Email a copy of 'This is not a Christmas card' to a friend
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Honestly I don’t think of Christmas as a Christian holiday. You can say Merry Christmas without it having anything to do with Jesus. It’s just an excuse to have cutesy decorations and eat yummy food and buy presents.
I celebrate everything and believe in nothing. Homeschoolers have mostly been very inclusive in my experience.
Happy holidays to everyone, no matter how you celebrate.
My favorite part of the photo is the cat promenading through.
Meowy Christmas! (sorry)
Glad I belong in this flock of nonconformity.
I’m not Catholic, but I’m up late to watch the broadcast of Midnight Mass in Rome this Christmas Eve. It brings me comfort even though I’m not really sure what’s going on in their service half the time.
I just wrapped a bunch of Santa presents for the kids even though they don’t believe in Santa anymore — it’s just our tradition. It’s what we do.
I think I’m Agonistic or perhaps even Atheist at this point in my life, but I still go to Christmas Eve service each year at a local Methodist church just to reconnect with the ritual and grace of it all — one of my children went with me earlier tonight and there were carols, candles and Communion. We enjoyed it quite a bit, despite the fact that I’m a bit of a germ-freak and they take Communion there by intinction (dip pieces of bread into a shared cup) to remind us that we are one, that we live in unity (I had to work hard to quiet the screaming banshee voice inside my mind that was ranting on about flu season and unwashed hands — but I’m pretty sure it was worth it because the ritual/tradition of it all brought me comfort and a sense of belonging, and even though I struggle with my faith, or lack thereof, I still think it’s a worthwhile way to mark the holiday.)
It’s basically the same reason I subscribe to your Education posts and look forward to finding them in my inbox — I live in a rural area, and being a secular homeschooler out here can get lonely. And even though our views and methods may differ at times, you make for a good touchstone. You help me to pause and reflect on the joy and challenges of homeschooling. Whether you’re posting about the farm or unschooling or music lessons or AP Spanish prep, I look forward to it *all* because it reminds me that I’m not alone on this path and that we’re doing fine (plus I like the free advice that you’re sharing about your kids’ tutors — needless to say I just ordered Great Expectations for the new year.)
So, Joy! and Cheers! to the holidays, however you celebrate them. And re: your not-Christmas card/porch photo… excellent cat photobomb! Thank you for sharing it!
I kind of wish I could send you all a Christmas card too. I’ve had some good conversations in this café. But links, you know, and pictures of family isn’t something I do online.
So I will just say Feliz Navidad and paint a little picture with words. I’m sitting here at our kitchen table in Madrid, cracking up the kids with silly faces. My son is eating yet another packet of jamón, and my little girl is putting together my little pony puzzles, The weather here is lovely; they are having a heat wave and it has been sunny and pleasant every day this week. My children have been enjoying the playgrounds at Rio Madrid, Retiro, and the Zoo, and I have been enjoying the long walks and the functional public transport system.
We are enjoying a long vacation brought to us by the magic of homeschooling. Probably next year the demands of one or more schools will prohibit long vacations. This is a sad thought, but as our host has found out, there are reasons to participate in the system. Enjoy what you can while you can; it might not come around again.
Feliz Navidad a todos
Sounds lovely! Enjoy your time there!
Happy Homeschooling! Or Unschooling ;)
My brain is kind of mush with postpartum life, so I will not be eloquent. But I read this yesterday and found it very touching and sweet and open hearted. And I just wanted to say: I love you for being you. And you are my people. And more mushy INFP thoughts that I won’t express but are there.
Happy New Year! Thank you, Penelope, for providing this space which I look forward to visiting several times a week. And thank you, too, commenters; reading your reactions is very much part of the pleasure of being here. ” I may not always show it, but I hope you always know it”;)
….and now back to my regularly scheduled lurking…
I’m writing this more for fun than to put forth any information. I lived in Jerusalem in Israel (as a Christian) for almost three years and moved back to the US just over two months ago. I’ve heard that Hanukkah is a minor holiday, and I’m sure it is, but wanted to give a little picture of what it is like in Jerusalem during Hanukkah. There is a giant menorah about two stories high in Zion Square in the center of the city, and in the Old City is the candle light on menorahs in people’s windows seen as you walk along the all-stone covered pathways. Then there are the sufganiyot which are little buns like fried scones or doughnuts. It is my favorite holiday there. (Sukkot is my second favorite.) Hanukkah is quite noted visually in the streets in Jerusalem and on the faces of people there, but I don’t know if that is an influence of the winter holidays mainly in the US and Europe or the way they would do it anyway. Regardless, it is a sweet time there with lots of little lights everywhere and a warmth celebrated with the sufganiyot. Jerusalem is pretty different though than Tel Aviv and probably most of the rest of Israel.
My sister was in Tel Aviv for Hanukkah earlier this month and she described it similarly. She said there were pop up sufganiyot shops everywhere. She sent up a picture of young men on motorbikes each with a lit electric menorah on the back riding in a group. She also said it is the most paranoid experience she’s ever had there too. Open carry every where, everyone wants to have their back against a wall and not have anyone behind them.
Thank you, Penelope.
Thanks for sharing.
I likes Sarah Silverman’s video.
So exciting.