1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: This is the most traumatic podcast ever and iHeartRadio podcast. 2 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas, everybody, Merry Christmas, Happy holidays, whatever you celebrate. 3 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: If you had a wonderful Honukah, Merry Christmas to you. 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: This is the holiday season we celebrate Christmas, so I'll 5 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: wish you a merry Christmas. We are fired up, all set. 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: The kids are in town. You know, for those of 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: you who are divorced with children, I feel you. This 8 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: is my year to have them for Christmas. So they'll 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: be with Lauren and I. We kind of still go 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: the on and off, even though they are adult kids 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: and technically they're above eighteen, they could choose somehow we 12 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: have them brainwashed that they still just go back, and 13 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, we go back and forth every year, and 14 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: so the way we do it, they're with us Christmas 15 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: through New Year's this year. So the kids are with 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: us here at the house and everything just feels right, 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: and you know, I will dive a little bit deep 18 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: when the kids aren't with me. Those holidays are tough. 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: They're never not weird, They're never not difficult to get through. 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: You know, you have to realize that a holiday is 21 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: also just a day, and that whenever you celebrate. For example, Taylor, 22 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: you guys may have just seen on social media she 23 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: just turned twenty years old. Happy birthday day. She wasn't 24 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: with me for her birthday, and that's never not weird. 25 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: She was out in LA with her mom celebrating, which 26 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: is wonderful. And we'll celebrate, you know, when she comes here. So, 27 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: you know, a holiday, a birthday, all that. It can 28 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: also just be the day you choose. You make the 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: best of it when you can. But I am so 30 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: grateful for the family that I have, LZ. The kids 31 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: are here and we'll have our beautiful traditional We got 32 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: the Christmas tree up, and Elz and I put the 33 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: tree up, and I still have decorations from when I 34 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: was a kid. It's funny, LZ, and we play this 35 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: game every year we get the tree up. I used 36 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: to be a real tree guy. Now I'm a fake 37 00:01:58,080 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: tree guy because it's so easy and it's lit and 38 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,279 Speaker 1: it's good to go, and man, whoever invented that maybe 39 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: the greatest invention since slice bread. But we start pulling 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: out the ornaments and l Z will hold up an ornament. 41 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: I know the year and a lot of my ornaments 42 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: I have years written on them, or there's maybe something 43 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: in there that says the year, and I'm like, yep, 44 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty one. That was from my grandmother nineteen seventy nine. 45 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: So I have some that are just decades decades old. 46 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: And so our tree is you're one of two people, 47 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: you know, there are those that have that. I call 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: it the Nieman Marcus tree where it is perfect and 49 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: you have a you know, certain look and decor and 50 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: everything matches perfectly, and maybe it's gold ornaments or all 51 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: they're all white or whatever, and it's just perfect. That's 52 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: not our tree. And Elz and I we got, of course, 53 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: we have Harry Potter ornaments. Yes, there's a lot of 54 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: soccer ornaments because I was obviously in a big soccer 55 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: phase when I was growing up and then playing in college, 56 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: and so there was that phase where I was buying, 57 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, every year we go buy ornaments. So I 58 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: got the soccer ones. And I had a raccoon phase too. 59 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: Laurence still makes fun of me, but there's raccoon ornaments. 60 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: So there's we have all these different ornaments, and we've 61 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: started to build our own of pictures of the kids 62 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: and us when we were in Sydney celebrating New Year's 63 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 1: a few years ago and some other you know, the 64 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 1: kids going to TCU and so it's great and I 65 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: love I like the mishmashed tree. There's the Nieman Marcus tree, 66 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: or there's the mutt. Let's call it the mutt. It's 67 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: just built of a lot of things. And that's our tree. 68 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: And we watch our Christmas movies, Elf and Home Alone, 69 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: our go tos and listen to little Christmas music and 70 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: we enjoy. And then our Christmas you know, Mom will 71 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: be here and we'll cook a nice dinner and have 72 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: a great time and just be together. You know, I 73 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: reflect on the kids when they were young and coming 74 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: in and just tearing open the presence and staying up 75 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: all night and building the bikes and the Barbie doll 76 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: houses and all these things, and you know, those days 77 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: are gone. Now it's you know, you're buying them clothes 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: and underwearing jeans and things they need for college, or 79 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: giving them money that they'll need for college. And it's 80 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: funny that, you know it kind of transitions and the 81 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: presence and the ripping open to the presence. It's still 82 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: fun on Christmas morning, but we sleep in. You know, 83 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: no one's getting up at six o'clock in the morning 84 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: and jumping on your bed. We kind of sleep in 85 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: and maybe we'll even eat first or have our coffee, 86 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: and then we kind of mosey over and do the presence. 87 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: So wherever you are in that phase of life, I 88 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: enjoy it. And if you are at the they wake 89 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: up at five in the morning and you're up dads, 90 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: you know, building that bike or a weight bench, and 91 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: you know your your blood your knuckles are bloody because 92 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: you've stripped all these screws and you are just going 93 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: crazy trying to get everything done. Enjoy it, man, Breathe 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: it in because it will soon be gone, and you know, 95 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: the kids will be coming home from college and pretty 96 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: soon they'll have kids, and they'll be deciding where you're 97 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: going to spend Christmas. And so I try to take 98 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: each level in and each season that comes. As the 99 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: kids have gotten older, and now twenty two and now 100 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: twenty years old, I love this season as much as 101 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: I've loved any of them, and just having them here 102 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: is a blessing. And I don't have any huge traditions 103 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: because of maybe the world I was living in and 104 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: probably because of the divorces. Every other year, we were 105 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: trying to make it work. And you know, a kudos 106 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: to my ex because, you know, if the kids were 107 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: with her, and back when we were living in LA 108 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: I would spend the morning with them just so I 109 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: could see them. And because the kids were younger, you know, 110 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: they were still nine and eleven years old when we 111 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: got divorced, and then vice versa. You know, she was 112 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: allowed to come up and hang at our house and 113 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 1: have the morning and we used to do that for 114 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: a while, and then, you know, we've kind of grown 115 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: out of that because the kids are older, and we'll 116 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: just kind of celebrate Christmas whenever I see them. But 117 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: however you're celebrating, and whatever phase you're in, I feel you, 118 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: and I'm with you, and I hope it's a wonderful one. 119 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: And you know the meaning of the season. I know 120 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: not everybody listening celebrates Christmas. I know not everybody believes, 121 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: but the meaning of the season is, you know, even 122 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: if you don't believe in Jesus, even if you don't 123 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: believe in that story, you can believe in the hope, 124 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: and you can believe in the love, and you can 125 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: believe in what it means. Even if you're not celebrating 126 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: the birth of Jesus, you can believe in what it 127 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: stands for. The good in all of us, and peace 128 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: and peace on earth some things we should all lean 129 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: into in this day and age and things going on 130 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: in the world. So if nothing else, maybe it just 131 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: gives us all two seconds to take a deep breath, 132 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: call a time out, find a little peace in our heart, 133 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: find a little love, put down our swords, and just 134 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: enjoy each other for just a moment and head into 135 00:06:54,120 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: what will hopefully be a prosperous, beautiful, healthy, wonderful new year. 136 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: Lauren and I send our love to all of you. 137 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: Wherever this finds you, however this finds you, just know 138 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: that you are loved, know that you are appreciated, You 139 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: are very much worthwhile. If you are alone on this 140 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: Christmas Day, just know that we're thinking about you, and 141 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: you're not alone, and we're with you, if not in person, 142 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:31,119 Speaker 1: in spirit. So happy holidays, Love you all, and thank 143 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: you for being with us this year. It's been a 144 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: wonderful year. It's meant so much to be able to 145 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: talk to all of you, have these discussions and share 146 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: these holidays. Wish you all the very best, Marry Christmas, 147 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: Happy New Year, and we'll talk to you again soon 148 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: because we have a lot more to talk about. Thanks 149 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: for listening. Follow us on Instagram at the most Dramatic 150 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: pod Ever, and make sure to write us a review 151 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: and leave us five stars. I'll talk to you next time.