Reg > wrote in message .com>...
> Melissa Houle wrote:
>
> > As my mother observed "Christmas is much mellower now
> > that the children are in their forties."
>
> It's really true. Christmas and other holidays have become much easier
> and less stressful as everyone has "grown up". Partly due to maturity,
> partly because the focus has shifted to the newer generation, all in all
> it's a good thing.
>
> Christmas was a important when I was young, it became less so for
> a time, and now it's become important and wonderful again.

I agree with all of what you say. I think for my mother, it also
really helps that she no longer has to put four excited kids to bed at
a somewhat decent hour on Christmas Eve then stuff four stockings
until approximately one a.m. only to be re-awoken at five or six a.m
by excited kids who can't wait to see what Santa brought them.<G>

Melissa