I didn’t grow up in a house with a ton of Christmas traditions – partly because when I was young we were travelling from Minnesota to California for Christmas. Those of you following this blog have read the post about my parents’ sweat and sacrifice for those trips! I imagine the Christmas traveling took all the mental space my parents had.
When we moved to Utah and us kids grew up a bit, our travel arrangements over Christmas left us largely at home. My mom decided one tradition she wanted to institute was our family going Christmas Caroling to a few distinct neighbors with a plate of cookies. And not just any plate of cookies. She would bake a bunch of different ‘holiday’ kinds from the old Betty Crocker Cooky Book (still my favorite cookie book) – candy cane cookies and Russian tea cakes and green-colored Corn Flake wreaths and jam thumbprints and chocolate crinkles and…. you get the idea.
My mom and I talked about it the other day because during this busy, busy season, I wondered when on earth she found time to make that many cookies! She brushed it off like it was not a big deal – but it definitely was a big deal.
She’d pick a night and all of us would head out, cookie plates in tow, to land on snowy doorsteps of unsuspecting friends. Dad would quiet us down, one of us would ring the doorbell, and when the door opened we would begin:
“We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!”
If we – and they – were smiling or laughing at that point, we’d go into Verse 2 about demanding they bring us Figgy Pudding. (Ew?)
How how how had mom wrangled us all up and gotten us all to go – and Dad, too?! Especially Dad, too.
She doesn’t remember. But she did say this:
“He was always such a good sport about it.”
The internet says that being a “good sport” generally refers to displaying graciousness, respect, and integrity in competitive or challenging situations, whether in sports, games, or life.
My guess is that my Dad went along willingly because my saint of a mother asked so little of him that it was the least he could do!
But regardless, I love that description: displaying graciousness, respect, and integrity in competitive or challenging situations, whether in sports, games, or life.
Masterclass says there are 5 things we can do today to be better at being ‘good sports’ (and none of them – directly – involve Christmas Caroling. Is Christmas Caroling still a thing?). The bracketed additions are mine:
- We can be supportive. “People are more productive and efficient with positive reinforcement, and a few words of encouragement or [even metaphorical!] high-fives can sometimes be all someone needs.”
- We can have a positive attitude. “Childish or inappropriate behavior can dampen the spirit of [anything!]”
- We can be respectful. “Avoid being passive-aggressive or insulting your [people]…Hurling harsh words can damage your reputation, and the respect others have for you.”
- We can be willing to learn. “Try to learn from your mistakes. Work on [things] to increase your chances of future success.”
- We can practice self-control. “Make a conscious effort to control your emotions and focus [on what’s at hand.]
Maybe you, like me, can think of situations – Christmas related and otherwise – where things were not going your way and for whatever reason, you found it difficult to be a good sport.
It’s for sure something we all can keep working on. I can’t wait to hear about how you’re doing. And, as always, if you need help, I’d love to be on your team. I’m not very coordinated, but I can usually manage a high five!
PS Merry, Merry Christmas!! If you are one of the rare folks who does go caroling, make sure you sing the Figgy Pudding verse for my dad. He would love it.
PPS I never take for granted how lucky I am to still have a mom around to ask these questions to – especially at this time of year. If you’ve lost your mom, I see you. I love you.
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