Seattle Family Photographer on Creating the Holidays
What are the holidays to you? What were the holidays to your family?
As a kid, I remember having a love/hate relationship with the holidays. Like any other kid, I loved the magic of the holidays! I believed in Santa; I believed in the reindeer that landed on my roof; I believed they ate the carrots I left for them in our mailbox. I got butterflies inside when I went to bed at night, straining to hear the bells on their bridles. I lived for the magic.
I also remember stress. I remember worrying about not having money and the disappointment of a meager holiday. I remember my Grandmother planning holiday parties and the stress of making sure everything was perfect. The frustration when plans didn’t turn out the way they had hoped, and measuring if everyone felt grateful enough. It often felt like a show, and we were all simply the players.
Now as a mom of my own child I can create a holiday experience for my child. This is the first year my son will be cognizant of the existence of Christmas. He somewhat gets the concept of Santa and the idea of presents (primarily unwrapping them). It’s a lot of responsibility to create what will one day be his memories and his traditions. I’m creating what he will choose to continue or avoid. It feels like a very heavy gift.
What holiday traditions are important to you? Why?
How much do we do during the holidays because we feel like we have to, and how much do we do because we actually want to?
I would love to hear your stories.
