HOLIDAY TRADITIONS!!!

Namastè!

It's December, y'all!

We are gearing up to do our holiday thing.

Family Namastè enjoys a year of holidays but this year should be pretty special, as we are all together and will be celebrating in our home. We are going to bake sweets, share treats, and enjoy all kinds of festivities leading up to the New Year.

December is a big deal for us.

We do a random good deed each day of the month--anonymously. It can be free or it can cost a little money. It does not matter who it is for, or when it's done over the course of a day. It just must be finished before bedtime, and it must not be spoken of, to anyone. The point is to teach Kids Namastè that the joy of the season is in giving.

But we don't expect the kids to shoulder too much , as they are all still young. We take them out and get their top 3 presents, 3 things they each really really want. These are the gifts they have been wanting for a long time, or gifts that they recently discovered that would make the holiday exciting and memorable. When they select their big 3, they each choose a gift for someone else. (There's a $20 limit here, as they are only children.) They can't give gift cards--they have to take that money and put together something fun, thoughtful, and suitable for each recipient.

We enjoy visiting the local nursing home to share candy canes and hugs. This teaches them that the entire community is one family, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, or any of the things people use to divide themselves. The joy on the residents' faces is priceless. As Kids Namastè don't have grandparents in the United States, this gives them a sense of inclusion. The man singing "Jingle Bells" with them may not be a biological grandpa, but the love and happiness they share during those sweet moments completely supercedes blood or DNA.

Our holiday meals are always amazing. We make Indian, Jamaican, and Sri Lankan food, enough to feed a small army. We share the food with our friends and family, and friends who have become family. While Dad Namastè and I whip up magic in the kitchen, we enjoy hearing the excitement of our Littles. Those kids of ours can eat!

Because we know what it feels like to have nothing, we make sure we enjoy--and share!--what we've got. You see, at one time we were not as well off as we are today. We didn't have a holiday at all that sad year, because we lost people AND things we held near and dear. The things didn't matter, but those people were the very ones we depended on for wisdom and spiritual support. That was a hard loss. We had a gray season, and it was the saddest, most difficult time period we've ever made it through as a family.

That's why we like to focus a lot on giving. We aren't rich but 2016 has been immeasurably good for us. We want to make sure Kids Namastè understand that giving is natural, like breathing. Being selfish or materialistic, or prideful about what they have, is neither natural nor allowed.

Today we began shopping. I like to wrap our gifts immediately of course, and under the tree they go. I usually have a theme--blue and silver is my favorite. But this year I will be letting Family Namastè be as colorful and festive as they want. I'll be sure to share a few photos as they finish selecting ornaments. One thing about starting over is, we get to make a set of traditions that's all us, versus cobbling together mom's stuff and dad's stuff to make a hilarious holiday mishmash.

I am always a bit reserved about holidays in general but this year it all seems brighter. I'm letting go of my anxiety bit by bit and just existing in the moment. I don't have yesterday or last year anymore. Tomorrow and next year are not promised. But I have today--and today has been so joyful.

Next blog, I'll share my little wishlist. *wink* What's on yours?

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡