For the heck of it…

I’m taking down my Christmas tree on Christmas Day. When Josey was little I made darn sure that his Birthday was a priority over Christmas. Being a ‘December Baby’, I didn’t want Christmas to overpower the most important day…the day Josey was born. Once his Birthday was done, THEN the Christmas tree went up, decorations were placed…talk of Christmas cookies & presents & Santa.

This year, I put up the tree before his birthday. Josey has his own house now. We celebrated his Birthday by inviting him to us. I made him a special meal, a Birthday cake, he opened presents, and then he went home. It felt weird. Different. I was a mother mourning his youth.

I think that is part of the reason why we really don’t do Christmas. We have celebrated Winter Solstice for several years now. That seemed like a better fit for what our family believes.

So when Christmas Day rolls around…it feels like an ordinary day in our home. And this year, it will be the day I take down the Christmas tree.

Next year, I’ll put up a ‘Solstice tree’ filled with lights and ornaments with special meaning & memories.

I look forward to celebrating Josey’s Birthday at our home with good food, good company, and (as always) a competitive-cut-throat game of Catan.