“Don’t tell me when to celebrate — you’re not the boss of me.”
That’s always been my rebel stance around holidays. My partner and I have both lost our parents, and with no family close, there wasn’t much tradition to return to. We’re creating our own now, in ways that actually fit us.
Great piece reminding me that choosing tradition can be playful, intentional, and deeply meaningful. It really hit the spot.
Thanks, Deborah. I’m glad it connected. I like the idea of building traditions that fit the life you are living now. I relate to that shift more than I expected to. Choosing tradition instead of inheriting it does change how it feels, in a good way.
Merry Christmas JP, I'm writing this response with tears streaming down my face. I'm not sure why this hit me so hard emotionally. Our family gathers at one of my son's houses. It's the house we spent our last Christmas together as a family though we didn't call it Christmas at that time, we celebrated Family Appreciation Day. My father in law lived with us in those days. We sold that house to our 2 sons (I actually have 3 sons, but the 2 younger sons bought the house) We all gather there for holidays. It's big, my son loves to cook (and he is good at it) and he put in a HUGE table in what was at one time the living room. His living room now was once the room he and his brother shared as a "bedroom" - I love that our family traditions are funny and odd and don't have to BE any sort of way, that in our oddness we are connected.
I hope you had a good Christmas, Jill. I can feel the emotion in what you wrote. What you described feels deeply rooted. A house changing hands without losing its pull. Rooms shifting purpose while the gathering stays intact. That kind of continuity carries more weight than any formal holiday name. The way you described your family made me smile. Traditions that grow their own way often end up being the strongest ones.
they make memories for sure I have memories of Christmases in the house where my 2 daughters in law were wailing their wants - I just want a ring for Christmas and the other I just want a baby this year. and by the next year they each had what that had wanted. It’s so beautiful getting to watch their families grow I ‘m so blessed.
Great story with a much needed lesson. Have a Merry Christmas, JP!
Thanks, Ken. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. I learned a lot from my grandfather, and I still miss him. I hope you had a good Christmas.
Sounds like he was a great person and you were fortunate to have him in your life. Yes, it was, thanks.
“Don’t tell me when to celebrate — you’re not the boss of me.”
That’s always been my rebel stance around holidays. My partner and I have both lost our parents, and with no family close, there wasn’t much tradition to return to. We’re creating our own now, in ways that actually fit us.
Great piece reminding me that choosing tradition can be playful, intentional, and deeply meaningful. It really hit the spot.
Thanks, Deborah. I’m glad it connected. I like the idea of building traditions that fit the life you are living now. I relate to that shift more than I expected to. Choosing tradition instead of inheriting it does change how it feels, in a good way.
Thank you for your comment.
Merry Christmas JP, I'm writing this response with tears streaming down my face. I'm not sure why this hit me so hard emotionally. Our family gathers at one of my son's houses. It's the house we spent our last Christmas together as a family though we didn't call it Christmas at that time, we celebrated Family Appreciation Day. My father in law lived with us in those days. We sold that house to our 2 sons (I actually have 3 sons, but the 2 younger sons bought the house) We all gather there for holidays. It's big, my son loves to cook (and he is good at it) and he put in a HUGE table in what was at one time the living room. His living room now was once the room he and his brother shared as a "bedroom" - I love that our family traditions are funny and odd and don't have to BE any sort of way, that in our oddness we are connected.
I hope you had a good Christmas, Jill. I can feel the emotion in what you wrote. What you described feels deeply rooted. A house changing hands without losing its pull. Rooms shifting purpose while the gathering stays intact. That kind of continuity carries more weight than any formal holiday name. The way you described your family made me smile. Traditions that grow their own way often end up being the strongest ones.
they make memories for sure I have memories of Christmases in the house where my 2 daughters in law were wailing their wants - I just want a ring for Christmas and the other I just want a baby this year. and by the next year they each had what that had wanted. It’s so beautiful getting to watch their families grow I ‘m so blessed.