[Thriving Despite Us] Traditions.. They Really Do Mean Something
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Kate
Dec 12, 2012, 7:42:55 AM12/12/12
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A few weeks ago our water heater broke. Our house is about 15 years old and the water heater was original to the house so it had lived well past it's prime. The problem of course is that we did not plan financially for a broken water heater. Don't you have an emergency fund like all smart parents do, you ask.
Of course we do, well did. See, the emergency fund was drained when my car was totaled last summer. The nice folks at the insurance company gave me the amount my car was worth....which was not much...It was a beat up old Honda minivan but it was paid off and got me everywhere I wanted to go. Alas, I ended up with a new car complete with car payment and empty emergency fund.
Shouldn't you have rebuilt your emergency fund by now, 5 months later, you ask? Yes, we should have but we didn't. There was sports to register for, music and dance lessons, an acting masters class that cost a fortune and all those other life things (plus some really awesome boots on sale that I didn't need but had to have).
So there we were with a broken water heater and no cash to buy a new one. What's a mom who really likes hot showers to do? I did what I had to. I spent our Holiday fund. The money I had diligently been setting aside all year to buy the kids holiday presents is now sitting in my basement in the form of a very efficient water heater.
We are 4 weeks from the holidays and I know without a doubt Christmakwanzakah is going to be smaller than usual this year. I decide it behooves Santa, my husband and myself to come clean with the kids and let them know that there may be fewer things under the tree this year. So one evening last week at dinner, I tell the kids that because of the water heater debacle, we are going to have less presents than usual.
Can you guess what the biggest concern was? No one asked about presents or if Santa would still come. The biggest concern was will we still have fondue on Christmas eve? We always have fondue on Christmas eve....always...and a chocolate fountain. It's a tradition.
Typically, it is the 6 of us and my mom and aunt. I make everyone dress up and we spend hours at the table eating a 3 course fondue meal. After dinner (but before the chocolate fountain), each of the kids opens one present, a personalized ornament that summarizes their year. They hang their new ornament on the tree, eat from the chocolate fountain until they go into a diabetic coma, and then crash until Christmas morning. Tradition.
This year the presents will be less but the tradition will take place. I was touched and pleased that this tradition actually means something to my kids. They have noticed it. They like it. The holidays would not be the same without it. Spending time together, stuffing our faces, means something to them. That made me happy. For a brief moment, I felt like I was actually doing something right.
Sadly, since that day, I have been handed catalogs full of post it notes and items circled, heard how someone has to have the newest remote control helicopter and been reminded that without new Uggs, Elyse will be the social pariah 2013. When the kids flood me with holiday frenzy, I go to my happy place and take myself back to that dinner a few weeks ago where tradition reigned and toys did not.
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Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 12/12/2012 07:42:00 AM
Of course we do, well did. See, the emergency fund was drained when my car was totaled last summer. The nice folks at the insurance company gave me the amount my car was worth....which was not much...It was a beat up old Honda minivan but it was paid off and got me everywhere I wanted to go. Alas, I ended up with a new car complete with car payment and empty emergency fund.
Shouldn't you have rebuilt your emergency fund by now, 5 months later, you ask? Yes, we should have but we didn't. There was sports to register for, music and dance lessons, an acting masters class that cost a fortune and all those other life things (plus some really awesome boots on sale that I didn't need but had to have).
So there we were with a broken water heater and no cash to buy a new one. What's a mom who really likes hot showers to do? I did what I had to. I spent our Holiday fund. The money I had diligently been setting aside all year to buy the kids holiday presents is now sitting in my basement in the form of a very efficient water heater.
We are 4 weeks from the holidays and I know without a doubt Christmakwanzakah is going to be smaller than usual this year. I decide it behooves Santa, my husband and myself to come clean with the kids and let them know that there may be fewer things under the tree this year. So one evening last week at dinner, I tell the kids that because of the water heater debacle, we are going to have less presents than usual.
Can you guess what the biggest concern was? No one asked about presents or if Santa would still come. The biggest concern was will we still have fondue on Christmas eve? We always have fondue on Christmas eve....always...and a chocolate fountain. It's a tradition.
Typically, it is the 6 of us and my mom and aunt. I make everyone dress up and we spend hours at the table eating a 3 course fondue meal. After dinner (but before the chocolate fountain), each of the kids opens one present, a personalized ornament that summarizes their year. They hang their new ornament on the tree, eat from the chocolate fountain until they go into a diabetic coma, and then crash until Christmas morning. Tradition.
This year the presents will be less but the tradition will take place. I was touched and pleased that this tradition actually means something to my kids. They have noticed it. They like it. The holidays would not be the same without it. Spending time together, stuffing our faces, means something to them. That made me happy. For a brief moment, I felt like I was actually doing something right.
Sadly, since that day, I have been handed catalogs full of post it notes and items circled, heard how someone has to have the newest remote control helicopter and been reminded that without new Uggs, Elyse will be the social pariah 2013. When the kids flood me with holiday frenzy, I go to my happy place and take myself back to that dinner a few weeks ago where tradition reigned and toys did not.
--
Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 12/12/2012 07:42:00 AM
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