Ups and downs of family holidays

Ah, the Christmas break is half-over (or half begun, for you optimists) and I've come to some realizations about holidays with one's family and away from one's extended family.

Firstly, the blessings: that we can have a wonderful quiet holiday and feel fulfilled among ourselves without traveling, shlepping, winter driving or mountains of presents. The following picture is a daddy reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as the bed time story before Pere Noel came to visit:
This was the first year that M and I have had ever on our own and it was peaceful, calm and reflective. We even got a chance to go skating, as per our tradition whenever we've been at the lake--but this time at Place St. Catherine in the heart of Brussels--lovely.


Another blessing: that our children were able (for the most part) get along with each other AND share the jointly received toys with grace and patience--at least on Christmas day...

Yet another joy: that technology has advanced sufficiently to allow video conferencing and frequent inexpensive telephone calls with the ones we love, so that we weren't too isolated or isolatory for those who love us too.

And finally: that we've made a modest collection of friends here so that our yuletide celebrations were not just with the four of us--that we got out, shared glogg, had friends in and shared lots of laughs and good times.

Food this season has been luscious as well: Barbecued lobsters and champagne (thanks so much, JJ for that bottle of bubbly...) for our lucky 13th anniversary of our engagement on Christmas eve, decadent turkey with all the trimmings including Grandma's ginger shortbread on the day of our lord's birth and a suite of creative and delicious leftover recreations (Tandoori Turkey, anyone?) that are now over, regretfully.

But alas, there were also drawbacks. The first: giving gifts to little relatives without receiving the moist, spontaneous, enthusiastic hugs immediately after and later that day while engaging them in play with the new dumptruck or imagination-inducing object.

Another: that the symphony of competing conversations only possible with those who have only a few times a year to catch up, have exciting news (job/house/family changes) cannot be experienced virtually no matter how advanced a video camera and high-speed modem can get.

Yet a third: that those who are gaining in years who have fewer and fewer celebrating years to share truly miss us and our children...we pray we don't miss the chance to tell them in person how much they mean to us.

And regretfully, there are always the "hangovers" to suffer afterwards--not the alcoholic kind but the letdown from the euphoria kind of hangover...toys break, one's patience gets lost, the fridge needs cleaning out, waistbands don't fit, marking piles don't get any slimmer, report cards need to be written and children get bored with their own company without school friends to enjoy...I hate to say it, but I'm looking forward to going back to work, and I think M is looking forward to getting his routine of rehearsals, audition calls and the children out from underfoot.

Sigh. All good things do come to an end. Good night, Christmas and good morning New Year!