It's that time of year...

As Christmas draws upon us I think about re true meaning of what I am doing as a mother. 

As a child my mom drove herself crazy trying to make Christmas "perfect". With all the baking done, cookies to be decorated, the "perfect" gift for each child, Turkey purchased with all the fixings. Mentally checking off every little thing that HAD to be done. 

I do remember these Christmases and I did love them very much. Most of the time my parents totally nailed the "perfect" gift for each one of us.... sometimes.... Not so much.... 

But it was never really about that for me. 

I definitely had the child selfishness that comes with a North American Christmas, with all the consumerism. I would be disappointed because it "wasn't the one on TV", but I can only remember a few of my childhood gifts. 

I CAN remember the amazing time that we had as a family together. 

Christmas Eve my dad would get home just after lunch and would make sure that the Turkey was defrosting properly. Then we would all get dressed up into our fancy clothes and head over to my Oma's house for Christmas Eve dinner (always SO much food) and I would be downstairs hanging out with my cousins and brothers. Sometimes getting along, sometimes fighting. Each year a different person would get the brunt of the teasing. We would then join together and have a family dinner together. I don't know exactly how many people would come every year but it would be anywhere from 9 to 34 people if we were all together. I don't even know how we all even fit, but we did. And we talked and laughed. I am sure I said inappropriate things. 

And then somehow the dishes would get done. With all the people around it always happened and it seemed to go very quickly. 

After supper most of us would pile into our vehicles and head to the luthern church Christmas Eve candle lit service. It would be so special to see a whole pew or more filled with my family. 

After the service we would head back to my Oma's house and have snacks (or in the case of the teenage boys, full meals) and then eventually open presents. Oma and grandpa would get to open all their presents and we would get to open a few from extended family and Oma and grandpa. It was always such a wonderful time of laughing and celebrating together. My uncle Bill was usually very silly, and my Oma would be serving drinks and being a wonderful hostess. I always thought it was so sweet how she would even answer the phone, "merry Christmas" instead of just "hello?"

Tuckered out and excited all at the same time my parents would load our things and all 4 kids into the vehicle to go home. There would usually be bickering between us kids, but it was still nice being all together. 

Once we got home we would lay out our stockings, say good night, and head off to bed. I have no idea how long, after we went to bed, my parents stayed up. 

The next morning we would wake up and be so excited. There were some rules about opening things in our house. First of all, we had to make... Correction... I had to make a pot of coffee for my mom and dad. Once they were out of their room we could open up our stockings. They were usually filled with little knick-knacks and a toothbrush. Maybe some candy. All things that we were happy about as children. As we were doing that my dad would be cleaning the bird, my mom would be assembling the stuffing and preheating the oven. 

Then we would have breakfast. Eggs Benedict. Mmmmmm. We would all have jobs in the kitchen, whether it be to set the table, empty the dishwasher, make the orange juice, or helping with cooking and assembling the food. It was fun. 

We would sit down together as a family and eat our breakfast. We usually had our supper meals together as a family, but for some reason, this morning of togetherness was more special to me. 

After dishes were done we would get to sit together in the living room and open our presents. 

One. At. A. Time. 

This was a big thing for my dad. He always felt that if we all opened our presents at the same time then Christmas would be over too quickly, so he would hand out the presents and we would open them while everyone else watched. It was enjoyable for me. (Apparently not everyone else feels the same way, but you know...)

Then we would have the afternoon to play with our new toys or read our new books or watch a new movie. My parents would be working in the kitchen peeling potatoes, checking on the bird, making salad, peeling carrots, getting everything all together for the big family dinner that night. 

Now, this is going to sound a little crazy, because I really can't remember much after we open our presents together. Christmas Day is my grandpa's birthday and we would sing to him and have some cake or something, but as for traditional details, I got nothin'! We would have turkey dinner together and then I would do the dishes for my mom, sometimes with the help of my brothers, but usually not. 

I really loved the time with my family and being together.

So, after this long winded explanation or recap of what Christmas was like as a child for me I have to think about what I would like Christmas to be for my kids. 

BUT.... Here's the thing. I am pretty sure that my mom dreaded Christmas and all that came with it. It was so stressful for her. She wanted everything to be just so, and wanted us to have every experience. 

To tell you the truth, I don't really remember the baking that I did before I was a teenager. I don't remember decorating cookies at all. I know that we did it, but I just don't remember. 

I kind of remember decorating the tree and the special ornaments that were mine to put up. 

But now as a mom, I want to do thing with my kids. I want to enjoy the holiday with my kids. I don't want to make the holiday FOR them, I want to make it WITH them. 

Don't get me wrong. My mom did an awesome job, and I loved growing up with the Christmases I had, I just don't want to do that to myself with my kids.

So, now that my kids are 2 and 4 it is time I start thinking about tradition for our family. 

What about you? What are some of your favorite traditions that you want to have with your families?