Yule Christmas, whatever. It still sneaks up and bites your ass

Wow its been awhile! Hey, single mom of four. That i write at all can be considered some kind of miracle. So, it's that time of year again folks! Meaning the time of year we try diligently to instill in our youth the true meaning of the holiday, sharing caring and...Oh, let's just cut the crap! What we're really trying to do is save ourselves a few bucks by brainwashing our kids into thinking it's all about 'giving.' *Insert derisive snort here* They bombard us with toy commercials every three seconds and of course the kids want every toy they see. There go the days when children asked for a doll, or a firetruck, or a Red Ranger BB gun. Nope. They want it all. With no thought to your quickly depleting bank account, or the fact that January is going to be Ramen every night for dinner month. I agree that it is a magical time of year...if you're four years old. Anyone over the age of 25 knows nothing of magic. We do know harassed shoppers killing our rear ends with carts, snarky cashiers that blow bubble gum bubbles in your face and roll their eyes if you ask if something could possibly, maybe be gift wrapped. We know staying up all night to wrap said gifts to pristine perfection, only to have them torn apart like a lamb by a wolf. Then there's the unending joy of struggling to assemble the myriad tiny parts and pieces of the stupid things, which always seem to come with instructions printed in Outer Mongolia. We know the Atom bomb type explosion of empty boxes, bows and wrapping that we have to heave to the trashcan in two feet of snow, and the immediate whining that something broke, or isn't the right color, or that they are bored,bored, bored!!! Merry fucking Christmas!