Christmas Eve. My favorite day of the year.
All of the music, the lights, the magic of Santa. Ever since I was a child, there was just something so special about this day. As a parent, it's even more special. However, this year is a milestone year. This is the last year that all of my children are considered children. I don't know why, but that hit me particularly hard. It's the end of an era. Not in a bad way, but a bittersweet way.
Since Charlotte was born in 2007, we have tried so hard to make the holidays magical for our children. Sometimes it's hard. This year, particularly with all that has been happening with Frostburg State University, we have not had much in the way of joy. Nevertheless, the trees are up and decorated, presents are wrapped, elves have been up to mischief, and the cookies are baked. Despite all that has been happening, all of the stress, all of the worry, these traditions are what bring us the most normalcy and bring us a little bit of nostalgia that I think we all crave this time of year.
As the kids have gotten older, we get to see them perform with their instruments in concerts which has been something I have really grown to enjoy. With every stage there is always something new. With every stage, they seem to be less and less interested in the traditions that they once loved and sometimes I think that they participate just to humor me.
Do I miss the toddler days and the three am wake ups on Christmas morning? Absolutely. However, Christmas has just changed so fluidly along with them. It has grown to fit their ages, and I have grown to appreciate that. They can now help with the elves and be the magic for Marceline who still holds a touch of that belief in Santa. Tonight, they will all put out the milk and cookies, spread out the reindeer food, and say goodbye to the elves because these traditions are what has shaped them. Tomorrow, one of the older kids will inevitably send one of the younger ones to wake us up. But I only get eighteen of these years with each child being a child. Eighteen years that seemingly blew by.
