Thanksgiving At Our House

This is what Thanksgiving looked like at our house this year. Alan had to work this year so we decided to keep things simple and just have a bunch of snacks. The kids were happy, things were simple , everyone is fed and life goes on.Gabe got to spend some time hanging out with dog. The dog seems to understand that if he does not put up with being pounded on by the littlest members of the household, he will find himself in trouble.
Today has me pondering all of the typical holiday chaos and headaches folks tend to put themselves through. For what reason, I'm not sure. Folks spend way too much time cooking, cleaning and making themselves crazy over spending time with folks that many times drive them insane. I'm not sure what you get out of that sort of insanity. Maybe my thoughts are colored by the few years growing up when we actually lived close enough to extended family to spend some of the holidays with them. I remember never knowing anyone who was around, a bunch of adults who seemed to think the way to involve kids they didn't know well was to insult them which left the adult somehow feeling good about themselves but the child feeling terrible, just wanting to hide somewhere so no one would really notice me, the noise and chaos. I've sometimes wondered if our kids are missing out on something because they don't spend holidays or any real time with the gaggle of extended family. But then I realize that everyone enjoys themselves much more when you are surrounded by folks you know and enjoy being with. Not sure where I'm going with this really. I'm sure someone will get offended by what's been said already. But chances are in all honesty that most of the extended family is glad they don't have to deal with us anyway for holidays because there are so many of us that we overwhelm them. But who needs to feel the pressure of putting on a show for others anyway. Or spend the time worrying about if the house is in perfect order for that overly critical relative who will insult your home no matter what you've done to make it look nice.

Anyway, I think I've spent way too much time thinking today. I'm glad the kids are happy, Alan has a job he loves, we have enough of everything we need. And we have no stress today because the only people we are worried about today is each other. The impressions we make on those who live with us are so much more important than the ones we make on those who don't. And yet way too many folks spend way too many hours cleaning, stressing, painting, baking, fixing the furniture and cooking to impress those who don't share their lives everyday and just expect the ones who live with them to deal with getting the short end of the stick. Why do we do things this way? Just a question to ponder.