The presents have been bought, wrapped and unfurled. The cookies have been decorated and devoured, and all of the twinkle lights and Christmas decorations stand in salute to the 24 hours of magic. Like most women, “creating” the Christmas experience for those we love is wonderful… and totally exhausting. I am not sure why designing the holiday experience usually falls to women. Mr. U. told me that is because, if it were left up to the men, they would put out some buffalo chicken dip and chips and turn on a football game. Hum.

We hosted the extended family Christmas Eve gathering this year. This party has been a tradition for years. My mom started it when my siblings and I had young families. Now it includes all of our kids and their families (about 35 – 40 people). When my mom was no longer able to host it, my sister took it on. However, my sister recently had some knee surgery, so I hosted this year. Our new home is fairly small but has an open floor plan, so it was tight, but worked. There were only a few bruised toes. 😊

If you have been reading my blog very long, you know that I am a big believer in traditions. They are the cement that holds a family together (Benefits of Holiday Traditions Reach Deep | Seniors Guide). Our big extended family Christmas Eve gathering has a rhythm to it that we have maintained for years, no matter where it is held:

• Everyone brings a finger food and/or some Christmas cookies to share.
• My dad, who is 98, still leads us in prayer before we eat.
• Each year, one of the adults is asked to read from the bible about the birth of Christ. My mom started this tradition because she wanted us to honor the reason we are together to celebrate the season.
• Then comes the highlight for the littles. Santa makes a visit and brings gifts to all of the kids. (Presents are compliments of each child’s parents.)
• Once the kids are busy playing with their new gifts, the adults have a cut-throat gift exchange. It is guaranteed to bring lots of laughter.
• Lastly, my SIL leads us in a few off-key Christmas carols. Of course, everyone complains about having to do this. We are not a musical family… to say the least.
• The evening is capped off by serving Tom & Jerry’s from my mom’s recipe. If you have never had them, they are a sweet, hot beverage and a perfect way to end the evening.

Christmas morning was peacefully quiet for us. Mr. U and I still exchange stockings. Later that afternoon we had a small group of immediate family over for dinner. It is pretty calm and low key. By Christmas evening I was ready to put my feet up and watch a Christmas show, exhausted but with a full heart.

In moments when I am tired from all of the preparations, I wonder why. Why do we go to all of this trouble? Christmas is supposed to be about peace and appreciation. Then Mr. U told me about a co-worker that lives alone and does not have family close by. (We would have invited him to join us for dinner on Christmas day, but another co-worker already did.)

It was that stark reminder of how grateful we need to be if we have people to share the holidays with, especially the littles. THAT is the reason we women shop and bake and wrap and decorate every available surface. Because, as I have told Mr. U many times (after I am done complaining about all of the work for the holidays) if we women did not do all of this, it would just feel like another ordinary day. So, this post goes out to all of the exhausted women out there who made Christmas special. I see you.

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and now you can sit back, enjoy the memories and get some well deserved rest.