Christmas 2024 was different than Christmas days of the past. Since it has been 4 months since Christmas was here, I have had time to ponder on why it was different than other years. I think perhaps because the girls are older and they wanted to sleep in, that childhood anticipation, impatience and excitement was no longer present. The thrill of Santa coming is now a thing of the past so perhaps, some of the magic has gone and that may be part of the reduced anticipation. Don't get me wrong, they were excited for Christmas but there was their joy in going out buying their own gifts for others that had not previously been part of the holiday. It had always been their father and I making the Christmas magic happen. Now, with Amara having her own money from working she was excited to buy thoughtful and meaningful gifts for the family with her own money. While Havana had to use the funds of the adults, she too was quite thoughtful and excited to go Christmas shopping for not only her family but her closest friends as well. There was a sweetness in their being part of the holiday traditions now that they are older.
Another reason I think this last holiday was different was because the girls are older and they know what they want. In the past, they might have a list for Santa but Don and I took liberty to choose other things. Those gifts were mostly appreciated. However, now being teenagers, they are particular and very specific about what they like and don't like, making gift giving much more challenging. I was left with thinking I would get a few of those items and overall make this year less versus ore.
When the kids were little, they’d wake up so early in the morning and race down the stairs with their oohs and ahh at all the presence under the tree. But now they wanted to sleep in late and take their time opening each present slowly. There was something nice about this more relaxed pace. When they were little, it was age appropriate to have all the excitement and energy in the air. But now it felt that taking our time, taking it all in slow slowly, was just what we needed. The girls are getting older and there won’t be too many more Christmases like this as a family. They will go to college and get on with their lives and while we might have Christmas together once they are out of the house, it won’t be the same as when they were children. It was bittersweet to have this realization and made this slower pace all the more fulfilling and meaningful.
Because girls are also quite particular about what they like these days and some of those particularities cost a little bit more money. That meant some shared gifts, like the new Dyson, and as in years gone by clothing that was necessary, but with a few more not so necessary, but optional choices for gifts.
Overall, it was a really lovely morning and day. I cherish these moments with my children. I’m so grateful to have had so many years with so many memories like this.
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