Christmas Traditions

The smell of cinnamon rolls and coffee swirls past my nose and draws me out of sleep, I snuggle out of bed wearing new Christmas pajamas I opened the night before as we watched for Santa’s Sleigh. Careful not to peak I walk past the hallway into my little brother’s room to see if he is awake. We wait for our other sister to join us so we can all walk out to greet the tree and an array of beautifully wrapped presents and stockings stuffed so full they had to be taken of their hooks and placed beneath the fireplace. We all look at our Dad who has been up since dark waiting with his camera in hand to take the first of many snapshots of surprised faces. My mom meets us on the carpet as we sit in front of the fireplace and start to open our stockings. Her face lights up with anticipation, months of preparation finally about to come to an end. Her smile is full of love, but tinted with the shadow of fatigue from staying up all night wrapping presents. I take a deep breath to take it all in, Christmas Morning.

Some things never change. Our family has many traditions. I know we will always have homemade cinnamon rolls. I know we will always get pajamas on Christmas Eve. I know my Mom will always be tired Christmas morning because she waits til the night before Christmas to wrap most of her presents and I know my Dad will always be taking ridiculously ugly picture of us that he likes to call candid as we open our presents in the morning.

This year many things will change for us though. This year for the first time when my Mom says don’t expect a lot from Santa this year I believe her. This year I will not need to go into my brother’s room so I can walk out with him to see the expression on his face when he sees what Santa brought or how many presents there are because he isn’t getting anything big. This year instead of opening presents until 2:00pm we will probably be done in the morning. These things I know will change.

Presents are not the important part of Christmas though and so despite the fact that this year there are going to be many changes, our traditions are not going to change. Our traditions are what make Christmas so special and personal. As long as those don’t change, I don’t need anything else. So, my Christmas wish is not for me. My Christmas wish is not for more presents under the tree. My wish is for my Mom. I want her to know it’s OK that Christmas will look different this year because as long as the 5 of us are together it won’t feel any different and that’s what is important.

Mom, we don’t need new presents and more things. You provide enough for us all year round and now it is time to celebrate our family and the love we have for each other. We are still going to wake up to the smell of your cinnamon rolls. We are still going to stay in our pajamas until we are forced to change because we are having company for Christmas dinner. Christmas will still be the same in our hearts.

I have this wish for all Moms, not just my own. Don’t worry about the presents, focus on the traditions. Traditions are where the memories come from. Good memories come from love not a pocket book and good memories are the best gift you could give your child.

I love you Mom.