Funny/Interesting-If Men Ran Christmas

12 years ago

Just saw the article linked below in the Huffington Post. It made me smile, and there are some thought provoking ideas, particularly as we near the finish li...holiday!

Here is a link that might be useful: What if Men Ran Christmas?

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Comments (10)

bestyears
12 years ago
How timely.... I popped into my best friend's house last night for a minute, and after a brief chat she followed me outside while I was leaving. She threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed, "Men! He's in there putzing around allllll day while up running a million miles a minute. Can't he SEE what needs to be done around here?!??!"

I just emailed her the article!
Sueb20
12 years ago
Ha! Women do 56% of the shopping? Try 96%! At least in my house. I can assure you that DH does not even have a clue about most of the gifts I got for our kids (actually I just told him over the weekend -- but not because he asked) or for his own sister and BIL. This year, actually, he purchased a laptop for our son. I put him in charge of that because I have no idea what would be appropriate. Then I said to him, "Congratulations, that was the first Christmas gift you've bought for any of our kids in 19 years!" Dh is a great guy, and he is very generous with me, but he hates to shop and it does make more sense for me to do it, because he works a lot and I have more free time, but sometimes I'd love to sit back and let him do it. PS I also do all the wrapping, which I hate.

Holiday menu/food planning? check.
Holiday cards? check.
Cleaning the house for guests? check. Okay, he will help if I ask.

This is timely for me because yesterday I spent 2+ hours making cookies while DH and DS watched football. I honestly didn't expect him to help me make cookies, but I was annoyed anyway. Irrational, I know.
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sweeby
12 years ago
Yesterday my dear husband had the temerity (stupidity?) to tell me not to get all stressed out and run around so much because that takes away all his holiday spirit. WTF? Where does he think his 'holiday spirit' comes from if it's not the result of all of my stressing and running around? The house doesn't decorate itself. The food is not take-out. The beautifully-wrapped gifts don't just happen...
runninginplace
Original Author
12 years ago
(NB: Sorry for the double post--I didn't think it had gone through, surprise!)

I sent the article to my sister too. I loved her response:

"I liked the Huff Post article. Yes, if men ran Christmas it would be different. It would be called "Tuesday" or "Monday" or whatever day of the week the menfolk decide to head down to Taco Bell to wrassle up a holiday dinner with all the fixins! (extra sour cream, mild sauce)."

My own husband made me laugh last night. He and my MIL were sitting at the dinner table after we ate while I was in the kitchen cleaning up. I overheard them talking about what she could get our son for Xmas and then he told her "well, fortunately I'm all done with my shopping." Knowing her son, she just looked at him and responded "took care of it, did you?" and he deadpanned "yep, a couple of weeks ago". Needless to say he did just as much as he always does for holidays: nothing!
DLM2000-GW
12 years ago
Cute & true but not telling the whole story. It doesn't just apply to Christmas.

How about Thanksgiving, and kids b'day parties, and Communions, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and the parent's or inlaw's important year anniversary or b'day and when the boss comes to dinner..... !!! Let's not forget vacations - who plans those and packs(for herself & kids and often DH, too!), and makes reservations and prints out boarding passes and updates passports and researches things to do, gets museum tickets or lift tickets, puts the mail on hold, cancels the paper, arranges for pet sitting or boarding, garden watering....... !!!

In my next life, I'm coming back as a man. Or a well loved dog. Either one'll do ;-)
bestyears
12 years ago
The funny thing to me is that when DD (16) observes any of the things described above, which all happen in our house too, she insists that I 'shouldn't put up with that!" and "Mom, you just need to make him do it, blah, blah, blah...." MmmmHmmm.....
gsciencechick
12 years ago
DH wonders why I'm so stressed since I'm now "off work". I graded final exams and papers all last week and went to graduation on Saturday. Christmas cards got mailed Friday afternoon. Now I'm off to the post office to mail gifts to mostly his extended family. I spent $200 at the supermarket yesterday, and I'm sure I'll be back there again before the week is out.

I do most of the shopping for MIL's gifts. I am a big Black Friday shopper since after that it's almost finals and totally crazy. Plus, DH and MIL have early December birthdays.

We get a live tree, but it sat undecorated for a week. I love putting up the tree and ornaments. DH surprised me by putting the lights on during a night where I had to work late to cover an evening exam for our dept head whose mother had just died. So, that was very sweet and nice supprise.

We don't even have kids either!
deegw
12 years ago
Ugh. This very thing kept me up half the night trying to make sure that I covered everything.

Sweeby - lol about your DH getting stressed out by your stress. My DH is exactly the same way. So irritating. Apparently they think Santa does it all.

My DH had the nerve to tell me he was stressed about buying my presents. It is the ONLY thing he spontaneously does at Christmas. Poor baby.

He is extremely successful at his business. I think he must turns his brain off when he gets home. It's the only explanation.
Bethpen
12 years ago
It is all so exhausting, isn't it?

This year my DH has been SO much help. He bought, set up and decorated the tree. I laugh though, thinking of the poster who gets very OCD about the tree and keeps adjusting it. I swear, half of the ornaments are facing the wrong way. He didn't put half of the lights on either. But I'm not saying a word!

Yesterday he worked on our holiday baking. He has a tendency to "overcook" some things. Half of the mini rum cakes were like hockey pucks, so he had to start over. Oops. Again, not saying anything! (thank GOD I didn't pay for the pecans.)

DD is home from college and like a walking zombie. I'm not 100% sure what is up with her, but she is literally less than no help. DS is so busy with school and basketball he too, is useless.

I did all the shopping, even for myself. DH doesn't shop much. I'm perfectly happy while I'm shopping for everyone else to pick up a few things that I want/need. One year he surprised me with a diamond pendant, but for the most part we don't really do "big" gifts.

I keep wondering how I did it all alone when DH worked really long hours and the kids were little. Last night I saw a couple of Moms at Target who looked so exhausted. I just wanted to hug them and tell them to try to enjoy.

Beth P.
Sueb20
12 years ago
deee, LOL at your last sentence. I have said the exact same thing about (and to) my DH.

Funny/Interesting-If Men Ran Christmas

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bestyears

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Funny/Interesting-If Men Ran Christmas

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