alexist

I'm pretty tolerant of misbehaving children. If children were born knowing how to behave, they'd be adults. And the younger they are, the more easygoing I am about it--I'm not someone bothered by, say, crying babies. A baby is upset or hurts, it cries; it's very simple. And I know that even the best intentioned of parents can't always control their kids (and we won't even get into, say, autistic kids having public meltdowns).

What pisses me off, however, are parents who do not even make a real effort to restrain their demon offspring when they can and should. It's happened twice in the past 2 days. Yesterday in the antenatal clinic, a woman had brought her son--about 3-4. He was running wild, jumping over the chairs and running down the halls. What does she do? Barely looked up from her copy of Hello! to say "don't do that". Of course, he didn't stop and she didn't make any further effort. I know the antenatal clinic is boring; I know there was a long wait (not that it's ever quick). But if she was going to bring her kid, she should have made arrangements for keeping him relatively busy. Squirming and whining, I could have dealt with that--I was feeling pretty cranky myself. But don't let him run around like a maniac.

Then today on the bus, there were 2 older kids, old enough to know better I might add, so I blame them too. First they had a mock duel with empty drink bottles and quite a bit of shouting. Then the girl decided that the entire bus needed to hear rap music blaring from her mobile phone. Again, their mother (I heard one of them calling her Mum, so I know she was) did nothing. I really wanted to grab the phone and smack the kid/mother over the head with it.

Bought my duck for Monday. I don't do December 25th, but it's also Neil's birthday this weekend, and it would be mean to deprive him of the yearly food-fest. Duck works better than turkey or goose for 2 people, though. :) I've decided to roast it plain and serve apple sauce on the side as I think that goes better with the various traditional accompaniments than orange sauce. Less last minute work too :) I'll make gravy from the pan drippings to go with the spuds and Yorkshire pudding. The side dishes will be trimmed somewhat--no point making 10 sorts of veg for 2 people, for a start, and we wouldn't eat all of them anyway. It would be a waste of sprouts. :) I'll also give into my personal tastes, and make a chocolate roll for dessert--forget the Xmas pudding which I'd have to buy now anyway.

In line with his family's tradition, I'll serve dinner early afternoon, and make sandwiches for tea. I think I'll make a banana cake as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/20/us/20santa.html

Christmas is NOT Jewish. So yeah, your Jewish neighbours are really not going to be impressed with Santa on your roof. Sure, it's a free country and you can do what you want; doesn't mean anyone has to agree with them.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881909422&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull is worse, and in the Jerusalem Post no less! So because we can't be bothered to maintain our own traditions properly, we should just give in and let Christmas creep in. Kids aren't necessarily dazzled by Christmas. I wasn't. And we don't have to make a huge deal out of Chanukah just out of guilt. I wasn't jealous of Christmas not because I got presents every night for a week (we did do 1 present a night, at least until the presents got too expensive to have 8 of them) but because I had a whole year worth of things to look forward to.

I don't mind a kind of spectator enjoyment of Christmas, looking at the lights etc. But that's where I draw the line. I wouldn't celebrate Diwali either no matter how much fun it looks like.