With Christmas right around the corner I've been thinking a lot about what I want Mia to get out of it and I don't mean toys. I feel like so much of Christmas is about the presents, but when I think back to Christmas as a child I remember the important things. I remember playing Christmas records and dancing around and singing along with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra while decorating our house. I remember making christmas ornaments out of popcicle sticks and Elmer's glue. I remember going to bed early then sneaking into my brothers room in the wee hours of morning (about the same time I get up now for work) and saying, "Santa came!" The two of us would sneak into the living room as quiet as could be to try to get a peek at what Santa brought, but no matter how quiet we were my dad always heard us and sent us back to bed. I remember calling our whole family on Christmas day wishing them all a Merry Christmas from afar. Then family friends would come over and we would all crowd around the table for a huge meal. After our dinner was cleaned up we would play board games until it was time for bed.

No matter how hard I try I can't tell you what presents I got any of those Christmases. The things that stuck with me are the traditions and the family time. I want Mia to appreciate those kinds of things. She is so lucky to have so much family so nearby. That doesn't mean I'm not going to get her presents, but I don't want that to be the only thing she's excited about. 

Does it make me a bad mom that I don't want to shower my child with every gift she could dream of?