I won't lie, sometimes I feel a little *inferior* as a mom. This time of year, it seems to bug me a little more. When I see photos of my friends being uber creative with their little "Elf on a Shelf" dude, making out-of-control Pintrest crafts and cookies with their children, dressing their kids in fantastically so-adorable matchy-match clothes for Santa photos...I could go on and on. I'm like, hey, I got ONE area of the house decorated tonight after work (It takes me the whole month of December to get it all done) and my kids ate cereal for dinner so I could get that accomplished.
I don't bake (because it requires measuring and I'm more of a throw-it-all- together-in-a-pan-and-hope-it-tastes-good type of cook) and I don't own a glue gun. Somehow my kids have survived and seem pretty darn happy. I wish I had the time, desire or patience to scrapbook, plan cute ornaments for my children to craft, and knit them matching scarves...but that's just not me, and I have to be okay with that. Sometimes I have to remind myself of all the wonderful holiday traditions I *AM* able to pull off. They are not hand-made. But they are our traditions and our family memories...
1. I ALWAYS go tree-slaying with my Dad. Every year. I have since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. And now that I have my own family, we ALL go with my Dad (sometimes my Mama comes too, if it's not too gross outside). We go to the Christmas tree farm, stomp around in the mud looking for the perfect tree, and saw the thing down. My Dad and I are short, so we have to bring a tape measure. Otherwise, we will end up with a tree we think is huge but needs to be put on a box in order to be taller than everyone else in the family. Yes, Mom, we remember that happened. Lesson learned :) Even as I get older, (ahem, *FORTY* this year), this is one tradition I am unwilling to give up. I hope someday when my kids are older, they will invite me to chop down their tree with them. I will be there with (jingle) bells on.
2. We take the kids downtown, for a fancy family dinner and to see Santa. Growing up, I always visited Santa at the Macy's in downtown Portland with my Grandma. I would ride the monorail around the ceiling, wait in line for a million years, and tell the guy in the red suit what I wanted for Christmas. (Sometimes we would head over to see the Cinnamon Bear too - remember that guy? Best cookies ever.) When we started having children, we of course went downtown to Macy's each year to see Santa - until Macy's did the STUPIDEST thing ever and took the old Santaland out to build a hotel. (I may be a little bitter still) Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, they replaced our REAL Santa with a fake-bearded Santa. Now we have boycotted Macy's during the holidays and visit our real Santa who has moved to Pioneer Courthouse Square. The monorail may be gone, my sweet Grandma may be gone, I may not dress my kids in matching clothes, but my memories live on...and the tradition continues. (Love you, Grandma)
3. Christmas Lights! We tend to alternate, but we usually pick one venue to visit each year, whether it's The Grotto, the Zoo Lights, or driving around Winter Wonderland at PIR. I will never forget the look on my first-born's face when we drove through Winter Wonderland for the first time when he was almost a year old. He bounced up and down to "Jingle Bell Rock" the whole way through with a smile from ear to ear. Now he is huge, turning 13, smells a little like feet and doesn't smile as much...but to this day it is still his favorite Christmas song. Memory accomplished.
4. We eat cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. My Mom makes the absolute BEST cinnamon rolls on the planet. (I obviously did not inherit her baking genes). She bakes them up ahead of time, freezes them in cute pie tins for us and we heat them up in the oven while we open presents. Christmas morning would not be the same without those cinnamon rolls. I am hoping that when my Mom can no longer make them, that my sister knows the recipe cuz she seems to like measuring stuff.
5. Santa Mouse! When I was a kid, we had this book called "Santa Mouse." Basically it was about a little mouse who was Santa's friend, and he would hide little presents in the tree. When all the other presents were opened and over, we would always find the best present hiding somewhere in the tree - it could be an item, or it could just be a note with clues that took us all over the house to find the BIG gift of the year. So awesome. I have continued that tradition with my kids. In fact, by the time I make it downstairs to throw the rolls in the oven, my kids have usually already scoped out where the Santa Mouse present is.
6. Ornaments. Not hand-made, mind you, just good ol' store-bought ornaments. My Mom always gave my sister and I a new ornament each Christmas. Usually they would resemble something we were into at that time - animals, sports, characters - I have about a ton and a half dance ornaments from my dance team days. When we grew up and moved out, we got to take our childhood ornaments with us, and that is what decorates our tree...Along with the new ornaments I buy for my kids each year, that they eventually will take to start their own Christmas tree. I love that. Thanks, Mom.
So, I guess even though I don't like fabric stores, measuring cups and hate the feel of glitter in my hands, I am doing alright. I may not be the best mommy ever, but I'm doing what I can to keep traditions alive, and to raise my kids with a great love of family and memories. I'm cool with that.
Merry Christmas to all the other Not-So-Super-Moms out there. You may not *feel* super, but I guarantee your kids think you hung the moon.
