Xmas recap, and an issue with saying grace

My Christmas was a rather interesting day, one that had its good moments as well as its not so good moments. But to start this off on a cheery note, let’s start with the good.

Since I had Xmas day off (Video was closed that day) I volunteered to stay up with Jonathan and take care of his feedings (which are every 4 hours) so that Leah and my Mom could sleep through the night, which is what they really, really needed. I didn’t mind staying up cause I knew once everyone was up, I would get a chance to nap after breakfast and presents were taken care of. Jonathan was actually a really, really good boy that night too. He woke up a few times for a feeding, but besides that slept the night away, but due to a headache, I was up most of the night but to update everyone one that… I’m feeling a little better today. Since the baby’s crib was in the bedroom, I stayed out in the living room and got Jonathan to sleep in the carseat which he found ten times more comfy. Since he’s less than a week old, he found the tight space of a carseat more comfy than the crib right now. Eager to go with the flow, I allowed Jonthan to rest wherever he wanted and let him sleep in the carseat all night, which allowed mom and grandma to rest through the night as well. With Jonathan being such a good boy, it gave me time to write an entry even though I couldn’t post it till around noon. It also gave me to rest and relax. I couldn’t sleep but at least I got to sit down and read a book for a while. I’m about six chapters into ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ and it’s not bad so far. It’s got an interesting sort of charaters and I’m interesting to see where this book goes… and then when I’m finished the novel I might take the time to check out the movie.

So that morning I had only about three hours sleep, but was okay enough to open gifts. Ethan made out like a bandit, taking in a crapload of gifts from my family, Leah’s family and from us as well. The coolest part was that my parents bought all Ethan’s toys in Tennessee, which means he got all these cool Wiggle toys that are not available here in Canada yet. I looked through all the toy stores here, and I have never seen the stuff they bought for the little guy. This is really cool cause Ethan actually did like all the toys he got this year to the point where he spent the entire morning playing with them and TV was never turned on at all until two in the afternoon. I actually got to watch some of the Green Bay/Chicago game and that turned out to be a lot of fun to watch with Dad. After that we ate a monsterous turkey (36 lbs) and barely dented the bugger as half my fridge is now full of left over turkey meat. So while our leftover meals are booked for the next half a week, I’ve been able to enjoy hanging out with family and just chill out. Basically most of the day was a lot of fun, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The day however wasn’t without incident, as something happened during breakfast that caused a little discomfort with everyone at the table. Before we started to eat breakfast, my Mom asked everyone to hold hands and say grace before eating. She didn’t realize that Ethan and I had started eating five minutes prior and were halfway through our plates when the request was made. Not only did I refuse to hold hands and say grace, I made it clear that I was offended that Mom didn’t take the time to ask if that was all right since she knew the meal in question was taking place in an atheist’s residence. It this had been her home, I would have participated out of respect for the religion of the home owner and their property, but this was my dwelling and we don’t say grace here… ever. After I voiced my objection… Mom, Dad and Leah held hands around me and chose to go one saying grace without my participation, which I too found just as offensive. I don’t I need to explain but of course I will. I doubt anyone would want to be treated like an outcast, just imagine how degrading it is to be treated like one in the confines of their own home. She would never walk into a Buddist’s home and asked them to say grace to a God they do not worship, nor would she do that in the home of someone who worshipped from another pew… yet because I didn’t worship any God, she assumed I would just play along. Yet the one thing that gets my goat is that she complains about people who immagrate to North America and force our lands to adhere to their religious rules, saying that it’s rude to ask us to change our ways to suit them. This struck me as weird as she did the exact same thing when she asked my household to do something it normally doesn’t do to appease her faith. I really wish she would look back at comments like that the next time she wants to force her faith on me.

Later in the day, my Dad tried to make a good point saying if there is no God as I think, what harm does it do to just play along rather than offend my Mom? I said the harm is forcing me to participate in a function/tradition that I have no reason to take part in nor want to. I also countered to my Dad that if there is a God, not holding hands and merely saying thanks to yourself will not prevent your message from being heard by a higher, omnipotent being. So to force everyone to participate was unfair since it made no difference in whether not he/she/it will get the message. He understood this and went out of his way to make sure grace was not an issue at supper, an effort which was apprecaited. Leah may be a little religious but I respected the fact that she didn’t ‘force’ me to go through something that I don’t agree with. The same would be said for her as well. If she’s not comfortable taking part in an event or tradition that I do… she’s not going to be forced to participate. I was very uncomfortable with the position I was put in and rather than pay lip service and mock her religion, I told my mother how I honestly felt. I personally think it would have been more insulting to myself and my mother if I pretended to be something that I am not, which is religious. I didn’t apprecaite being put into that position which is why I’m glad that they didn’t do that again later that night when we had turkey dinner. It’s not that I wanted to be a pain in the ass, but when someone tries to force God into my home when he/she/it/them are not welcome, it’s something I’m going to at least voice my opposition to.

So that in a nutshell was my day. I spend the later part just hanging out and letting the turkey in my belly digest. I’m at work now on Boxing day, which is all right cause I get paid extra money to be here today. So here’s hoping everyone else had a good holiday and has a great boxing day.

Peter