Giving Thanks.

Here we are, one week before Thanksgiving 2010, the start of the frenzied, Holiday season. This is the time of year when I am most homesick for my home state, (New Hampshire) and my very large, extended family who mostly still all live there. And although most of Steve's family live in this area near where we live, the celebrations of the holidays are just not the same as the traditions I grew up with and raised my daughters in. Nor is the local weather. It's kind of difficult for me to imagine Christmas lights strung around palm trees and soft, warm days in the 60s and 70s as part of the holiday season. And celebrating Christmas has become a no-no in the public schools, at least around here. I do understand why, but it takes away some more of the magic of the holiday season for the kids.

I can fondly remember layers of woolen clothing that had to be peeled off in the crowded hallways before school started. Jacket, boots, snow-pants, mittens, hats, scarves...all wet with little chunks of snow stuck to them. Before recess, the teachers would assist some of us that had a harder time putting back on all that snow gear and we'd go outside for a quick dash in the snow. They'd be kids lined up and sliding on their bottoms down the little embankments, rolling snowmen on the field (and even tossing a few at each other before the teacher on yard duty would catch you), or just making squiggly trails in the freshly fallen snow while chasing each other. And although we were probably shivering with cold and cheeks as red as apples, and our clothing soaking wet, most of us LOVED it!

Every classroom had their own Christmas tree and the students would decorate it with colored, paper chains and popcorn. We'd make hanging paper lanterns in the traditional red and green colors of Christmas and beautiful, original snowflakes were stapled to all the walls. There was always a holiday concert and a Christmas play that the entire school participated in. Santa Claus would even make his hurried appearance before having to run back to the North Pole for his final touches. The excitement in the air was so electric you could feel it as you walked onto school grounds. On the last day before break, the children would have a present exchange. More often than not, I walked away with a book of festive Lifesavers candy that I would probably finish within two days.

Living in the San Francisco bay area with the large diversity of cultures and religions, I am in complete awareness and understanding why the schools won't focus on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or the many other holidays that different families around the world celebrate. I'm just saying, it's different now. But, I know for my son, he has no clue what he missed out on. He's only been in snow once, in 2005. We went back to New Hampshire for two weeks during the holidays. And boy, they sure know how to decorate and celebrate Christmas back there! Malachy was only three years old at the time and I know he barely remembers it. My two daughters were older when we moved to California and are lucky to have memories of the snow and the local traditions. However on the other hand, when we did move to California, being able to use your roller skates outside on Christmas day, push your new baby doll in the new stroller, or ride your new Christmas scooter because it was warm and sunny out, was a fresh and novel experience for all of us.

Since before Malachy was born, I have struggled with creating our own traditions as I am still under the magic spell of my childhood memories of what the holidays are "supposed" to be like. But what I have been blind to and what has just come to light very recently, has been the fact that whatever we've been doing all along, ARE the traditions he will grow up to remember and try to pass onto his kids. This epiphany has given me glimpses of excitement, rather than dread for the upcoming weeks. Having him home-schooled, especially during the holiday season, puts me in charge of how we'll celebrate and what we'll participate in. My house, my rules! Truly, this is the beauty of homeschooling and I'm very thankful to have this opportunity to do so.