For the last week, every one I run into asks “what are you doing for Christmas?” I think it’s expected that you travel during the holidays either to visit family or if you are cool and have money, you are headed to a warm weather destination.
There was a time when my daughter was young that we would travel during both Thanksgiving and Christmas break. Good lord, I look back on those days of traveling as a single mom with an infant or toddler just to visit family, what a organizational traveling nightmare. Imagine being alone to deal with a baby, stroller, car seat along with luggage getting to the airport and then have to deal with check in, long security lines and then the flight. Talk about mentally and physically draining by the time And then when my daughter hit the toddler years were the worst because she refuse to sit in her stroller and would have temper tantrums at the airport and take off running in the terminal. That’s always fun running after a three year old leaving your check in bag and stroller behind. Fun Times!!
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to visit family during the holiday because living in New York City in those early years was not that easiest raising my daughter on my own. And of course I wanted to see my family and wanted them to see my daughter.
But in recent years, I have taken to NOT traveling during the Holidays. I am not sure why because obviously my daughter is old enough to carry her own bag and I don’t have to deal with all the stuff that goes with a younger child.
I think there is couple of reasons for the change. I don’t want to travel because it’s a pain to travel during the holidays and I choose to visit family during other parts of the year. Plus the cost has gotten substantially higher to travel during the holidays.
But I think the main reason why I am not jumping through hoops to travel during the holidays is that I have my “New York Family” to celebrate the holidays with and makes the season all the more special.
My New York family celebrates both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together. Everyone has kids so my daughter can hang with kids her own age and I get to hang with close friends that I have met and cultivated over the years.
I don’t think life in New York City would be as livable without them. I think those who move to New York City, ended up staying for years have established those close friends that makes life so enjoyable and makes a difference in one’s lives.
So here’s to my readers on spending Christmas with your immediate family, close friends or your own “family.” I will raise a glass of wine with my family and salute you tonight.
