Taking Stock of the Holidays
I've always had a love/hate relationship with this time of year. For many years, the ache of infertility cast a shadow on the festivities. I overcompensated by filling my time with decorating the perfect tree, buying gifts and wrapping them with elaborate bows, and planning a fabulous feast. When the kids came along, I transferred my attention to them, and to making all the memories that I had long wanted to pass down. This year is different. This year, I'm navigating our first Christmas as a divorced family, unencumbered by the expectations of others. I get to call the shots, which means that I've spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about what this holiday means to me, and what I want it to mean to the boys. As a secular humanist, Christmas for me isn't about religious rituals or a deeper spiritual meaning. It's simply about the people I love, and celebrating them in a fun and festive way. It's about tradition, about passing on pieces of my...