Holidays and Traditions

I still remember the first time Christmas didn't feel like Christmas anymore. It was four years ago and when I got to my mom's house Christmas eve all of the unwrapped gifts/wrapping paper were strewn across the living room. The house was empty and it felt cold in every way.Christmas had become a chore, strewn with the stress of trying to see multiple families in the same day and trying to get everyone the "right" gift. As my siblings and I have gotten older, moved away and started families of our own our regular "traditions" seem to have fallen by the wayside. It is a part of growing up and I get that, but part of me misses the old times when loved ones were still with us and we could be together as a family.

I think the cool weather and holiday season are always a time to reflect and focus on what you want to accomplish in the future. I am, by nature, a pretty nostalgic person and the holidays are especially hard for me sometimes. I miss my family and the way things used to be: opening stockings Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house, staying up late wrapping while watching Christmas movies, homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee in the morning, "Santa" gifts laid out in the hallway and having one whole side of the family together. At the same time I love my life now and the idea of creating new traditions with my own family someday excites me. There is a delicate balance of yearning for the past and the thrill of the future.

Part of adulthood is learning to change and adapt to various things in life. Holidays are no exception to this and I love being able to see family/friends whenever possible even if it is not the same as it used to be. Luckily I married into an amazing extended family and things like Cards Against Humanity and my MIL trying to get me tipsy are quickly becoming new traditions. And of course baking rum cakes and watching Love Actually/Harry Potter movies are my own personal traditions throughout November and December.

I have to say one of the best parts of Christmas is seeing the joy on my nieces face when we get to see her. Sometimes the best present is your presence :)

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Or traditions you miss from childhood?