Friday, December 28, 2012

Losing Out on Christmas


She said she hates Christmas.

She’s sucked in each year
feels like a bad parent if she
doesn’t buy, buy, buy for her
adult children and grandchildren.
She said her mother hated Christmas
like she does.  That she has now
passed  it on down to her daughter
but her son’s wives don’t think
like we do.  They love Christmas
gift giving and no matter what I say
they keep giving.  I don’t know what
else to do, They don’t listen.
I just hate Christmas.

Why not have a family meeting?
Come to some compromise?
Maybe you can do your thing
and they can do theirs?
But be prepared to take their
gift with aplomb even if you
don’t have your own to give.
People show love in different ways.
I know because I am the giver
of gifts.  The giver of my love
shopped for carefully,
wrapped with loving care,
given along with a piece of my heart.

You show your love by cooking
for loved ones.  Something I’m not
as good at, something the girls don’t
enjoy.  You have your gifts, too.
It would be sad to lose out on the love
offered generously from one to the other.
How could we do that?

10 comments:

Ann said...

I think this should be displayed very publickly, Judy. You have caught such an important truth. And there are so many ways to work with this to everyone's satisfaction.

Mary said...

I really cannot imagine a person hating Christmas....perhaps some of the aspects of Christmas (such as the excessive commercialism)....but Christmas itself? I don't get it. Whoever she is, she sounds very toxic, one who makes everyone else who enjoys Christmas and giving and being together uncomfortable.

Peggy said...

Such an important message. We all love and give on different ways. This poem works for the prompt on several ways--the point of view wanders and gets lost and it is also about loss. But it works well as a whole. Excellent.

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

I so agree with Ann and Peggy - this is an important piece and so very well written. Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful New Year :)

Scarlet said...

I like the idea of compromise and to accept that people show love differently ~

Good one ~ Happy New Year ~

Mary. said...

Judy, glad to see you participating at Poets United Poetry Pantry! I still feel bad that someone you know hates Christmas.

I wish you a Happy New Year.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Oh, yes. The great Christmas conundrum. Don't forget that awkward moment when the neighbours appear at the front door...

Judy Roney said...

Mary, it saddens me that she doesn't like Christmas and it's hard to think that she is in our family! I love her to death and she is a sweet person but this situation has become a problem for us. I hope for a good compromise somehow. I did suggest a family meeting before next Christmas. I feel bad for her truthfully.

WabiSabi said...

This speaks so well of the need to blend families when marriages start to change things up for everyone! Nicely done! Happy New Year!

Mary said...

Good luck on finding a solution, Judy. Hard when a 'bah humbug' person is in your own family!