With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas right on it’s tail, the kids want Christmas music. I have always lived by a strict rule of no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. It’s just not right, in my mind. I think this is what my parents always said, so naturally, I must pass the information down to my own offspring. But now that they’re getting older, they don’t mind me like they used to. These little stinkers have their own way of thinking and their own ideas about when Christmas music should be listened to. According to them—the time is now. And unfortunately, Andy feels the same way they do, so it’s me against them all.
I fought it for the first little bit last week, but eventually succumbed, only when the kids are home from school and put the music on. Except for today when I played Motown Christmas while I mopped the floor. That was the record we always put on when we decorated our tree growing up. I broke my rule. The Christmas excitement welled up inside me as I looked forward to arguing about which tree we should get and opening up the Christmas boxes of decorations and ornaments, having to re-glue the broken ones from the year before. I confess; I enjoyed it. Don’t tell the kids.
I don’t know why I feel that I must stick to this tradition I’ve held onto for so long. There’s not really a great explanation, but I will leave you with a quote from a dear friend that I believe might shed some light.
“Traditions aren’t meant to be comfortable. They’re meant to be kept.”
-Elizabeth Sinclair
