with Natalie caine

December 12, 2006 | by Admin2 | No Comments

by Natalie | submitted on December 12, 2006

Yes, my mom said, “What is a Christmas tree doing in my grand daughter’s house? I didn’t raise you this way.”

My daughter is a senior in college, age 21 and she has a strong foundation to step from as far as choosing her beliefs. She loves lighting the candles in the menorah, but the latkes have too many calories. What can I say, she watches her figure. Isn’t that a silly phrase.watches her figure. There mom, that phrase comes from you. Actually mom you did teach me well to eat in moderation. Thank you.

Rachael takes a yummy small bite of a latke, spins the dreidel, and brings a tear to our eyes when she sings the blessing after lighting the candles. When she chants a Hebrew blessing, I remember her Bat Mitzvah and so does she.

A box decorated with blue paper, dreidels and stars holds gifts for each night. The songs could use an update, but we still sing, “Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel I Made it Out of Clay.

Stockings are hung, presents sparkling in Christmas wrap, a story read by me on Christmas Eve( always a kids book no matter how old we are because they are short, and well illustrated,) with the excitement of opening one gift, while munching our traditional chocolate, caramel covered apple and singing I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas with Diana Krall and Sarah Mclaughlin, just make a tradition live on with no regrets.

One is Jewish the other is not. I have always explained to Rachael that we celebrate all the holidays because they have history for each of us, they are fun, so why not, and bottom line, they bring us to the living room with excitement, beauty, and laughter. We dye Easter eggs, crack matzo at Passover, go to Temple on the High Holidays, and sing Christmas Carols at a community holiday event.

Key is to remember we, as parents are showing our traditions, telling our stories, and giving our children the message, “You get to choose what is true for you and what you want to pass to your family when the time comes.” Of course, I hope she stays connected to some rituals of Judaism, as I was raised, and that she has wonderful memories of singing, twinkling lights, and hearing a story mom chose to read in the living room on Christmas Eve. I don’t think they will remember the presents as time passes by.

May your holidays bring you closer with laughter, stories, and the people you love, as well as those who once sat with you opening a gift saying, “This is just what I wanted. Thanks.”