This has been a wonderful Christmas highlighted by joyful lunches, parties and toasts and dancing and delightful carrying on with families and friends celebrating D’s engagement in the days leading up to Christmas.
During our mountain trips earlier this month, D sparked some discussion about how Christmas would look, voicing that she didn’t know what to do about expectations and hopes to have everyone all together. We had good conversations touching on joys and griefs and personal choice. I emphasized my desire to celebrate together with all of our kids. I was aware that everyone including me was invited over to the kids maternal GM’s for Christmas Day brunch with their mom. I told D that I had not decided whether I would attend the brunch and explained that I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be there with her M.
We had a blast on Christmas Eve over here with both S’s, eldest S’s girlfriend, D and her fiancé spending the evening together with me.
In the end, I made the decision on Christmas morning to go to the brunch. I was patient with myself to make my decision when I was ready to. I certainly had some personal discomfort but was friendly and a gentleman. D, her mom and GM were gracious hosts. W was very warm and gave me a big hug,thanked me for coming and said she loved being with her family.
The kids and I had Christmas dinner later on together with my family and that was very enjoyable.
