🎄 We Finally Sat Down for Christmas Dinner at 9:47 PM

We finally sat down for Christmas dinner at 9:47 PM.

The ham was still warm.
The mac and cheese was bubbling.
The Hawaiian rolls were just out of the oven — slightly over-browned on top, but we’ll call that rustic.

It wasn’t fancy.
It wasn’t early.
But it came together.

After a Christmas Day shift that ran long —
after running to the store because someone forgot to buy milk —
I walked through the door, dropped my bag, and got to work again.

This time, in the kitchen.

Hair still in a bun.
Scrubs exchanged for leggings and a hoodie.
I stirred the mac and cheese like it was the main event,
while my partner plated the ham
and the kids argued over who touched whose chair.

No candlelit moment.
No matching napkins.
Just one kid yelling, one spilling juice,
and me whispering “Lord, give me strength” over the stovetop.

But eventually…
plates were filled.
voices quieted.
and we all sat down.

And right before taking a bite,
my youngest looked up and said,
“Thanks, Mom. I love Christmas dinner.”

Just like that — my whole body exhaled.
All the chaos.
All the rushing.
All the holding-it-together energy
of a nurse trying to make a holiday happen —
somehow landed me here.

At a table that didn’t need to be perfect.
With warm food.
With people I love.

And yeah… I was home.

P.S.
Did your Christmas dinner come together late?
Did someone spill juice?
Did you make it work anyway?

Tell us in the comments — or email us at stories@pagingapparel.com

if you'd like to be featured (anonymously is totally fine).

— Still Standing in Crocs