Christmas for Momma's

I cut my early womanhood teeth on the hit T.V. show from the late 80's/early 90's, "Designing Women".  Four Southern women resolved contemporary issues in 23 minutes with Southern charm, grace, and a whole lot of "sassy".  I wanted to be just like them.

I recently watched this Christmas episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi6BE1p9G18). All four Southern Belles have experienced some sort of set back that has made them less than festive during the Christmas season.  Julia Sugarbaker (the one I most aspired to be like) is now a mother of a 20-year-old-son who has made other plans for Christmas.  In her nostalgia, she makes the following comment:

"Every Christmas just brings out the part that is still the mother of a little boy peaking through the railing on the stairs."  

As a Momma to three beautiful young women, I totally get that!  I still buy Advent calenders filled with cheap chocolates for them to countdown to Christmas day.  I scurry about the store to find "just the right one" for each girl.  I hide them under my winter clothes and pull them out on the first day of December.  I giddily present them to the girls as if they were receiving million dollar lottery checks.  They smile.  Libby gets excited to open the first chocolate.  Parker thanks me.  I put Addison's on the shelf because she isn't here.  And then, with little fan fare, they both go on their way.  I tape the calendars to the kitchen door ... even Addison's ... and am left with my memories.  It's not bad ... it's just different ... it's different from when they were ... little!!

So ... Mamma's to small children ... this is for you:  enjoy!  Enjoy every moment of these "small" years with your toddler that spills juice on her new dress, breaks your favorite ornament, finds the secret stash of presents you've hidden under your bed.  Thrill at the bump on his forehead that will forever be captured in his photo with Santa this year!  Smile at the sleeping face that finally gave up after too much hot cocoa and cookies.  Laugh at the way she can't stop from rearranging the "perfect" decorations you've put throughout the house.  Savor every imperfect moment because these are the things that will land in your memory bank and draw interest over the years.

Babies grow up - as they should - and Christmas' change - as they should.  Whatever season of Christmas you find yourself celebrating ... celebrate it!  It may be different than what you expected, anticipated, dreamed of and wished for ... but it's exactly what it's supposed to be.  Celebrate!

celebrating,
christina