Dear Crabby,
I want to get matching Christmas pajamas for our family to wear as we open gifts on December 25. My husband thinks I’m bonkers. What do you think?
Thanks!
Ma Parker
Dear Ma Parker,
I guess it depends on what kind of PJs you have in mind. Back in my day, the options for Christmas PJs were pretty basic – plaid. Now, there may have been different colors of plaid, but the overall design was the same. The girls had long nightshirts with ruffles around the collar and wrists. The boys had PJs bottoms and a button-up top. Once, just once, my mom tried to wrangle us all into matching Christmas PJs. I think she was hoping to create her own Norman Rockwell moment. Clearly, she forgot who her family was. I’m not sure what plaid PJs are made from today, but when I was a kid, I’m convinced they were constructed from the itchiest flannel material available. I was scratching so much you would have thought I had chickenpox! And they were HOT! After just a few minutes of running around, my brothers and I were sweating, so off came the shirts. I think my mom was able to snap one picture before we were all in various states of undress. My dad quietly observed it all from his recliner while sipping his coffee. But he knew better than to tell my mom, “I told ya so.” From what I can tell, these days there are a lot of choices when it comes to Christmas PJs.
Target, Kohl’s, and Old Navy seem to have the most selection. In fact, Old Navy even has a name for their PJs – Jingle Jammies. What I like most about Christmas PJs today is that they seem to be more casual and built, if you will, for the busyness of Christmas morning. If you want something a little more fun, there are lots of character-themed PJs to choose from as well. One year, my daughter insisted that we ALL get matching PJs. I’m talking Mrs. Crabby, spouses, and grandchildren – everyone. I wasn’t consulted on the theme, but it ended up being ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.’ Care to guess which PJs I was given to wear? I suppose I should take that as a compliment, but just so you know I had a recent doctor’s appointment, and my heart is just the right size for someone my age. But for Pete’s sake, if you’re going to subject your family to wearing matching PJs, don’t give them on Christmas Eve disguised as a ‘gift.’ That’s just cruel. While PJs are slightly better than underwear or socks, it’s still clothing. So, just give each member their set, so they don’t have to pretend not to be disappointed, or ‘surprised,’ when they open their package.
If you can get your family on board with matching Christmas PJs – great! If not, then don’t sweat it. There are plenty of other holiday traditions to torture them with.
Merry Christmas!
Dear Crabby
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