Ok, one last little bit of hard-earned wisdom about the power of laughter in the parent-adult child system, especially around the volatile holiday season.
One Christmas I ruined everything by trying too hard.
WAY too hard …
My daughter was bringing home a new boyfriend.
My brother and his family were coming for Christmas Eve dinner.
I - in my own mind - was going to crush it.
I was going to do all the traditions, have a great tree, cook a superb meal, make everyone feel welcome, have a few little surprises for my nieces who are Jewish, get just the perfect gifts, blah, blah, blah … you know the drill.
Whole dang thing went south on me because no one - especially my adult husband and my 3 adult kids - didn't cooperate with all my ridiculousness. How dare they?
So I spent the bulk of Christmas Eve in bed weeping, pretending I had the flu, while my entire family laughed and celebrated at my dining room table.
Sad.
The next year I came up with a new plan - This would be the year mom swore a little. (Or, a lot depending on the circumstances.)
This created all kinds of fun for everyone involved.
A well-placed, polite little swear-bomb can sure lighten the mood, people.
Especially when young adult kids push back on all our best-laid plans.
Happiest. Christmas. Ever.
Now, I know the Bible discourages coarse language. I get it.
But what do you think is worse?
A cry-baby mom in her bed thinking bad thoughts about her family on the eve of our Lord's birth …
or a nicely placed little cuss word?
Laughter - it works every time.
Try it.