(One college kid, 2 high schoolers, none are married yet, my parents are out of state and dh’s mom/family are out of the country). Thanksgiving will be low-key as usual - oldest gets a full week off and is coming home, and we are in the habit of just having the dinner amongst the 5 of us.
Christmas - we all wanted to have it at home, but it’s also been a while since we’ve visited my parents, and dh wants to go skiing, so we are going to try to fit all 3 in: at home in CA for Xmas, then go to TX for a few days, then back and possibly to Tahoe for a few days.
All I know is between this thread and someone at work saying yesterday that she has all her Christmas shopping done, I’m either in denial or just dreading it all because my mind is still happily living like it’s September!
^Christmas shopping done? That reminded me that when the kids were young, I did try to finish most shopping before Halloween. It gave me more time to enjoy the other parts of the holidays I enjoy - making and sending cards, baking, decorating, etc. Last year was probably my worst in recent times - I think I did most shopping in mid December or later.
I should try to locate my old Holiday Planner. It was a fun way to keep track of all the moving parts between Nov 1 and Dec 25. For me, the anticipation is often as fun as the holiday itself, and starting really early gives me plenty of time to ponder ideas for the hard to buy for folks.
abasket- you haven’t been in the stores lately, they’ve already been stocking the Christmas stuff, sigh. Rushing the holidays more and more- used to be circa end Nov (Thanksgiving) and now when back to school is done.
Christmas a nonholiday for us atheists. Did a secular one when kid young but when he and H stopped caring about the tree, lights et al I quit doing the work. Gift giving hard since we all can afford to get what we want when we want things (another topic- when do you stop giving all the gifts to kids and others…). Have visited son on T’day, he’s been here. Too many things closed- such as parks. It is a lot easier for son to come for a week at off peak travel times for the 3000 miles. He will come sometime this year while his grandma is with us, he’s figuring out what works for vacation.
This year will be H, his mother (while the D she lives with goes to CA to be with her student kids for a month) and I for T’day. Perhaps a neighbor unless she has better plans. Maybe a couple of local grad students from other countries. Typically we host strays- singles, couples and families without other plans. Not turkey but other fowl plus Indian vegetarian dishes- his and my favorites.
Some have huge and close families for holidays. Not us. Regarding the new baby. Our son was a premie whose due date was mid December. We went to my sister’s house on Christmas (we lived in the same area and she had young kids)- I’ll never forget how cold she kept her house, newborn aged kid was kept bundled up in his stroller. It is not a good idea to expose merely weeks old babies to all of the germs at such a young age. Plans may be made now but please wait and see what the new mom feels like at the moment as well. Be prepared to let her know it is fine for her to renege on plans.
Imagine what it was like for so many of our European ancestors who went across an ocean and there was no going back and forth. Eventually all of our kids need to create their own traditions. College is a time usually for the childhood family but as noted by others things change.
Thanksgiving is a favorite of mine as it is a holiday embraced by all of the country, regardless of origins. Different must have foods based on ethnic/regional differences but we all take time. Even those who need to work- call days in our lifestyle- are noticed (still remember the free Thanksgiving meal served at the hospital cafeteria when I was a resident on call).