Christmas Addiction – Following in Gramma’s Footsteps
Growing up Christmas traditions always filled our home for the better part of a year. Christmas carols started serenading us the first day the leaves started changing color, the Christmas tree went up the day after Thanksgiving and didn’t come down until the day before mom’s first tax client arrived, generally sometime in Febuary or March. On more than one occasion the lights outside stayed up until my birthday in June. Mom always used the excuse that they were ‘party’ lights, not just for Christmas (although I’m fairly certain red and green snowflakes only qualify as Christmas lights!).
In Febuary 2007 I found out that I would be having a baby girl that summer and the only thing I could think about was that my baby would be one of those porcelain dolls my mom adored so much. Her favorite color would be pink and she would refuse to wear anything that didn’t have ruffles on her bum!
Two years later my fears have been replaced. Personally, I found my girly side and I thoroughly enjoy spending my days getting my nails done and shopping for cute, pink, ruffly things! While my daughter enjoys those activities as well, I realized this year that she also possesses a passionate love for this upcoming holiday season that could have only come from one grandparent. It all started with the first few snowflakes. You see, a two year olds perception of snow means that we go outside and build a snowman! Elizabeth begged and pleaded to no avail. Having watched the weather report I knew that we weren’t expecting much if any accumulation. In an effort to heal my babies broken heart I offered her the option to watch any movie she wanted. As if channeling my mothers personality she quickly requested a holiday favorite ‘Miracle on 34th Street’. I didn’t think much of it because honestly, thats one Christmas movie that I’m quite fond of.
Later that week the weatherman was predicting yet another snow storm, however for the immediate upcoming days all we would experience were high winds as the storm travelled down from Canada. Noticing the leaves turning brown, red, and yellow and floating around our third story apartment somehow prompted my daughter to break out in song. For the next several days ‘Jingle Bells’ would be sang repeatedly throughout our home. Once the storm finally hit Elizabeth knew the drill and immediately requested yet another holiday favorite ‘Mickeys Once Upon a Christmas’.
It seems that my daughter has once again advanced beyond her years and recognized the changing of the seasons as an indication that Christmas is fast approaching. I’m looking so forward to the upcoming years reliving my childhood but mark my words, the Christmas tree wil come down before Febuary as well as the ‘party’ lights. Happy holidays everyone!
One Response to “Christmas Addiction – Following in Gramma’s Footsteps”
October 25th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I’m marking your words, gonna have them written in stone, and placed on your wall very shortly… “The lights come down before June” You can count on it, baby girl.
But, just as surely, you can count on your daughter begging you to “leave it up one more day” and “Let’s celebrate Christmas AGAIN!” as those February snows start falling. I’ve SOOO trained Elizabeth well.
Colm, it’s your turn. Gramma gets to start on you this year, too.
Leave a Comment