We're in full-on Christmas "mode," if you will. You're either a Clark Griswold or you're not. Despite the fact that "Clark" is my husband's literal middle name, I'm probably the more neurotic parent who wants everything to go just-so . It seems the more I try to control things the more the Universe shows me how powerless I really am.

Between unpredictable weather, cold and flu-season, last-minute shopping, and relatives showing up unannounced, it's a real test of endurance. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation doesn’t just capture the chaos—it celebrates it, and along the way, teaches some surprisingly practical lessons. That's why it's one of my all-time-favorite movies.

Clark Griswold, our hapless hero, dreams of the perfect Christmas. And as anyone who’s ever hosted a holiday dinne

See Full Page