The day after Thanksgiving is the day our tree goes up. Actually, we have three. I know it sounds like over kill but it’s really not. Going all out for Christmas decorating is one way I continue the traditions Hailey has enjoyed all her life. When I was married my ex husband really didn’t celebrate Christmas so I went overboard to make up for him.
Now that I’m divorced, it’s a tradititon. Hailey always says it looks like Christmas exploded in our house, but I know she looks forward to it every year. If I tried to cut back on the decorations, music, baking or general holiday craziness, she would miss it. I’ve done my best to keep her holiday traditions constant. Everyone says when you get divorced you should try to maintain the same routines to give your child a sense of security.
I’ve done a really good job of that at Christmas. When we unpack the ornament boxes all the ones that hung on our tree when I was married are still there. All of Hailey’s baby ornaments, her homemade decorations, and the ornaments she’s chosen since the divorce. Our Christmas tree is a symbol of continuity and growth, the old and the new mixed together.
We do everything the same, right down to the pajamas the elves leave for her on Christmas Eve. I may have added some new traditions but I’ve kept all of the things Hailey expected from Christmas when I was married. The biggest difference is the joy. When you don’t have someone in the house who is a Grinch then everyone can enjoy the holiday and celebrate it the way they want. That alone makes our Christmas’s better. And the fact that I’ve been able to maintain Hailey’s traditions has been priceless.
Now I just need to find someone big enough to pick her up to put the angel on the tree this year.