Question.......is Christmas just a female thing? Case in point....how many of you out there have male partners who fully participate in the preparation for Christmas?
The other day I was talking with my co-workers and mentioning about all the things there are to do in preparation for Christmas and how I was feeling a tad overwhelmed by it all. I had mentioned that since my hubbies hamstring accident he hasn't been able to help me at all with the decorating. I mean I have put up the indoor and outdoor lights......the decorations throughout the house....I do the shopping the wrapping, the baking, the Christmas cards. So what is it he does. He shops for me.....that's about it.
It was then that my colleague said it was about the same in her house....she laughed when she was telling me about her husband when he thinks he is being helpful and will wrap some gifts but he doesn't put tags on the gifts so when she would go to ask him who the gifts were for he couldn't remember so she ended up unwrapping them and wrapping again.....
This seem to ring true for most of my co-workers. Yes the odd husband put up the Christmas lights or might help with some of the shopping...but generally that was about it.
So I ask you is Christmas just a female thing....do we do this to ourselves? Worry ourselves sick about ensuring everything is done and organized...the presents are wrapped and under the tree, that a little snack has been left for dear ol Saint Nick...that the bedtime stories have been read, that the stockings get stuffed.....the Christmas dinner is prepared and table set. I really wonder sometimes why we think we have to do it all....where are those men....they like Christmas I know they do.....so where are they when it comes to the preparation.....hmmmmm...good question.
5 comments:
Gee, you may be onto something here. I hadn't given it much thought until I read this post. But Lorne was going to put up Xmas lights on the house, but we were a bit short on $$$ so I told him not to worry about it 'cuz I never did it before anyway. And I have sent out the cards already, shopped & wrapped most of the gifts already, and have organized some social events already. However, he IS worried about doing his shopping - for me...lol
I know what you mean. In terms of me and my husband (well actually we're divorced but good friends again and do family stuff together), I've always been more into the Christmas prep than him.
I will say that with my parents my Dad was as into Christmas as anyone because he loved the tree and decorations etc and in some ways had the joy of a child about Christmas. However, realistically my mother did the majority of the shopping, wrapping, cooking. Hmmmm, maybe that's why my Dad could still take a child's joy in Christmas, ha.
To be fair, my Dad was an Episcopalian minister and Rector of a large Church. He not only did the Christmas eve and Christmas day services but would visit people in the hospital on holidays, even more than his assistants did so it's not like he wasn't busy in a different way. Your question brought up lots of memories. Both of my parents died many years ago but when I think of Christmas I tend to think of them.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmast!
I think you are on to something. I usually do the Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc. This year though, we are reigning in the shopping due to finances so I am just doing Christmas cards. We'll go to the in-laws on Christmas Eve and then my dad will be here Christmas Day and we are ordering a full dinner from a local grocery store. I'll make my mom's stuffing, but that's it.
My theory is that life is crazy enough and the holidays can be very stressful, but only if you let them be. It is not a requirement to do so much, but we women seem to think it is. Once we pull back a little, we realize how much easier it is not to do it all.
The only things MWM contributes to Christmas is getting the tree and the decorations out of the loft and shopping for my present. He doesn't even shop for my present now as we don't get each other one preferring to save the money and use it for a weekend away! If it wasn't for me we just wouldn't have Christmas!
Hi...! How are you? I just read your post about your surgery, and it's hard to believe it was a whole year ago. Phew!
My son-in-law is a trained chef, so he does all the Christmas dinner, and it is always BEYOND spectacular. What a wonderful chef he is. So my daughter doesn't have to worry about that part of it, but yes, as far as all the rest, she does most of it. But isn't that just reflective of everything else? The women do it all ...
BTW, I LOVE the picture of Mount Arrowsmith on your sidebar. I used to be able to see Mount Arrowsmith from my window. Beautiful mountain, isn't it?
Cheers!
Jo
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