Christmas Letter 2022
Beloved Friends and Family,
Did you hear about this new ChatGPT? It’s an artificial intelligence app that can write almost like a person!
Matt: Imagine all the cheating and illegal activity that will lead to.
Lauren: I wonder if it can write a Christmas letter?
ChatGPT:
Dear Family and Friends,
We hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying the holiday season. As we look back on the past year, we have much to be thankful for. Our two teenagers [insert names] have grown and accomplished so much this year, and we couldn't be prouder of them. [Insert any personal updates or accomplishments here].
Our dog [insert dog's name] has also been a source of joy and entertainment for us this year. He/She never fails to put a smile on our faces with his/her antics and we are grateful to have him/her as part of our family.
Despite the challenges we faced this year, we are grateful for the time we were able to spend together as a family and for the memories we made. We hope that you are able to have a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you all soon and making more memories in the new year.
With love and best wishes, [Your Name]
Well, I'm sold. That’s our Christmas letter this year. ChatGPT actually did better with [insert dog’s name] Sunny than I usually do.
It’s missing a couple things though. I think if I had written our letter this year, I probably would have told you how much fun it is to have teenagers in the house. I mean mostly fun. Sometimes watching them grow and learn about the world brings tears to my eyes, like when Philip came downstairs and said, “Dad! Did you know the January 6th Committee isn’t going to do anything!”
But mostly, it’s amazing to watch them experiment with adulthood and push themselves to new heights. Six weeks after Charlie heard of middle school volleyball and two weeks after her first ever practice, she was clearly a leader on the 7th grade girls' volleyball JV team.
“Serve it UP!”
She spoke the lingo, cheered on her teammates, bought the sweatshirt and put her name on it. She can’t wait for next season. Philip recently wondered aloud whether he could run a 10-minute mile and disappeared into the garage where we store use the treadmill. Ten minutes and 30 seconds later I got a triumphant text from him: “Yes!”
If I hadn’t outsourced the writing of the Christmas letter, I might have reminded you that the early teen years are a time of life when everything is possible. When I remember that time in my own life, I remember that sense of the unknown future as stressful. But, watching the kids meld dreams and possibilities and career plans and auditions all into one category just fills me with wonder. Charlie has a dream of being on Broadway. Which works for me, because I love Broadway. She is always game to go see a musical with me, and she studies the soundtracks and fills our house with belted out showtunes. But, she is level-headed enough to have a backup plan: She might also be an aerospace engineer with NASA. This also works for me, because I have a bone to pick with the James Webb telescope, and maybe she can help me out.
Philip might be a music producer. Or he might write the scores to movies. Or he might do “something with windmills.” “Oh, wow,” I say, “Like the people who climb them to make sure they are working?” “LOL no. Something on the ground with windmills.”
Philip, ready to play viola in his school orchestra
We dream differently as adults. I asked Matt what his career dreams are, and he said, “Retirement.” “Soon?” “LOL no.”
If I hadn’t decided to let a robot write for me, I might have told you how much fun it is to see my kids with younger kids. Charlie is a born babysitter. Responsible, timely, rule-following. My sister Angela and her kids (age 8 and 4) visited this year, and Charlie got to come into her own as a leader and teacher. The little cousins especially appreciated getting to meet Sunny. Sam (4yo) told us all about Tracy, his dog who does truly improbable tricks.
I asked Angela, “So, is Tracy a robot dog? Or a stuffy he drags along on walks...” “Completely imaginary.” Wait—what? Philip said, “Oh my gosh! This is just like Spanish class.” Wait—what? “Yes! You think you know what is happening all class period long, and then you learn one new word and you realize you haven’t really understood ANYTHING all day!”
That is exactly what I remember of Spanish class. And life with pre-schoolers. And life with teenagers.
I might have told you all these things, but, at this late date, I think I will use the time-saving ChatGPT version.
Here’s to a new year of joy and possibility.
Love,
Lauren, Matt, Philip, and Charlie
Oh, and Sunny.
Want more 2022 family and kid stories? Check out these links:
Want to have stuff I write show up in your email every so often? Click the Subscribe now button and enter your email address.
Full disclosure: Sometimes I do write about the kids, but, I think in this next year I’ll be writing a lot about climate change. Climate change is bad, but I’m overall hopeful about the fate of our species. So the emails may not be as depressing as you think. Here’s a typical example, that, in the end, is not as depressing as its title: At Doom's Door