Christmas 101. Kinda like Chemistry 101. 101 in college numbering system usually means it’s an introductory class. It’s a class at a beginner’s level. You would think that after experiencing Christmas for 43 year, I wouldn’t be a beginner. Yet, here we are in 2020 doing things we’ve never done before. I read the phrase “it’s like flying a plane as you build it” and I think that’s pretty true. I mean, how many of you have lived through a pandemic before? It’s a “once in a lifetime” experience meaning I never want to experience it again. My husband and I have talked about how truly fortunate and blessed we’ve been through all of this.

But now Christmas season is upon us. This year Christmas, like everything else, looks different. I’m not quite sure yet what that will mean for us. I’d love to say that we will be spending it with our families and traveling but I’ve found that 2020 likes to throw in plot twists so at this point I’m just taking it one day at a time.

Advent calendars hanging on my kids’ doors!

Now that my kids are 15 and 19, I’d be lying if I said I know what I’m doing when it comes to kids and Christmas. Every age has offered a challenge whether it be finding the perfect gift, searching for the most sparkly Christmas dress during a princess phase or setting reminders to move the Elf. My kids are older and the holiday magic is gone. I miss it. I miss the excitement on their faces and the magic in their eyes. Since 2020 has been such a train wreck, I’m trying to end the year on a positive note and bring back some of the magic. This year I decided to make giant Advent calendars. After many phone convos with my friend, I stole her amazing idea and started shopping. She also has teens so she knows how it is. A $4 shoe organizer turned Advent calendar was filled, hung and is now being enjoyed every morning. The pockets are filled with favorite drinks, snacks, candy, trinkets, etc. I can’t reveal them all just yet incase the kids read this. So far it’s just given them a little something to look forward to every morning.

I feel like in this “Christmas 101” season we need to act like beginners again. We need to focus on the little things that bring us joy. Think back to the first Christmas you had with your new spouse, your first Christmas in a new home, your children’s first Christmas, the Christmas you had your first real tree, the list goes on. I’m sure some of those years held stressful moments but you don’t remember that. You remember the love you felt, the joy you saw and the memories you created.

When I think back to my childhood Christmases, I remember my mom baking for weeks leading up to the big day. I remember going with my dad to pick out a real tree and then covering it completely in tinsel. I remember going to my grandparents house and playing a dice game with my cousins and getting tons of gag gifts because no one had the money for traditional gifts. I remember my Grandma coming home for the holidays from Florida and celebrating with my other cousins and picking the envelope with my name on it off the tree. Now that I’m an adult, I know there was planning and financial stress and traveling in bad weather and all the other chaos that comes with the holidays but that’s not what I remember. Both of my parents have six siblings so I have around 40 first cousins. When I think of the holidays, I think of all the fun I had with them.

When the kids were younger, we would take them on rides in their pajamas to see the Christmas lights. We’d spend days baking cookies and holiday treats. We’d cuddle up and watch Elf and Clark Griswold deck the halls. It’s all stuff we did as kids and I hope my kids do with their own children. It’s the simple things you’d learn in an introductory class. I think sometimes those beginner lessons are the best. While I love finding someone the perfect gift and enjoy seeing everyone opening presents on Christmas, the memories we make are in the moments not the things. **Except maybe back in 1984 when I received the most epic Cabbage Patch Doll with the name Dana Starr*

So while this year may look different, I hope when we look back we don’t remember only the differences. I hope we remember the things that looked exactly the same because isn’t that what tradition is? I hope this holiday season, we all act like beginners again. More advanced classes can come later or maybe not at all. You decide.