I got an email from a friend describing the amount of time and effort involved in decorating her house for Christmas. It reminded me of the ordeal my mama and my brother and myself went through every year to make the house
Christmasy.
I don't remember if we had a specific time when we got our tree every year but I know it was close to Thanksgiving. As soon as we got it, the mad dash to make everything perfect began. Getting the lights up was hard because we had to have the right amount of space between each strand of lights. Then the garland went on the tree. Evenly balanced as well. Then the decorations went on the tree. They were allowed to be put up in a random way as long as everything looked balanced. Then it was time for the icicles. I didn't participate in this part because it was to messy and unorganized. I had fun but it was always stressful.
A few years ago my mom found an old card that I had made for her for Christmas. It said " Merry Christmas. Hope you don't get a headache again this year." I don't remember consciously thinking my mama was stressed out but obviously I noticed.
Last year my parents gave a Christmas party for their neighbors. Now I don't live where they live now but I suspect that my mother went all out making sure everything was "perfect". She ended up stressing herself out and partially ruining her holiday.
My point here is that people need to remember the reason for Christmas. Or at least part of the reason. Is to be together. That's all that should really matter. Not what kind of tree or wreath or decorations or lights. Being with family.
I hope this can help keep other people from letting pressure for perfection ruin their holiday.
Don't hope for a Merry Christmas this year, make one!