I had my post all written up Monday, but then I realized I was posting on Dec 7. Pearl Harbor Day. The snarky my-kids-are-neurotic post somehow seems either less important or more important than ever. I’m not quite sure yet.
See here’s the deal. Army Guy, though not overseas, is not home right now. And he’s working Christmas. When I told the kids they were going to spend the week at Ft. Benning instead of going home to Atlanta…well, they were less than pleased. Emma Rose, my oldest, launched an offensive. I’d been waiting for it for days, so I wasn’t suprised to find a note waiting for me Monday morning when I got up. Here it is. Completely unaltered.
We the People & Animals of the S—- home wish to have the same traditional Christmas. And we have a freedom of speach. And I quote “We hold these Truths to be self evident that all Men are created equal” from the Declaration of Independace. We have the right to ask if and when we want. And we want to go to Grandma and Pop’s house for Christmas.
All three of the little #%$^* signed it.
So I could talk about how brilliant the kid is (particularly impressed with the spelling and history lesson) or how snarky she is (can’t imagine where she gets that from) or how I’m actually changing the Christmas plans (driving to Atlanta after we open presents). But mostly I’m hung up on how brilliant my kid is.
It took a 10 year old to remind how important traditions are to my family, and Pearl Harbor Day to remind me how important traditions are to all of us. There are some things we’ve always had for Christmas. Chocolate covered raisins (alll mine darnit), huge apples and oranges (no idea where my dad finds them), my parents and brother and his family, tons of new books. And no matter where in the world Army Guy is (and he’s been gone more years than he’s been home) he calls home. Ten a.m. Never fails. By 10, people have started to come down off the early morning candy in the stocking high and I’m usually heading for a much need nap. By ten breakfast is cleaned up, the paper all outside, and the turkey is in the oven.
This year the kids will get up at 5 our time (6 Georgia time) about the time Army Guy is getting home from work. They’ll dive into the presents. They’ll beg me to make pancakes. At 10 we’ll be on the road and Army Guy will call me. Last year, he walked out in the backyard to make that call. I can count on it as much as I can count on my dad making sure I have chocolate covered raisins when I walk in his door this year in the afternoon of the 25th.
What can I say? It’s tradition and it’s one of those little things I look forward to every year. It’s something that screams “I love you” better than anything else could.
So what are you favorite traditions? What are the little things in your family or amoung your friends that remind you the season really is all about love and not about stuff at all?
December 7th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
She’s brilliant, Lori. I grinned a lot.
Most of my family traditions have been put aside because the Engineer doesn’t get them. (non-American family). I’m working them back in little by little, but I miss having people around who remember them like I do.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
I think I love your kids, Lori.
In my family…it’s my chequebook
Honestly, this year I think my kids are getting three presents each. Which was a HUGE come-down for me since I love to buy ‘em crap.
Honestly, the reminder for me about love and peace is christmas eve when the lights are on the tree, and quiet music is playing, I have a cup of coffee/tea/hot cider in my hands, and I get to just be overwhelmed by Christmas all over.