This week for my advice column over at the Orange County Register, I am talking about how to deal with grandparents who go crazy with the gifts at Christmas.  For full-disclosure, I have to admit that I am lucky in that both my parents and Mark’s parents are generous but reasonable.  My mom has been known to over-do it: overflowing gifts under two separate trees, in wrapping paper that coordinates with the ornaments (one red and gold tree, one silver and white).  But we scaled it . . .

Last week I wrote a bit about the difficulties of adopting from the foster-care system.  It was mostly a vent about the judgments that people have for adopting internationally . . . but I worry that I sounded like I was discouraging people from adopting through foster care. Though I do believe that it is a difficult process that needs massive reform, I also believe it is totally worth the hardships and inconveniences. I cannot sugar-coat it.  The process was very difficult for me . . .

That's right. I'm totally THAT PERSON this year. I realize it is obnoxious.  I hate THAT PERSON every other Christmas season.  But listen . . . this year?  Is the first time in a really long time that our family is complete.  Together.  No ambiguity hanging over our heads.  No family member living in a boy's home in another country.  No angst over how we would split up our holidays so we could spend time with our son who lived in another . . .