I’ve commented before on how Katherine has, to put it mildly, cut into our free time. One place that’s visible, to me at least, as in the traditions that Margie and I had begun B.K. (Before Katherine).
Take Halloween. We’ve a box or two of Halloween decor — little pumpkins to hang from the now-bare tree branches, a wreath, bits of decor for the interior. Come the Night, we’d replace (at least some) of the light bulbs in front of the house and in the living room with cheesy candelabra-style “flickering” lights. We’d light candles all over, put the Scary Tape in the boom box, and have a nice time scaring little kids.
Not this year. No decorations. No music. Two uncarved pumpkins on the doorstep. Katherine got a costume, but that’s it.
Problem is, there’s plenty of disincentive to doing decorating (it takes time and effort, scarce commodities), and no incentive (Katherine won’t appreciate it).
My hope is that, over the next few years, we’ll start building new traditions, with Katherine able to appreciate them (incenting us to do them) and not prone to destroying them (not disincenting us to do them). I look forward to it. Ditto Christmas, birthdays, etc.
In the meantime, kids … just be thankful we bought candy to throw in your bags.