lights and the tinsel – aunties
and uncles, cousins and friends, the turkey, Christmas hats and tickies in hot
Christmas pudding smothered with creamy custard.
Little did we realise the work that
went into it all. The saving, the shopping, the slogging over a hot oven and
bringing family together despite any unpleasantness that had fractured
relationships during the year. You see, it’s important to repair broken links
before the family chain is shattered by misunderstandings and mistakes we’ve
made. It’s good to get the New Year off to a clean start when we sing Old Lang
Syne!
Just one time during the year do we
get teary-eyed and laugh; the nursery-school pantomime, the church services,
the carol singing, the comrade of the congregation. When the world stands still
while the children search the star-studded sky for the lights on Father
Christmas’s sleigh!
Remember that as a couple,
opposites attract, so family from both sides are going to be very different!
Even though women have (to some degree) domesticated men, they’re never-the-less still aggressive,
territorial and competitive. When it comes to social skills, accept that
they’re likely to bring their office to the party and discuss business and politics
while they huddle around the braai. If you seriously want to avoid
confrontations, stagger events and invite family and friends you know will get
along.
Some families are lucky to have a
house and garden big enough to fit everybody – but it’s hard on them when they’re
expected to do the catering year after year. It’s a good idea to rotate the
host family, and to get everybody involved. Children often complain that they
are bored during the school holidays – get them busy making Christmas
decorations and presents – there are so many ideas on the internet.
If you’re a list person, here are a
few suggestions to get started:
- Use up everything in the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Give them a good clean and then stock up for Christmas and New year
- Make a list of gifts, and buy one or two every time you go shopping
- Decide on a colour theme and get the kids to help with the decorations
- Write a to-do list e.g. garden, tidy cupboards, sort children’s clothes for the holiday etc.
- Go through the children’s clothes before you shop for new so that you know don’t duplicate. Good second-hand clothing can be donated to a charity shop or children’s home
- Go through your children’s toys and sport equipment. Scrub those that they have outgrown, dress up the dolls and put games and puzzles together for children who are less fortunate. It’s good to teach children that Christmas is also about giving and not only getting!
Most important, pick up the phone
and speak to the person you have avoided this year. Make amends. It’s surprisingly
easier than you think. It will be a great start to the Christmas season!
