So, you all know that I'm tired of my kids thinking the holiday season is all about the newest gadget they want. This week, I'm sharing some of my fondest holiday memories in hopes of negating their commercial mindset.
Today, I'd like to share a memory about one of the first Christmases I shared with my husband. I was nine months pregnant with our first child, and my mom had just moved 800 miles away. My dad was spending his Christmas morning with his new wife and her family, and my brothers were who knows where. I felt completely and utterly alone. (I'm sure my hormones didn't help, but still...)
Most of you know that we are a farm family. My husband runs a dairy farm and buys and sells Holstein cattle for a living. And anyone who knows anything about farming, knows that Christmas is not a day off. I was aware of this when I married my husband, but that didn't stop me from being a little miffed about the fact that he had to go feed pastures and pastures of cows on Christmas morning. Rather than sitting at home alone, I decided to join him.
About halfway through the first pasture, I realized my mistake. It was a bumpy ride, and I had a five pound baby in my womb resting on my full bladder. There was a foot of snow on the ground and no bathroom within miles. My husband kept talking to me and making jokes, trying to keep my mind off my dire circumstances. At the time, I was absolutely miserable, but looking back on it, I can't say I have any regrets. I learned a valuable lesson while spending quality time with my husband.
Isn't writing the same? Every stage we are in, we may make bad decisions, but sure enough, we learn from them right? We always, and I mean always, look back on those times fondly, even if we we're miserable at the time. And, more often than not, we have no regrets.
So, what about you? Any holiday memories that didn't seem so great at the time, but you cherish now?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tis The Season, Part 2...
So, you all know that I'm tired of my kids thinking the holiday season is all about the newest gadget they want. This week, I'm sharing some of my fondest holiday memories in hopes of negating their commercial mindset.
Today, I'd like to share a memory about one of the first Christmases I shared with my husband. I was nine months pregnant with our first child, and my mom had just moved 800 miles away. My dad was spending his Christmas morning with his new wife and her family, and my brothers were who knows where. I felt completely and utterly alone. (I'm sure my hormones didn't help, but still...)
Most of you know that we are a farm family. My husband runs a dairy farm and buys and sells Holstein cattle for a living. And anyone who knows anything about farming, knows that Christmas is not a day off. I was aware of this when I married my husband, but that didn't stop me from being a little miffed about the fact that he had to go feed pastures and pastures of cows on Christmas morning. Rather than sitting at home alone, I decided to join him.
About halfway through the first pasture, I realized my mistake. It was a bumpy ride, and I had a five pound baby in my womb resting on my full bladder. There was a foot of snow on the ground and no bathroom within miles. My husband kept talking to me and making jokes, trying to keep my mind off my dire circumstances. At the time, I was absolutely miserable, but looking back on it, I can't say I have any regrets. I learned a valuable lesson while spending quality time with my husband.
Isn't writing the same? Every stage we are in, we may make bad decisions, but sure enough, we learn from them right? We always, and I mean always, look back on those times fondly, even if we we're miserable at the time. And, more often than not, we have no regrets.
So, what about you? Any holiday memories that didn't seem so great at the time, but you cherish now?
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16 comments:
Hey Susan! How are you girl? This was a great post. I'll take a visit with a cherished, holiday memory over the newest gadget any day!
Great story! I can't think of any stories off the top of my head, but I agree with you about the commercialism. I'm working on that with my 3 kiddos, too. :-)
I love the story, I didn't know your husband farmed. That is very cool.
I remember one Christmas my husband had a special surprise for me and got us a little vacation. I wasn't feeling well at the start of the break and by the end I was really sick. It wasn't until I got home that I found out I was pregnant. =)
Oh, the pregnant Christmas! One of my best holiday memories is when I decided to take a PG test at 4 am on Christmas (after days of feeling yucky) and it was positive. I felt like I was going to hurl all through the lovely holiday meal my MIL made, but how fun it was to share our good news over dessert.
One of my favorite Christmas memories is from my childhood. My sister and I were the youngest of five children and always the first two awake on Christmas morning. Since we weren't allowed to wake anyone up until some specified time, we used to play "The Drawing Game" to pass the time - we'd both draw a picture of some object that one of us chose and then rate each other's pictures. It's funny that that one-on-one time with my sister is what sticks out most of my childhood Christmas memories.
Awe...what a good story to tie into writing! That does sound like a hard job, being a cattle farmer. My hubs has been talking a lot about having a cattle farm lately, oddly enough.
Thanks for your story!
Your story is so cute. I didn't know about the farm, but I'm not surprised. You seen like such a natural person. There are good roots there from somewhere. Farms will do it. Have a great week.
Some of our best memories come from the mistakes we make. But when I read your first paragraph, I thought, "Her kids read her blog?" My stepdaughter would never read mine!
Nine months pregnant and bouncing--my bladder sympathizes with yours!
I did not know you guys owned a farm. I thought for sure the story was gonna end up with a baby on your lap.... :O)
Oh, that bumpy pregnant ride sounds painful!
When I think of Christmas, I think of time with my family. It's the best gift of all.
I must have missed your dairy-farm posts. I didn't know! What a wonderful (if uncomfortable) memory!
What a neat post! I'm hoping my kids find joy in the 'simpler' things this Christmas. While they still have nice presents to look forward to, I really struggle with how greedy the whole season has become... sigh... hoping to make some simple, happy memories with them. Also, my husband works at a casino/resort and they NEVER close. it is mandatory he works every.single.holiday, so I feel your pain- even though I know it's coming it irks me every year!
Great post. Can't think of my own memory to share, but I think what you have said here is so important. It's about the simple things along the way- even if we only appreciate them after.
Great story! I only recently started writing and have no regrets yet, but what you're saying really is true about a lot of things. Even looking back at high school, for example, I seem to have forgotten a lot of the bad stuff and just have mostly fond memories.
I didn't realize you lived on a farm. That's cool. I can't say I'm looking back at everything with fondness. I have learned a lot though.
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