Breaking The “Rules”

I have a tendency to make up “rules” for how things “should” be.

I’m pretty sure I inherited some of this from my mom who got it from her mom. (Shout out to Grandma Marilyn!) 

Years ago I wrote a Thanksgiving post where I talked about how Grandma had “rules” about exactly how the holiday dinner should be prepared.  She wasn’t shy about her displeasure when people would veer from the “right” way either.  God bless my mom and Aunt Becky for taking Grandma’s remarks in stride.

Some of my rules are silly and don’t have any good reason backing them up, some of them are rules of etiqutte that have served me well, and some are just pointless. 

• You should mix things by hand rather than with a stand mixer because … … they taste better that way?
• Dishwashers are a cop out for washing dishes “properly” (i.e. by hand)
• Sketchers and Nike shoes are off-limits
• Do not go bare-legged when wearing skirts or dresses in the fall or winter
• A thank you note should be sent for every gift received  (I’m talking actual paper and postage)
• You shouldn’t wear big earrings and a big necklace
• If you chip one nail you should cut them all off
• A bed isn’t “really” made unless the bottom corners are folded and tucked military style
• Candle wicks should be burned black before being displayed
• You should never decorate for Christmas or listen to Christmas music before December 1st

Yeah, that last one?  I broke it this year.  Big time.

I’ve been secretly listening to Christmas music in the car since 100.3 started playing it.  BEFORE Thanksgiving!

And worse, we bought our Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend.  Blasphemy!

I guess I just hate how Thanksgiving is always ushered out so quickly to make room for the retail giant that is Christmas.  You don’t even see Thanksgiving displays in stores anymore.  It’s Halloween and then Christmas.  Sometimes it’s Halloween AND Christmas.

I feel that we should respect the turkey.  We should take time to be thankful and at rest before all of the stupid Christmas hooplah begins.

I can be kind of a Scrooge.  I’m not a fan of Santa or buying gifts for every single person in the family.  Standing in the toy aisle, wondering what the heck the kids in our family want, don’t already have, and are allowed to play with, makes me want to take off screaming.

Inspired gifts don’t happen much at Christmastime because there’s too much pressure to get everyone something.  I really wish we could dial it back.  Just buy for our immediate family so that we can pick out a few special gifts for Grace and not have them shoved to the back when she gets a host of other gifts from every grandparent, aunt and uncle.

I digress.

This is about breaking one of my cardinal rules and being ok with it.  I love our tree and all of the Christmas decor that’s tucked around the house.  It makes me happy to pull up to the house and see the sparkling, lighted wreath on the door.  I love waking up to the tree lit up and advent calendar ticking down the days.

Grace seems to like it all too.  She’s been looking around and pausing her gaze on all of the holiday stuff that’s not usually around.

Maybe I’ll wait till December 1st for my first sip of eggnog.  Afterall, I already broke a rule by not drinking it while decorating the tree :)

Oooh! Prickly!

I think there’s a good one on your left, dad.

Typical Gould self portrait: Grace looking away and making a face, Andy squinting and me with my cheesy smile

Mini Uggs :)

This one feels good.

Giving the tree the “side eye”

A tree IN the house?

Are you serious?

This tree is making me tired.

Ok, let me feel it one more time before my nap.

The finished product!