By Mary Kay Scharf
Spending time with family over the Thanksgiving weekend reminded me of many memories of the holidays through the years.
My youngest daughter asked why I loved Christmas so much, causing me to think about the answer I had never contemplated. I truly believe it was because my mother loved it so much. She loved to decorate and even put jingle bells on the flusher. I also believe the holidays provided opportunity to see grandparents who lived in another state, which created yet another list of memories.
I wonder how many families share some of the same traditions when getting together. Memories like playing penny ante poker…or nickels and dimes when the table was for adults only.
Whose mother only baked at Christmas time making inedible sugar cookies? Thank goodness the once-a-year almond crescents were always perfect.
Did your family leave cookies and milk for Santa…way past the time when everyone in the house new Santa preferred something to keep him warm…like…hot chocolate of course.
When our children were in college, we learned about a fun tradition from our neighbors involving scavenger hunts. The first year was so much fun as we hid gift cards all over the house for each of the three kids. To find the gifts, they had to follow rhyming clues found with each card leading to the next. The clues all had to do with life events or funny memories. For example, “this is the place your head was split when cousin Carrie was mad as spit!” Or, PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.
Another year, the cards were given away to the kids in the form of a game show like Jeopardy. “Family Crisis for $10, mom.” Other categories included: family pets, vacation spots, broken dishes, among others. The games were all in fun and in the end the kids swapped their earnings like trading cards.
How many families dread the purchase of gifts for the big family get togethers? Drawing names was even worse than buying for everyone. A few years ago we changed up the “rules” and the gift exchange was never more fun. We each bring a gift costing no more than $10 (not including tax) and cheating is NOT tolerated. The gifts are placed on the coffee table and counted. We each draw a number for the order of selection and the fun begins. When it is your turn, you may choose one of the wrapped gifts and open in front of everyone, OR, you can “steal” a gift from someone who has already opened one if you prefer.
I wonder if we are the only family who did NOT and still does not shop on Black Thursday. None us of like to shop and have no understanding why people choose to fight the crowds just to get deals that are even better the closer you get to Christmas! Or better yet, as adults, we now have our extended family Christmas in the days after Christmas when the bargains are so good I sometimes feel bad for the merchants!
Another memory is one I created for my own family and involves marathon table game sessions during the holidays. When the kids got into high school, I was like the proverbial kid whose parents had to tie a pork chop on my neck to get the kids to play with me. I stooped pretty low with bribes over the years just to get them to play a little bit. Thank goodness they have grown enough to humor me –although I believe they have secretly come to treasure these times as well.
Sometimes the best memories and traditions are incidental and sometimes accidental, but I think those created intentionally also bring joy over the years. As you contemplate those from your childhood and from more recent times, I hope the reflection leaves a smile on your face. I also hope this forum encourages you to consider new traditions you might start this year and enjoy for years to come.
Mary Kay Scharf is the Director of Principal Leadership in the Bloomington Public Schools. A Clinton native, she was a teacher for 7 years and has been a principal and school administrator for the past 26 years. She is a volunteer for multiple community organizations, most passionately for the Not In Our Town initiative. The proud mother of 3 and grandmother of one, Mary Kay lives in Normal with her husband, Jamie.
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