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While taking the kids to school the other morning, a song I like came on the radio. I turned it up and started singing along. Briar rolled his eyes at me and said he couldn’t believe I liked those lame songs that all the “typical girls” like right now.

According to Briar and Brad, there are several songs right now that are really popular with all the girls at school. They sing them on break, walking down the halls and in the classrooms. All the boys, evidently, don’t like these songs and make fun of the girls for singing them. Two of those songs happen to be my favorites right now.

I told Briar, that even though I’m a “mom,” I still like a lot of the things that “typical girls” like. Brad laughed at this and agreed that the songs are lame. Of course now I am made fun of a little bit whenever one of the two songs comes on the radio, but I don’t care – I still turn it up and sing along anyway.

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The Christmas season has begun. Some of us look forward to it with real anticipation while some of us dread it.

I love Christmas. It is a time when the people you meet have a smile on their face and they speak to total strangers wishing them a “Merry Christmas.”

My house is already showing signs of the season. A Christmas tree (only one so far), the teddy bear, snowmen and Santa Claus collections are in place. This weekend we will set up the crèche and our old time village. For me Christmas is a time of anticipation and excitement and a time when I can once more look at the world, if only for a moment, with a child’s sense of wonder.

But I can also sympathize with those who dread the day. I often believe I must shoulder all of responsibility for our family’s Christmas experience. I am slowly learning to let go, but still for one month out of the year I try to don a red cape and blue spandex (not attractive, believe me) and create a perfect moment in time.

This year I intend to stop and realize Christmas is not about me. It is about hope, love and compassion. After all the angels sang about peace on earth and good will not about figgy pudding demands.

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