And honestly, that day had looked so much different than what I had dreamt of time and time again as I imagined celebrating my son’s first real Christmas.
When we finally came home for the night, it was completely dark. Sutton’s toys were piled up, untouched, in the corner. He didn’t get to open or play with anything that day and he was passed out by the time we got home.
Our house was a disaster because I had rushed to cook and bake everything for each house and didn’t have time to clean before we left.
We also spent an inordinate amount of money on 19 kids, 10 siblings and 3 White Elephant parties.
We were completely exhausted, frazzled and frustrated.
It was in that moment when we both realized that, although we both desperately love our families, we are our own family now. We have to set healthy boundaries in order to invest and nourish this little family we have created – even during the holidays.
To hear more from Lindsey about the holidays, along with conversations on marriage, faith and more, check out The Milk and Honey Podcast on iTunes!
Jesse and I have always clung to this verse in our marriage, but somehow forgot to implement it into the holiday season: “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Gen. 2:24
We are own family now.
And while it is absolutely crucial for me to teach Sutton that Christmas is about Jesus and loving and serving others, I also don’t want to create strife or forfeit our family principles to people-please or to simply fulfill society’s standard of what Christmas is supposed to look like.
