"I knew my husband would work holidays when we married. Living with that reality was more difficult than I expected. I missed the comfort of my childhood traditions. I felt sad that my kids wouldn't share those same experiences. My dream of creating consistent family traditions was not going to happen. I could fight it and cry, or I could find ways to make the holidays fun and meaningful, no matter the date on the calendar."
"I grew up with consistent holiday traditions. My grandparents visited on Christmas Eve. We ate together, opened gifts, and my great-grandmother played the piano. I would struggle to sleep, but I would wake up to gifts with my parents and my brother. After the chaos of gift opening, we would take a drive to see my other grandparents and eat, and then open presents. Like clockwork, I knew what to expect every year."
I grew up with regular, predictable Christmas traditions: grandparents visiting on Christmas Eve, shared meals, gift openings, and a great-grandmother playing the piano. After marriage to a pilot, holiday schedules became unpredictable and traditional celebrations were often impossible. I initially struggled with sadness and the pressure to recreate consistent childhood traditions for my children. Over time I accepted the reality and began creating non-traditional holiday experiences whenever possible. Some years were tearful and difficult, but those unpredictable moments became cherished memories. One Christmas morning was spent at a Denny's coloring pages for a grandmother in assisted living, proving special moments can happen anytime.
Read at Business Insider
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