Every year when we unpack our holiday trimmings, we find the stash of books we’ve stored next to the lights and the stockings.
We have multiple copies of The Night Before Christmas, stories of gingerbread boys, girls and men. And my favorite, Grumpy Badger’s Christmas by Paul Bright.
I love this book, because it acknowledges that not everyone is cheery during the holidays. It allows for some grumpiness, some frustration and even for the desire for peace and quiet in the middle of all the hubbub.
I know that in my family we feel these things, too.
The holidays are full of wonderful moments, high-intensity activities and often close quarters with extended family. This brings great joy but can also be stressful, frustrating and overwhelming.
Grumpy Badger expresses what we sometimes can not. When we get stuck in a parking lot full of frantic shoppers, or the wrapping paper runs out, or it just all feels like a little too much, we can say “I’m feeling like Grumpy Badger.” And that helps.
My family loves Grumpy Badger. He’s a good guy. At the end of the story, he has a big party with all of his forest friends.
Grumpy Badger loves the holidays, too. He just needs some space in the middle of it all, and so do we.