A Christmas Recap
Which is really for myself!
My child is a Senior in high school but 18, an adult in so many ways. I was 41 when I had them and retired from the military to be a stay at home mom. I am a big believer that women can have it all, just not all at the same time. I had a wonderful, guilt free career and then a wonderful, guilt free, very hands on parenting experience. Christmas was a big deal lasting the whole month of December and into January while he was growing up.
But those days are over now. And I am good with a simpler holiday season. Less gifts, less cooking, less dashing here and there.
I worked a half day on Christmas Eve and when I got home I did a quick vacuum and tidy. Then the child and I decorated cutout cookies I made last weekend. I found a new recipe for chocolate cookies and rolled them out thick and they (to my surprise) held their shape and are super yummy. We smeared on a thin layer of frosting and then went crazy with the sprinkles.
After that we opened stockings, made dinner together, fettuccine Alfredo, and then opened gifts. Played with the cats and their new toys and then had dessert. Homemade chocolate chip cheesecake. And then the child left for his father’s house. I was disappointed we didn't talk more or play games but such is life right now.
Christmas Day was very quiet, in a good way. I laid in bed reading the short story “The Apple Tree” by Daphne DuMaurier and petting the cats curled up with me.
Tea and cookies for breakfast while I baked a small homemade turkey potpie made weeks ago and stored in the freezer. Watched the movie “The Holiday” and cried a little at the end at how perfect everything was. I decided to take a shower to make myself feel better and wondered what the movie characters lives would be like a year later. Not so perfect I decided and felt much better.
I decided to re-watch “Ted Lasso” and on the pilot episode I noticed how he had one pillow in the middle of the bed and I wondered why I didn’t do that. So I moved a set of pillows out of the way and slept more comfortably in the middle of the bed.
Christmas night I made myself a cheese sandwich and watched the Bronco’s win and went to bed quite happy.
Boxing Day (Friday, the 26th) I worked another half day. Not because I really wanted to but to make life easier for my client and his wife. (I am a caregiver or home health aide to a disabled veteran in his 80’s.)
On the way home I replaced the windshield wiper that someone stole Christmas Eve/Day. It was raining on my way to work Friday morning but I made a choice to be relieved that it was the passenger side and not the driver’s side and was able to get to work safely and on-time. Next I stopped at the library to pick up two books I reserved.
Once home I saw the empty laundry room and did my laundry for the week, ate the leftover potpie and worked on setting up my diary for 2026. And that wrapped up Christmas proper and set the stage for a perfect two day weekend of quiet and projects. Books and puzzles and painting. Writing and reading. All a girl can dream of.