Papa took great care of and paid great attention to his grandchildren, but unfortunately not great care of himself. I’ve seen plenty of old photos. He was oh-so handsome and slim in his military uniform back in his 20s and 30s, but he let himself go.... Read more
Before you gripe at your mom, or resent the expensive presents your rich brother-in-law buys, read this. Read more
I wasn’t going to say anything about Chrismukkuh. The Catholic Bishops and Jewish Rabbis recently put out a joint statement condemning the term as offensive to both Christianity and Judaism. And I get it. I know that you can’t just make up holidays, and that people have died over the differences between the two religions, and that Jews are concerned about intermarriage finishing the job taken up again and again by one anti-Semitic group after the other. I don’t take any... Read more
I have been really silent here at What She Said. I get really quiet when I’m wrestling. Major indicator you need an attitude adjustment: Your six-year-old son asks, “Mama, why don’t you like Christmas?” Oh, my. Is it that obvious? I suppose if you are short with answers, too busy to play, and constantly asking, “Now, where did I put my coffee?” a sharp boy will notice. Having children has forced my Christmas wrestling to a new level. And this... Read more
Back in 2004, my first-grade daughter had to write a “book” on famous people for homework. She threw the papers on the kitchen floor and wailed, “I can’t do this! I don’t know any famous people.” The 2004 election was just weeks away so I said, “There’s John Kerry or George Bush.” “I don’t WANT to do George Bush!” She stomped out of the room. Awhile later, she came back happy. “I figured it out. I can do Santa Claus,... Read more
When I told my friends and colleagues in Atlanta that I would be visiting India until December 28th, the reaction I received was almost unanimous: “You’re going to miss Christmas?!” they would say in a tone that sounded as shocked as it did sympathetic. “I’m so sorry,” they would continue, or, “That’s too bad.” I heard this over and over again from everyone from people at church to the lady at the airport ticket counter when I checked in for... Read more
‘Twas was the night before Christmas, And the house was a dump. The kids were feeling Christmassy, But I was a grump. The laundry piled up, the table was crummy No gifts had been wrapped, nothing made that was yummy. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of a happy mama danced in their heads. But I was working so hard to make them a Christmas, I didn’t have time for all this merriment... Read more
A cardinal flew into our picture window after we cleaned it, breaking its little neck. (Moral: Housework is deadly and should be avoided.) My son, the animal lover, was greatly affected. In horror he ran to inspect the creature. He bent over the exquisite bird, fantastically red but with surprising blue underfeathers. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes and stick in his hand and asked: “Can I poke it?” It figures. This is the quintessential little boy question,... Read more
There’s been a lot of talk about Santa and Christmas here at What She Said, and I want to chime in with a semi-outsider’s point of view. Confession: when I see Christians discussing how to interact with culture and raise children in the midst of it, I often find myself saying, “Thank You God for not making me a Christian until I grew up!” Because even now, as a believer, it seems to me that Christian Culture takes strange stands... Read more
If you’re teaching your kids about Santa, you’re afraid that your children will meet one of those kids in school or on the playground. You know the kind… the ones who purposefully burst the holiday bubble by telling everyone Santa is a conspiracy theory at worst or a myth at best? On the flip side, if you’re not raising kids who believe in the big fat man with the red suit, you fear your kids will be the one to... Read more
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