Before I had kids, I had many well-meaning parents tell me, “The days are long, but the years are short.” It’s a sweet, albeit trite, sentiment meant to remind us to treasure the little moments, but it’s also a little gut-wrenching when you realize how fast those years slip through your fingers, especially when you think about it in terms of Christmases.
Eighteen Christmases…
That’s all we get while our kids are still under our roofs, their stockings hung next to ours, their sleepy faces lighting up in the glow of holiday magic. This is my son’s third Christmas, so does that mean I’m already 1/6 though my time with him? That’s an emotionally manipulative thing to consider on Christmas morning.
So, let’s reframe. They don’t stop being our kids when they blow out the candles on their 18th birthday cake. If I’m lucky, I will get far more than just get 18 Christmases. I will get a lifetime. The catch? The work we put into those first 18 Christmases is what sets the tone for the ones that follow.
As I sit here reflecting on the season, I’m asking myself: What am I doing now to create traditions, memories, and a sense of home so deep that my kids will want to come back? The cookies we bake together, driving through the neighborhood enjoying holiday lights, the ornaments we hang – each of these tiny rituals plants a seed. And, am I raising kids who feel seen, loved, and valued? Am I the kind of mom they’ll want to visit, to call, to celebrate with even when they have families of their own?
Because that’s the ultimate goal, isn’t it?
To raise kids who don’t just go out into the world as successful adults, but who come back every now and then – not because they have to, but because they want to. And it’s not just about Christmas. It’s about creating a lifetime of connection, starting with these fleeting years when they’re ours to shape and guide.
So if you’re feeling sad, like the moments are flying by too quickly – take a pause, and remember that these 18 Christmases aren’t just about gifts or decorations. They’re about planting roots that will grow into a tree strong enough to hold us all for a lifetime.
If we play our cards right, these 18 Christmases are just the beginning of a beautiful, lifelong holiday tradition.
