Family comes first, especially during holidays

It was brought to my attention this holiday season the importance of family.

As a child, I had a long distance relationship with my extended family. Everyone except for my immediate family lived in Wisconsin and most still do. However, that changed when I was in high school when my father remarried and we were welcomed into another family just as we had always been there. (I will tell you how that came to be another day.)

My parents, brother and I would go to see our relatives about once every three or four years. Because of this, my brother and I had a misconception of what life was like with grandparents and cousins around.

When we visited, we were treated like local celebrities. People would argue over where we would stay from night to night and who got to spend the most time with us or show us their favorite hangout. The whole family would get together for dinners and reunions and do fun things together and as far as my brother and I knew, this was the way it was every day for them. 

I longed for the relationship my cousins had with each other and with our grandparents. They all had nicknames for one another and seemed to know each other almost like siblings. Although we always had fun, we were always kind of the outsiders of the group.

This holiday, I found out what it meant to really have family for the holidays. My husband and I had lived in Georgia for the last six years. Because of this, we have never spent time at “home” for the holidays. We did visit during the winter months a few times, but it just wasn’t the same.

 Now that we are back and this is home, I have finally figured out what it means to have this time with those we love.

I never got to experience Christmas morning as a child with my grandparents. But this year, I was shown what I missed out on.

Our two boys got to learn about Santa Claus and all the wonders of Christmas morning with my parents, and it was the most amazing thing in the world to me.  Hearing my son say “Grandpa and Grandma Ball (this is what the kids call our parents) coming,” and getting so excited when I told him yes. We opened presents and the whole morning just had a magical feel to it.

Then it was off to my aunt and uncle’s house where we had Christmas dinner with, you guessed it, the extended family. It was so enchanting to see the togetherness of the whole family.

I never realized how much we take for granted in our day to day lives when it comes to family, and how truly amazing it is that on one day we can get together and be reminded of how much we really do have in each other. I am thankful this holiday season to have been reminded about all we have, not in material possessions, but in the love of all those I call my family; and the blessing of being able to share it with our sons.

I sincerely hope that I am not the only person who was given this great and wonderful gift that opened my eyes to what is really important: family. 

Former radio personality Carey DeBeaux, who  grew up in Rio Rancho, is now raising two sons with her husband Tim. Her column on family life will appear on a regular basis. Click here to contact her.