‘Twas The Night Before Christmas And The Children Were Grown

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the home
Not a creature was stirring, because the children were now grown
Gone were the days of stockings hung with care,
Or fighting over who got to sit in the pink chair

Because kids as we know, all grow up and move on,

And create all new memories and traditions of their own

And I sat in my jammies all alone in my bed

As visions of my kids long ago danced through my head

I longed for the sound of the noise and the clatter,
Even though knowing that silence meant something was the matter.

And I sat there I did and longed for one more Christmas night,

That the house was filled with laughter and also the fights.

The silence of my house was a deafening one

Knowing that the chaos of Christmas had begun

My timeline quickly filled with family portraits and trees

And the kids opening presents and squealing with glee

And I looked at the Santa pics hung by magnets on the fridge door

And the row of Christmas mugs knowing there wouldn’t be more

Gone were the days of the tree and the presents

And my one and only wish was for their screams and their presence

The ornaments and decorations still in boxes on the floor

As I sifted through the memories wishing for one more

When suddenly before my wondering eyes should appear

But a group text message from my kids far and from near

And suddenly from all over the country it came

As my kids shouted and called each other names

Now Heffer, now Boo Boo, on Odie,Thumper and Fred

Was there really once a time that this was the sound that I dread?

And even though they were all far out of sight

I quickly asked, “Do I need to be here for this fight?”

As they picked on each other, and remembered the past

I cherished each moment in the hopes it would last

And as they went on, my eyes I did close tight

And remembered those most cherished mornings and nights

Of the sound of laughter and bickering and cheers

Of a Christmases long ago that I will always hold dear

So tonight while you wrap and run out of tape

And can’t find the scissors or the ingredients to make..

Take the time to step back and store each memory tight

Of the noise and the chaos and the sleepless nights

Of children unwrapping and cheering and more

And of the love of family because that’s what Christmas is for

And as the years go on and you find yourself all alone

Your kids and their memories are in your heart-and on the phone

And I heard them exclaim, as they hung up out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”