Holiday Beginnings

I have a love hate relationship with the holidays as I'm sure many do.  I love the lights, and the family and I love the hustle and bustle of everything.  I love the food.  I love the preparation of the food.  I however do not like the clean up of the food.  Especially when most of the people that feel they are entitled to partaking of the food feel like they do not need to help clean up. I feel if you eat it you can at least offer.   But the food still makes it worth it!

Since my parents separated like one hundred years ago, I feel like I'm in the middle of them.  They keep track of every hour spent at the others house and if it isn't equal, well then.  And even if they don't say it, even if they say it's fine.  I don't feel like it is.  Especially now, where they have a grand baby. It makes it a bit more frustrating.  I never feel like I am making everyone happy.  And it's the holidays, everyone should be happy.  Even if it is just Thanksgiving.

There always seems to be one person that I miss out on or don't quite give enough to.  It seems to be a different person every year.  And it stresses me out.  It makes me feel really bad.  This year, it seems that I am off to an awesome start.  Two years ago, it was my dad's year for Thanksgiving.  AND, it happened to be on my Golden Birthday!  We always eat at my Grandma Nelson's house.  BUT, I had just had a baby two days before, so I was just getting out of the hospital.  And truthfully, didn't feel like sitting for 4 hours in a car for a dinner.  And it was flu season, and that year was especially bad (I asked that if you had not received a flu shot, that you get one before coming and seeing us. No flu shot=no visits) I was taking all precautions against getting sick.  So, we didn't go.  I was released from the hospital on Thanksgiving day and just went home to spend time with my new baby.  I felt really bad, and I know that my Grandma really wanted me to come and to bring the babe.  So I promised her that we would be there next time. Next time is here and I am so excited.  This time it's Lyd's birthday on Thanksgiving!!! And my grandma is super excited.  A few things have come up though and my Step mom is now having her own Thanksgiving.  We will be staying with her and my dad.  So now I feel like a jerk to stay with them, but bolt as soon as it is time for dinner.

I have never had the pleasure of making my own Thanksgiving. And I can't wait until I do.  But I know that a lot of work goes into it.  Even if everyone brings a dish, it's a lot of work.  And now because I haven't figured out how to be in two places at once, I will have to skip one.  I already feel bad because everyone wants to spend time with Lyd.  And truly I don't blame them.  Even if because she wouldn't go to sleep, I forgot all about a big assignment that was due.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Everything aside I have many, many things to be thankful for.  My beautiful, wonderful daughter and family is on the top of my list.

This week is going to be great!