My liberated Christmas!

Seasons greetings to all of you! Hope you're enjoying a holiday filled with love, laughter, and fun!

Last fall I discovered a 6-minute video by Ellen Gelinas - humourist, educator, Choice Theory instructor, mentor and friend. It's short, funny, and profound. I've lost track of how many times I've watched it, but it changed my Christmas for the better this year. (Look for the link at the bottom of this post.)

For the past year or so, my kids have been threatening to boycott Thanksgiving, Chrismas, and all other family gatherings. It looked like this: By the time I'd finished getting everything ready, I was stressed, feeling bitter and resentful that the expense and the work had fallen to me again, and I wasn't fit to be around. Better to just skip the whole thing.

But this year, I did things differently. Most of my kids are grown and gone now and have their own kitchens, so early in December, I decided what I wanted to prepare for Christmas dinner: turkey, roasted sweet potatoes with garlic and rosemary, and green beans. Oh, and gravy and cranberries.

It's enough, but it's a far cry from the turkey, stuffing, dozen or so vegetables, and dessert that we usually have. And I was okay with that. If no one brought anything else, it would still be simple, easily manageable, and delicious.

Next step: I told the kids, "This is what I'll be making. If there's something else you want, bring it with you."

Jocie, who usually makes the stuffing, seemed frustrated at the prospect of doing it this year, and said she didn't think she'd be able to do it. I smiled. "No problem. Then we won't have stuffing. This is what I'll be cooking. Bring whatever else you want." Not only did she bring stuffing, but she brought a slew of roasted vegetables! My sister Kathy brought cheeses and crackers, Emily and Maddy brought desserts, someone else brought wine.

The outcome? We had a relaxed, fun-filled Christmas together. Emily put her arms around me half-way through the evening and said, "This is lovely! Nobody's upset, and nobody's had a meltdown!" - clearly referring to me.

Interested in the tiny video that sparked my liberation from Christmas insanity? Click here!

Wishing you all the best new year ever!