About Jennifer Hamilton
Having learned to write before she could walk (or so goes the story), Jennifer Hamilton has finally found an outlet as our SweetMama Editor. Don’t miss her weekly victories and slip-ups as she raises a son who is almost as obstinate and witty as her; using snuggles, derision and propaganda to survive.
In Support of the Holiday
mother she wrote: treasuring traditions canada
(Oct.05.11)
I’m a bit of a creature of habit: I love birthdays (mine, yours, his, theirs). I adore Halloween (I start thinking about my son’s costume in August), and I look forward to Christmas with the glee and curiosity of a five year-old each and every year.
Easter was always a big holiday for me – a bunny that hides chocolate in your house? How can that be wrong? Thanksgiving is obviously another one that gets my vote, what with all that food and a day off from work, who doesn’t like it?
Since I had my son, Mother’s Day has been climbing the ladder in terms of one of my favourite days of the year (a card? For moi? You shouldn’t have, sweetie!).
I suppose I relish in those things that happen once a year, for no other reason than because my calendar says they have to happen. I like that you can't postpone it, you can't really ignore it and usually, you should just relax and let the holiday wash over you and (at least try to) enjoy yourself.
Take Valentine's Day as an example. So many people get into an uproar over how we shouldn't show our love only one day a year, how it's commercialism at it's worst and we should ignore it. I disagree.
I mean, of course we should show our love 365 days a year, but why not make a few grand gestures on one of those days? Why not buy someone some chocolate or take them out for dinner or get them flowers or write them a poem? No we shouldn't require a day to tell us to do it, but sometimes, in this busy life, we need that reminder.
So…Thanksgiving is coming up and Halloween is right around the corner. No, we don't need a weekend in honour of eating Turkey and we certainly don't need a day to dress up in slutty – I mean scary – costumes. But we have these days. The Calendar Gods gave them to us. Why can't we just sit back, let the holidays wash over us and enjoy them, darn-it?
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