Comments on: Ghosts of Christmases Past; Christmas Yet-to-Come

By: ABF

ABF — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:44:40 +0000

I envy you on the simplicity of your Christmas. I only hope that you enjoy the gift that God has given you this year in the form of a chaotic free Holiday. Since this year will be quieter for you, you might be able to embrace the slower and more peaceful “Spiritual Christmas” and leave the chaotic “Santa Christmas” for those who have no way of avoiding it . Have Fun! A.B.F.

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:29:14 +0000

We largely cling to the same rituals we did with our parents because the memories around them are so very comforting. But we are creating some of our own traditions which I hope our kids will someday pass along. Love the new site design BTW ladies!!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:35:54 +0000

Lovely post, Anne. I appreciated hearing about your Christmas pasts and resonate with your Christmas future. We are still trying to work out our traditions when not traveling back “home.” There is the previous issue you discussed, since Maryland isn’t really home anymore, but yet, it is and always will be. This is only our third Christmas of being just the two of us, and we have not found a rhythm yet. I do think we are going to make lasagna for the main dish for the second time, so that seems like we are starting a meal tradition. And I’m thinking of borrowing a morning tradition from a great friend and her family–”Absolutely Divine Sour Cream Coffee Cake” for Christmas morning

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:50:46 +0000

Jan is right – Christmases with just our nuclear family of four on Christmas morning were very special, and are cherished memories. But I remember the very first year I had to tell my parents that we would not be with them on Christmas morning. I was reminded that families travel from great distances to be together on Christmas morning, but we were not going to travel 50 miles to be with my parents. On the other hand, Jan was wanting us to create our own tradidtions with our family. In hindsight she was correct, of course, but in the moment, it was very difficult, feeling trapped – my family with my loving wife and my darling children tugging at me to stay put,on the one hand, and my family of origin with my brother, sister, and my parents pulling me back to my boyhood home, on the other. So, I did what anyone would do – I went to the solitude of our basement and cried. That Christmas was full of frustration, sadness, and the mixed feelings that come with a new, uncertain chapter in one’s life.

But, despite all the angst of that Christmas, the change was good, and everyone survived, and new traditons were started.

Merry Christmas!

By: Gale

Gale — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:59:02 +0000

What lovely memories, Anne. Isn’t it incredible how the backdrop of Christmas can change so much from year to year, but somehow it still feels just like Christmas?

It is difficult when things change, especially when you have such happy Christmases in your past. But I hope that you will find this Christmas to be relaxing, peaceful, and simple.

By: Danyiel

Danyiel — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:45:39 +0000

My husband and I are struggling right now with the ghost of our past and what we want our own traditions to be. We want to give Madison a taste of what Christmas was for us as kids, but we also want to change it up a bit to look like us. We will have to wait I think a couple more years to see how it will all fall into place, but I think that is the fun of it right, living Christams a little bit like Life in Pencil.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:54:18 +0000

The first time Christmas changed was when my mom died. And then it changed again when I got married. And I imagine it will change yet again if we have children. Tradition is always changing. Personally, for better or worse, no two Chrismases look alike for me anymore. And your mom is right: it’s a gift to begin creating traditions like YOU want to.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:51:04 +0000

Holidays change when you grow up–no getting around that. I used to struggle tremendously with not spending Christmas with my “family of origin”, and having to be with my in-laws instead. It got much better when we started staying at our own home, and better still, oddly enough, when the kids were grown. At that point, you’re pretty much free to handle it as you like. That’s where you are right now, Anne. Enjoy! It’s fun!