Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas everyone.

Another year of decorating is upon us and for 2013, there has been a change in our household. Ever since my wife and I have been together, I have been the one making the house (inside and out) into a festive place.

Hanging lights, putting up the tree, fastening stockings and sprinkling all kinds of cheesy Christmas ornaments all over the house.

This year, my wife decided she wanted to take on the responsibility of bringing Christmas to our house.

New decorations, a new style and a whole new plan for what happens. I was fine with it and to be honest, I was looking forward to it (kind of).

Then I asked her if her new regime included getting the tree and the outdoor lights?

She told me pretty quickly that those two things, I was still in charge of. In charge of? I think it was more of a delegation.

So I would be the one to freeze my butt off putting lights up. I would have the pleasure of getting needles and sap on me when I bring the fresh-cut tree home. Yep, I got assigned “the dad” work.

So this past weekend, I started my part of Christmas. I was outside untangling lights and draping them over trees and stairways, while trying to keep warm. Wait, not enough sympathy. How about in this story it was like -40 Celsius and snowing sideways. Better?

Meanwhile on the inside in the warmth, there was a lot of holiday cheer still to spread that I am very used to doing and doing minutes after the calendar flips to December.

But it was December 8th and there was not even a hint of Christmas to be seen. Just a Christmas card from Moosehead on the mantle that was addressed to someone who used to live in our house.

The outside of the house was ready. But the inside? Still under construction. My wife told me to rest easy. She had a plan and it meant being patient and going at her pace. That news is hard to do for me at Christmas. The big day is over two weeks away and I already feel like I am missing out on staring at a giant Santa doll that normally guards the top of our stairs.

Am I worrying for nothing? Oh 100% of course I am.

Everything will get done and will look great. I am just getting used to something new.

After all, there is still the tree to get.

So, if a new tradition begins where my Christmas duties remains outside, I will be ready. I will be ready to up the voltage on lights and lawn ornaments. Maybe so much so that I will be taken off outdoor duties and brought back in the house. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

Happy Holidays to all, I look forward to sharing my dad moments with you again in 2014.

Full disclosure: To my wife. This post is in no way a complaint. You will do a great job. I just really needed a topic for a blog post.

 

Michael is a marketing manager by day, who has been at the blogging thing for almost a decade. Father of two, husband to one and griller to the Gods. Read more about his parental adventures, including his current stint on parental leave on his blog, Like A Dad.