I meant to write this post weeks ago when it first happened. As some of you know, my mom and step-dad are living in Alaska right now. Several weeks ago, they decided not to come home for Christmas as originally planned. I got a little emotional, but I tried to hide it as I talked to my mom over the phone.
It’s not just that I love them and want to see them. They’re, like, the center, and without them, things just don’t feel the same. When I go home, I stay with them. They host Christmas. We all gather at their house. That’s the tradition.
I don’t get homesick often. I don’t have the need for home to go unchanged like I did when I first left. But, Christmas is something else.
I’ll be spending the day with my dad, brother, and sister. We have our own traditions, and I love them. Every Christmas Eve we eat a bunch of appetizers and finger foods and watch a movie. Like I said, I love it. I might like it even more than the more formal celebration we have the next day. But, without the formal stuff, it doesn’t really feel like Christmas.
My family is not big on tradition. I’m not big on tradition myself. I challenge it every day in school. But, lately I find myself craving it. I guess my life is so dynamic–so constantly changing–that I look for stable things–things I can count on–to hold me down, especially at Christmas.
I hope that when I’m older, and if I have a family of my own, I’ll put the time in to make traditions happen. I’ll put up the garland and the tree and the lights. And, it will feel like Christmas.
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I understand what you mean. I love my traditions. My ex and I would always go to the Symphony of Lights (a drive through lighted display thing) and we’d drink hot cocoa and watch xmas movies and wrap presents together and bake cookies. It was so much fun. This year… he’s the ex, so I lost those past 5 years of traditions. I miss them. A lot.
Aw, it’s sad that your parents aren’t going to be coming home. Christmas doesn’t feel the same for me this year because of my grandmothers death. I miss her.But then again, it hasn’t really felt the same since I moved to Philly. I miss the feeling of Christmas from when I was younger, when it actually felt like a magical time of year that I look forward to.
Right now I am just stuck without any solid Christmas tradtion.I don’t mind it but hate it at the same time.
I know what you mean. Christmas is more about its memories than it is anything else. It’s a homecoming to childhood’s more carefree days. I feel for you. I’m sure you’ll have a good time with much love, but as with everything else, sometimes you can never go back.
Hey, came over here from 20something bloggers. I am spending Christmas Eve with my boyfriend’s family instead of my own this year and am feeling a little bad about it.
I think now more than ever, many of us are craving the stability you speak of because of all the chaos in the world (Iraq war, our tumbling economy, etc.). It’s great that you realize that you want to create you own traditions when you have a family. I think that’s a great mindset for a solid foundation.
stability is wonderful and so hard to find. we do the split family thing because of divorce. we’ve been doing it for almost 20 years and it still doesn’t feel quite right
That’s how my Christmases typically are: traditional with my mom, and non-traditional with my dad and his wife. I need the traditional stuff with my mom to make things feel right, and despite enjoying the non-traditional stuff with my dad, I could pass on it and Christmas would still seem like Christmas.
It is always hard when circumstances change like that, especially when it has to do with home life. I’m sure you will have a lovely christmas and be happy for those you have with you!
As I get older, I have more of an appreciation for tradition. I hate myself for saying that, but it’s true. Maybe there is something to it; perhaps you see it as more valuable than before, whereas when some people are younger, they do not see it that way. Not sure, but would love to know where this comes from.
I’m sorry you have to deal with all that stuff. It’s definitely rough- those first Christmases without the traditional things and plans. And there’s nothing wrong with liking those things or enjoying them. Just focus on doing things you enjoy, even if they aren’t part of the “traditions,” because that’s what’s important. You need to focus on the things around the holiday season that make you happy, and put them at the center of everything.
I’m sorry that your mom and step-dad aren’t coming home for Christmas. All the major Christmas stuff in my family is hosted at my mom’s house, too, and if she wasn’t home for the holidays, I would feel lost.
As I get older, I appreciate the traditions we’ve done for most of my life even more. I hope that you and your siblings and dad will have a great time together and make some new traditions together this year!
I’m sorry Christmas just won’t be the same for you. I know how that is, big time. But hopefully, next year, everything can be perfect and this Christmas, lacking in that “tradition,” will be a memory and you can enjoy the next one as all the ones beforehand.
I know it’s a long time to wait for the Christmas you kind of long for, but it happens – to most of us – and you can only hope for the best next time.
I know what you mean. It seems like every year I get older if feels less and less like Christmas. I think it is just that everyone else has started their own families and they have to spend some time with their in-laws and it is hard for everyone to get together.
This year is the first in many that all my family will be together so I am looking forward to it. Hope you have a Happy Holidays despite not everyone being together.