I'm really struggling with Christmas this year. The tree is not up, the lighted garlands are not hung on the built-ins, there are no lights outside, I'm not even doing Christmas cards this year. Yes, we are all incredibly thankful that Randy is now working and that we are climbing out of our hole (almost there, yep! almost there!). Even with all of the activities that are going on at the girls' school and that I'll be working in the PTA's holiday store all next week, I'm still struggling.
I've looked back often at my childhood. My mom always decorated the house beautifully with her REAL tree and her REAL evergreen wreath on the front door, with lots of homemade, handmade ornaments. I don't remember a whole lot about the gifts I received over the years, but I do remember the tins upon tins upon tins of homemade Christmas cookies that lined the landing on the way to our basement - my favorites were always the cocoons and mom's toffee! We would start Christmas morning opening our stockings until mom and daddy got up and had made a pot of coffee. Then we'd open our gifts and get ready to go to grandma and granddaddy's. Later that evening we'd head home, put on our new pajamas from the night before and then watch The Wizard of Oz.
So then I got to thinking...what kinds of traditions are Randy and I setting for our girls? We've always put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving...but not this year. I've always hung lighted garlands around doorways in our old house, around our built-ins here...but not this year. That same weekend we'd hang our lights outside...but not this year. Our advent calendars are always up by the first...yes, they are up this year but it wasn't until the fifth. In my defense though, some Christmas decorations were up that weekend after Thanksgiving...but not nearly everything, not this year. I am usually almost finished with shopping by the first of December...but not this year. So I've failed miserably this year...but ten years from now, will it matter?
I say yes. Growing up, if there had been one time, one Christmas season when mom didn't put out her decorations, would I remember that? I can honestly say I would. So I think it is more than reasonable to believe that if I don't get my arse in gear and put up the tree and everything else, my girls will remember this year...and remember it clearly.
I've learned that many times it is the traditions that are remembered, not always the gifts received. I don't want Emily and Grace to remember this as the worst Christmas ever. Time to drag boxes from the garage to the front room...I have a tree to set up!
