Ode to Joy

Whew! The holidays are busy around here. I know they are busy for everyone but I feel as if we are stretched more than most.

The Husband is a high school wrestling coach. Because he is a hard ass, they practice over winter break. A lot. In fact, he sees himself as extremely benevolent that they get Christmas day off. I work at a fancyish food store. Add that in with school programs and errands and all the other crap, and we don't have time to come up for air until the holiday is literally here.

When the kids were toddlers, this meant jamming them all into a car, shuttling back and forth between grandparents, trying to be "fair" about the time spent each place, jamming all the new, loud and plastic toys in between the kids and driving back again just in time to go back to work. I'm not going to lie. It sucked. I love my family, and it's nice to see them, but damn.

Why am I speaking of these horrible holidays in the past tense? We don't do them anymore. That's right! We seceded from family holidays. And, it's awesome.

Most people react with shock and awe, as if I just told them I put myself through college knocking off convenience stores or something. It was no big deal; very much a bloodless coup. We just stopped going.

The Husband and I were sitting up very late one night, staring at the mound of new toys and contemplating how the next few days would go since the kids had just taken a two-hour nap in the car when they should have been going to bed. I know it's stating the obvious considering the circumstances, but we were several beers in. We were fantasizing about how great it would be to not have to go through all of the rigamaroll and just have a family holiday.

"Why the fuck can't we? We're adults. If we don't want to go, we don't have to."
"You know, you're right! What's the worst that could happen? Everyone would be pissed and our holiday would suck?"
"Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

We decided the reward outweighed the risk, and mutally agreed to try it the next year. When the holidays rolled around, we told our parents that we were too stretched to make the trip, and asked to make arrangements to get together sometime the next week. Mine graciously agreed. His freaked.

Sweatpant holidays were born.

Thanksgiving at our house starts with everybody sleeping in. Whenever I wake up, I start to cook. I also start to drink wine. We eat throughout the day, watch football and play games as a family. We go for a walk if it's nice and eat more if it isn't. Everyone plans the menu together, and everyone helps cook. This year we ate it picnic-style on a blanket in the middle of the living room. If you think that sounds amazing, it is.

We see my family when there's more time and we can really enjoy it, and we have started our own traditions, too.

Sweatpant holidays is one of the best decisions The Husband and I have made as a couple. It's a great lesson that sometimes you just have to say "Why the fuck not?" and do it. Especially if there's wine.