Back When

Some days I like to forget I'm a mom of a tween and a teen. Especially at Christmas time, I like to imagine my girls are 3 and 5 again. That's when Christmas really came alive for them. It's when they started to understand Jesus,and when they were able to frost cookies! I loved putting their little aprons on and letting them frost and decorate the sugar cookies. I have many pictures of cookies with mounds of frosting and tons of colored sugar, and big frosting covered grins! We also did gingerbread houses each year. Most of the candy got eaten before it got attached! I loved the wonder in their eyes as they experienced Christmas on every level. The mall Santa, the church programs, the family gatherings, the toys, and the extra fun we all had just because they were with us.

That's back when opening presents was a loud, crazy, messy occasion. Back when they drank their milk from cute little santa cups. Back when they sat in the little teddy bear chair to have their picture taken in front of the tree they got to help decorate. Oh, back when...where are you?

Are you now feeling frustrated that your little ones are into everything? Are they fighting over toys or refusing to eat their peas? Are they challenging you over bedtime or leaving snot prints everywhere on the windows? If so, then listen to me when I say this, and hear it good. ENJOY. For too soon, these days are gone. One day you will wish for snotty little noses to burrow into your good sweater. One day you will wonder if you spent enough time frosting cookies with them. One day you will miss this.

We love our girls, for sure, but as they get older, the wonder seems to seep out of them. They are busy with many other things, and their lives aren't just about us anymore. Kids just grow up. There's no stoppin' them once they start! Though my girls love Christmas and all the fuss, they chose not to help decorate the tree this year. Not because they were too busy, but because they had already decorated three trees for their grandparents, and were tired of decorating. Sigh. I did it by myself, and though Nat visited with me while I decorated, it just wasn't that exciting for me at all. I can't believe I miss the days that they hung all of the ornaments at their eye level! It used to drive me crazy, and I just couldn't leave them all there! Oh, how I miss that now.

You may think I'm just a big ole nostalgic mess. Well, I can be. I do revisit the memories quite often. I find it to be a healthy way to keep them alive. Not to dwell and wish for them back, but to truly remind myself not to take the present days for granted. Not to take the present people for granted. To remember that each age has its special wonder of its own.

Christmas can be a tough time, for when we think of Christmas, we're automatically transported back in time. We think of being kids and we remember who was there and what they contributed. If they're no longer with us, Christmas can be a lonely feeling. Though we know about the Babe in the manger, we still long for the grandma, the uncle, or whoever isn't there. Christmas is love!

So this Christmas, instead of thinking about what you don't have, think about what someone else is missing, or who someone else may be missing. Think about what you can do to help someone who is lonely. Maybe they're like me and they're just lonely for their little ones. Take your kids over and visit awhile!

As for me, I will still be decorating cookies with the girls for our annual tradition. Funny thing is, we can no longer tell the difference between my cookies and theirs! Some things don't change though, they still don't like to clean up the mess!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!