Men at Christmas

What's up with men sitting on the sidelines at Christmas time? Why do the women do all the work, keep the family engaged, make all the arrangements--and we just show up? (This is not always the case, but it is a frequent complaint of women around the holidays.) I even heard of one husband who asked his wife on December 24, "What are we getting the children for Christmas?"

This year, make it different! Be a partner in the work and the joy of Christmas. That means more than putting up the tree and hanging the hard to reach stuff. Make it a time of communion with your partner around a blessed time of year. If you are uncertain as to what to do, try these ideas:

• Get involved in the decision making about gifts and the shopping--and show some excitement

• Help pick out, mount and trim the tree down to the last ornament (make sure Christmas music is playing and not a ball game)

• Plan to get the entire family to a special church service

• Christmas shows on TV get priority over sports shows

• Initiate the reading of the Christmas story before opening gifts

• Read scriptures and have a prayer of thanksgiving every night till Christmas (and beyond!)

• Have a real conversation with your partner about what makes the season special for her--then make it happen