GREENSBORO, N.C. — On the heels of Thanksgiving, as we roll full-steam toward Christmas, it is time for "my 2 cents."
The dates on the calendar...are not the "be-all end-all" for holidays.
Of course, the religious aspect of holidays on specific dates -- like Christmas on Dec. 25 -- won't change, but the family celebration can.
Let's admit -- the holiday shuffle...can be taxing. Parents, you probably can relate to this scenario: you are going house to house, from one side of the family to the next. The kids are tired, without proper naps, and they're "over" the itchy dress clothes and endless photos. By the end of the night, you've spent more of the holiday in the car than anywhere else, and the only place anyone really wants to be is home.
Secondly, certain occupations take no holidays. Work does not stop for first responders, medical professionals, hospital staff, ministers or journalists, to name a few. Having worked some holidays, I will tell you thinking about it is the toughest part. If you are on the clock, it can help to find something to look forward to -- a date in the near future when you will celebrate with loved ones. It means a lot, when they will accommodate and wait for you.
So, if you are feeling the stress of the holiday "hoopla," consider an early or belated gathering -- Dec. 16, for example. At first, you'll say, "It's not the same," until you do it. Then, you'll realize home is where the heart is, and home is wherever and whenever family is together.