There are some things that happen on a regular basis that you really don't look forward to. Some people can't stand going to the dentist and most people start grinding their teeth when it comes time to do their taxes. For me, it has to be that moment on Christmas morning when my mother lines the whole family up in front of the hearth to take a family photo of us all wearing the exact same Christmas t-shirts. I'm not joking. This happens every year.
My sister and I are working on graduate degrees at the same state school, so I picked her up on the morning before Christmas for our long journey across the state to our parent's house. I noticed my sister was being uncharacteristically quiet, so I finally asked her what was wrong with her. She snapped back at me, "Do you have no idea how bad this is going to be? I have no idea what kind of Christmas crap she's ordered this year, but you know they're going to be hideous! AND, she's going to post them ALL OVER FACEBOOK!"
"Mom's putting them on Facebook? Is she tagging us in the photos, too?" I said, quite shocked as my sister just nodded solemnly. If my mother put those pictures on Facebook, I would never hear the end of it. I mean, these shirts sometimes had kittens on them. Or even worse, there was one year when she made us wear matching shirts that had a moose on them with Christmas lights strung all through its antlers. I can't let this happen. I just looked at my sis and said, "Yeah, I'm with you. No pictures this year."
The whole clan was already there to greet us when we showed up, and we got handed around for hugs and handshakes. I had a great time visiting with everyone and catching up on everyone's lives during dinner. I knew that mom wouldn't bring up the Christmas t-shirts issue until later, or even the next morning. I let my guard down and I spent some good quality time with the people who love me most. It was really nice and I admit that I got caught up in the Christmas spirit.
Mom had lured me into a false sense of safety. She was quite crafty like that, I had learned over the years. She stopped me on my up the stairs and held out the dreaded thing to me. The Christmas shirt selection this year were a bright red with rhinestone snowflakes all over the front. Rhinestones were the worst, and this was the first time she had gotten them. I guess the extra money was worth the extra shame it would cause me. I smiled weakly and went upstairs, wondering how I would break it to mom that I was not going to do the picture this year.
I went upstairs to find my sister sitting on the edge of the bed with her shirt in her lap, looking miserable. "You know how sad it'll make her if we don't do it, don't you?" I said, and she just nodded. "You know we have to wear these or it's going to ruin her day, right?" She just nodded again and sighed heavily. I tried to be helpful by saying, "Maybe she won't put them on Facebook if we ask her?" The look I got was shooting daggers at me and I knew how silly I was to think that. Mom wins again.
My sister and I are working on graduate degrees at the same state school, so I picked her up on the morning before Christmas for our long journey across the state to our parent's house. I noticed my sister was being uncharacteristically quiet, so I finally asked her what was wrong with her. She snapped back at me, "Do you have no idea how bad this is going to be? I have no idea what kind of Christmas crap she's ordered this year, but you know they're going to be hideous! AND, she's going to post them ALL OVER FACEBOOK!"
"Mom's putting them on Facebook? Is she tagging us in the photos, too?" I said, quite shocked as my sister just nodded solemnly. If my mother put those pictures on Facebook, I would never hear the end of it. I mean, these shirts sometimes had kittens on them. Or even worse, there was one year when she made us wear matching shirts that had a moose on them with Christmas lights strung all through its antlers. I can't let this happen. I just looked at my sis and said, "Yeah, I'm with you. No pictures this year."
The whole clan was already there to greet us when we showed up, and we got handed around for hugs and handshakes. I had a great time visiting with everyone and catching up on everyone's lives during dinner. I knew that mom wouldn't bring up the Christmas t-shirts issue until later, or even the next morning. I let my guard down and I spent some good quality time with the people who love me most. It was really nice and I admit that I got caught up in the Christmas spirit.
Mom had lured me into a false sense of safety. She was quite crafty like that, I had learned over the years. She stopped me on my up the stairs and held out the dreaded thing to me. The Christmas shirt selection this year were a bright red with rhinestone snowflakes all over the front. Rhinestones were the worst, and this was the first time she had gotten them. I guess the extra money was worth the extra shame it would cause me. I smiled weakly and went upstairs, wondering how I would break it to mom that I was not going to do the picture this year.
I went upstairs to find my sister sitting on the edge of the bed with her shirt in her lap, looking miserable. "You know how sad it'll make her if we don't do it, don't you?" I said, and she just nodded. "You know we have to wear these or it's going to ruin her day, right?" She just nodded again and sighed heavily. I tried to be helpful by saying, "Maybe she won't put them on Facebook if we ask her?" The look I got was shooting daggers at me and I knew how silly I was to think that. Mom wins again.
About the Author:
Take a look at this cute Christmas tees at light-hearted Christmas fun for lots of great information.
