Holiday memories

I'm not a real Christmas-y person. Any problems in families and relationships seem to escalate during the holidays. Makes me even more glad that I'm single and unattached. When I was a kid, it seemed that Mom and Dad were always fighting during Christmas holidays. I'm certain that Mom was careless with money and Dad drank beer... a lot of it.

No matter how old I get, there are always those remembrances of miserable childhood holidays that creep to the front of my memory. I saw too many arguments, heard too many slammed doors. We always spent Christmas day at my mother's parents where peace reigned at all times. Arguing wasn't allowed there, ever. Neither was disciplining children, something that made may dad crazy. I think we did behave pretty well, though, because if we didn't we were sure to get it when we got home. I'm thankful for the peace of my grandparent's home, a place I spent as much time as I could.

Be peaceful during this holiday season. Don't let money issues make you crazy. The kids don't have to have everything they want, even though you think they do. Christmas spending is way out of control and maybe this is the year to rein it in.

If you like to have adult beverages, please keep it under control. This is a time for children to make memories. Let them be good ones.