My husband and I are "holiday geeks." It seems like just yesterday was Halloween, and last week was the Fourth of July; now here it is the holiday season already.
Our Thanksgiving weekend festivities culminated with a tree trimming party of friends and loved ones. We were hoping to do a real tree this year, but because we wanted to start a new tradition in our family, we sucked it up and went one more go-round with our fake tree (no biggie, much less of a mess and a much more minimal fire hazard).
While Girl & PC wrestled with the "Insert A into slot A," and "Plug cord part XYZ into outlet XYZ," SmallBoy and I went to basketball practice, grabbed more lights (because the lights on our pre-lit tree finally quit), and left them with all the dirty work.
We awaited the arrival of my MIL ("Meem), my mother ("GR"), my husband's twin brother ("ET"), his girlfriend, and her adorable 4 year old Princess with Autism ("Princess F"). As we already have Life on the Spectrum as part of our every day, this was nothing new or out of the ordinary for us; this was just another day at the MommyGuilt household.
I am no good at decorating around the house. If had my way, and someone else's check book, I'd hire someone to come and string lights around my house, decorate my trees, and have someone come and do the interior decorating. I subscribe to the "a little Christmas here, a little Christmas there," method of decorating, as opposed to one that actually makes aesthetic sense. The outside of my house still needs help, and a good sturdy ladder, but the interior I delegated to Meem. She has this "sense." I appreciate the way she decorates on a daily basis, and I knew she'd have no problem with the holiday task.
Our house is old and creaky and crooked. It's assets, however, are quite apparent around holiday time,
though. We have the most delightful banister, which, in the past, I have used for hanging our holiday cards. I've always wanted to hang our stockings there and drape it with garland. This was perfectly delightful. Girl put the Nativity on the piano (stashing away Baby Jesus until Christmas, of course), and between she & Meem, the house looks lovely. I think this definitely needs to become a tradition that we celebrate with whomever can join us. Some years will be more than others, but we'll still be together (DANGER: CHRISTMAS CAROL ALERT!!)
While the tree was being decorated, our little Princess F was thoroughly excited. The light in her eyes and in SmallBoy's eyes was not dimmed, as some say happens with autism, but it shone more brightly with joy, curiosity, and wonderment. 
SmallBoy put on his special ornaments, helped with others (making sure to get Luke Skywalker & Darth Vader on the tree in the proper positions to have a non-stop light saber duel), while Princess F was perfectly content with whatever ornament we handed her - she always found just the right spot. For a little one have such minimal language, she had no difficulties expressing her delight at the festivities. A lot of her language, I'm sure, was scripted, but that did not disguise her genuine joy in the task at hand.
Typically I'm very anal about decorating the tree: all the angels at the top, the Santas & Snowmen in the middle, and everything else that's not breakable anywhere else. This year, I was perfectly content to hang just a few, while standing back and taking in the whole scene. This was a house filled with love, hope, and happiness. We had different families, similar, yet very different children on the autistic spectrum, many different ages, and, well, so much love abounding.
THIS is what the Christmas season is about. It's not about shopping, finding or receiving the perfect gift, hosting the best party, having the brightest tree or the most gawked at decorations. It's not about how far we travel, how many times we go to church between now and Christmas (if we go at all), how many holiday parties we attend, how fried out we get with all of the stress, how many Christmas cards we receive. It's about this. It's about love, acceptance, friendship, family, and togetherness (AGAIN: CHRISTMAS CAROL ALERT!!!).
When we were all done, we drank wine and baked cookies!
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