The Christmas Disclaimer

My friend Christina @ Get Joy just posted a Christmas Memories post.

And I loved it.

Why?

Well, although her family is super cute and fun and it looks like they had a wonderful Christmas, that is not necessarily why I loved her post.

I loved it because I LOVE the disclaimer that she put at the bottom of her memories post.

She says, “Disclaimer: Now before you all think my life is perfect, or any blogger’s Christmas post for that matter, very few people write about all the things that go wrong during the holidays. You don’t want to hear about my grumpy, fighting, tired kids (yeah, I am talking about those adorable children in the pictures above). You don’t want to hear about my short temper when things get stressed. We all deal with that stuff. Keep in mind when reading these types of blogs that the purpose is to focus on all the Good that God is and how He sustains us when things are difficult. Because let me tell you, I had some whining kids…and He kept me sane.”

Can I just second that?

Each year, no matter where we are at the holidays, things happen.

Even if the pictures didn’t say so.

Even if you couldn’t tell by our happy, vacation, holiday faces.

Things happened.

Disclaimer moments. All between the pictures.

In just one holiday trip, there was Jeremy’s leaking truck window that got the girls toys and blankets all wet.

Realizing that the tour company that we booked through was very much less than honest and it was going to cost us.

Three girls riding together in the one seat of an extended cab Ford F150. for hours. You can imagine the whining and fussing that went with that, I’m sure.

Spouse miscommunications. Yes. They happen. Often.

Loosing vital pieces to fixing Abby’s broken DS.

And not finding them anywhere.

Having to buy new pieces.

Having the DS break for good.

Tired cousins. Throwing up babies. Tired sisters (young and old).

Two granddaughters who played with two bars of soap in Grandma’s tub. Decorative soap. Super soapy water.

15 people sharing 2 bathrooms.

Kids forgetting to flush. and wash hands.

Toys all over the floor.

A lost dress.

Shattered Christmas ball ornaments on the hardwood floor during Christmas dinner.

A gazillion dirty dishes to wash.

Tearful yelling moment between my girls on the day we were heading home.

Tearful apologies made to those who had to witness it.

Laundry, messy house, misplaced presents, broken toys, dumped suitcases.

Opinions. Misunderstandings. Moods. Stolen quiet moments…

No… we don’t take pictures of those things.

But they happen. To all of us.

That is a part of family. of people. of learning to live together in peace.

Now that we live overseas, there is missing family, no snow, homesick kids, traditions lived through facetime or facebook and gifts opened in January because they never arrive on time.

Don’t forget the disclaimer written above as you browse through everyone’s gorgeous Christmas posts.

Think of the stories behind the pictures and remember we are all real people blogging real lives.

Ups and downs. Good and bad.

It is all there. Behind the lens.

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