A New Christmas Tradition

Pertaining to my post about how I was dreading Christmas, I know it’s not all about me.  Connor has a brother, stepbrother and stepsister who cared deeply for him.  I can only imagine how difficult it was for them to not have him here with us too. 

Connor happily opening his much-anticipated socks during his last Christmas.

Connor was notorious for always wanting to open a gift on Christmas Eve. I didn’t matter how old he was, he’d always beg to open a gift and seemed happy even if it was the socks or underwear I’d wrapped in anticipation of the request.   

It is important for me to keep him alive and part of our lives so I decided that each year Connor would give his siblings a gift.  It would be something that he liked, loved or would’ve wanted.   They each got a box that was identically wrapped with a “From Connor” gift tag.  Inside were stylish new tennis shoes (or “kicks” as Connor would’ve called them).   It’s sometimes hard to tell how teenagers are feeling, but they all seemed to genuinely like the shoes and the fact that it came from their brother.

I plan to keep this tradition going and, one day, when we have grandchildren, give gifts from their Uncle Connor that are things he liked when he was their age.  

It wasn’t easy wrapping those gifts or writing the gift tags, but I believe Connor would’ve been happy with the decision to start a new tradition in his honor. ∞

Do you have a tradition you implemented after your child passed?