‘Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more’ – The Grinch
Today it’s day 25 of the 100 squat a day challenge for November. I’ve done 100 already I went to the gym and did them as well as a bit of an upper body workout. Ste came with me and was actually quite helpful showing me some different exercises. Normally when he does things like this it’s a great way to end up in a row. Surprisingly this time we didn’t. Maybe he was a bit delicate this morning who knows! We then nipped into town to get Ste some breakfast/dinner and get some tea (not dinner) for tonight. I even got some Sarsaparilla cordial which I’m drinking now. It’s taking me back to times stood at Blackburn market absolutely freezing and being told to drink this weird tasting stuff from the health food stall. You had to stand there a drink it there and then, then give your cup back afterwards. Which I always found an enormous sense of pressure 1. Because of the pressure you were under to quickly drink up and 2. Because of my phobia of cup sharing and clean glasses. Therefore, I never really appreciated the drink as much as I am doing right now surprisingly it hasn’t brought back any PTSD.
Miss-understood Grinchmas I’ve been somewhat labelled the Grinch among my friends for the past few years. I’ve even been bought a rather green looking pullover and an advent calendar. It is hard when one friend is like Buddy the elf and celebrates Christmas basically all year round and the other is like Stacy Soloman and has the whole house decorated top to toe early November. (If you’re pondering yes that sounds like me then it most likely is you!!). Now I’m not saying there is anything wrong with this, well maybe I am. I just think that Christmas comes earlier and earlier each year. I’m always late to any party so the pressure I feel and no doubt other parents feel can be hard. I feel like there’s a stigma to keep up with the latest trends of matching pyjamas, Christmas jumpers, bigger and better wreaths, Christmas Eve boxes, advent calendars which cost as much as an Christmas present, extravagant balloons, Elf on the shelf all just when I’ve not long got Ste to put up the Halloween decorations in loft. Every year there’s always some new trend that’s going on social media this is what I don’t like. I like to fully appreciate all the months. I don’t like the fact that as Christmas is become more and more commercialised (which ultimately if we follow the trends, we are the ones spending more and more money so who’s the winner there?) I feel were losing the true meaning of Christmas.
Tonight however, Archie wanted to put up the tree and decorations. It inevitably always ends up me and him most years as apparently, we are the creative ones. (not that I think it’s an excuse for the lazy ones or course!!). I thought about it and decided I would do. Who knows how many more years we will have of this this together. Ste had got all the boxes down from the loft so me and Archie made a start. We put on a Christmas film…. the Grinch of course (the original Jim Carey one not the animated one) and got started. I can honestly say I have loved this evening, we didn’t argue once, and although I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of him, I really enjoyed spending time with my not so little boy. He’s so creative with things like this and has done a great job so far. He’s much taller now so can help with the high stuff. I looked at him and it made my heart feel full this is what Christmas is about moments like these. Our decorations aren’t the newest, the biggest or the fanciest. They have plates they made at the childminders they still want putting out every year, we have special decorations for Grandad Alan who’s no longer here and Ste always put that on the tree. For some reason I’m always allowed to put the angel on the top of the tree I think that’s only since I’ve been ill (we have to max out the C card sometimes!). Moments like these are what Christmas is about. Going to cheesy pantos, spending time with family and friends. Watching movies, you’ve seen a hundred times before but watch again just to see your children’s faces. Playing pictionary and trivial pursuits and silly games sat round the table having fun with family. Going out with friends, going for New Years walks with them. There are the things money cannot buy and maybe the Grinch (me) is just a little bit misunderstood. Maybe the Grinch just wants the true meaning of Christmas to be at the forefront of peoples minds of being together and present not pretentious and plastic.
Hopefully you’re all having a good evening. Our tree is not completely done but hopefully it will be tomorrow. I’m hoping to watch the Katie Taylor fight and Chantelle Cameron fight in a moment if I can stay awake. Have a good rest of the evening
