This year’s holiday’s bring about what we see in the world and how we speculate our privilege and right to know every atrocity. The artificial feeling that holidays may temporarily create reminds us of things better left in the past. I am struggling to appreciate the season to be Jolly. I want to create more for my children on how they act and see the world but regardless, the year 2016 has been rough.

Key Takeaways:

• The pictures from Aleppo make me dizzy with horror. There are assassinations, bombings. The Arctic ice is melting at terrifying speed.
• This year our fully decorated tree fell over and that seemed about right. I cursed as I picked tiny pieces of glass out of the rug.
• I remember once sitting with my grandmother as she smoked a cigarette. We were eating dinner. She fingered the stem of a wine glass between her fingers.

“I don’t have any answers. I keep changing my mind. I am conflicted. By degrees. One day I muster the good cheer (because I can’t resist my kids) and make gingerbread houses.”

http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/im-struggling-to-embrace-holiday-magic-this-year/