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What happens when family traditions collide
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Published: December 10, 2008
Practically the only holiday tradition my husband and I share from our childhood is celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25, and even that's not an absolute. Forget "The Polar Express." Our holiday story is "The Polar Opposites."
Meet the wife: I grew up near a large city, complete with storefront window displays and suburban malls. We chose our Christmas tree from the gas station's temporary tree farm, and doused it with tinsel, lights and ornaments. I get the itch for some "Jingle Bell Rock" by Nov. 1. My loud family gathered by the dozen for chaotic Christmas Day dinners, where tossing a roll to get someone's attention was pretty mild when it came to table manners.
Meet the husband: He grew up in a small town of snow-filled streets lined with churches, and the Main Street hardware store decking the halls. His parents would cross-country ski into the woods to chop down their chosen tree, and opted for a hint of lights and ornaments. He snarls when someone sings one holiday note before carving the Thanksgiving turkey. And Christmas Day was celebrated with puzzles, movies and a quiet dinner with his brother and parents.
Fast forward 37 years, and here we are — raising two children and trying to blend and establish our own traditions.
How do we package this holiday baggage, wrap it in a big bow, and give our son and daughter traditions to remember? The answer seems to be to add a lot of compromise and humor.
The kids and I crank the Christmas tunes starting on Black Friday and don't stop until Christmas Day. But I'm only permitted to play the Singing Dogs rendition of "Jingle Bells" when my husband isn't home. We don't chop down our tree or select it while we're filling the tank at the gas station. The local home improvement store gets our business, and we string lights and a proportional amount of ornaments. My husband gets a kick out of the tacky ornaments, and I admit that being able to see some pine needles is a nice change. The Christmas dinner noise level varies each year, depending on who's visiting.
My son asked if we were going to see the Bears Symphony Orchestra performance in Founders Hall like we've done the past two years. And I can't wait to read "A Visit From St. Nicholas" to the kids on Christmas Eve. Hey, we've even got some new traditions established.
But my husband still might get whacked with a roll at Christmas Day dinner if I'm feeling really nostalgic.
kelli robinson is a stay-at-home mother living in Mooresville with her husband and two children, who never cease to amaze, and always keep her on her toes!
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