Lifestyle Christmas Memories of My Mother 12/18/2024 | By Terri L. Jones The holidays highlight family and friends, people and ideas that we hold close to our hearts. For Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones, the season sparks memories of family, especially her mother. I have so many memories of my mother, who passed away in 2022, but at this time of year, my mind always goes to memories of Christmases past. I remember the piles of gifts that I now know Mom couldn’t afford, the fragrant pine trees shedding their needles and strewn with clumps of tinsel that she had tossed on, and the terrifying warnings to me and my sister that “those who do not believe do not receive!” On Christmas morning, Mom always commanded us to stay at the head of their stairs until she had her camera ready. She wanted to record our reactions to all the “Santa gifts” under the tree (and literally filling the living room). Strangely, I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of those photos, but Mom obviously felt it important to capture our awe-struck expressions for posterity. After the living room was strewn with our discarded wrapping paper, toys, clothing and tangerines, she sent us upstairs to get dressed so we could make the long drive to Maryland and do it all over again at our father’s house. The stockings were stuffed with pickles Until the last year she was with us, Mom continued stuffing stockings for us and her stocking stuffers were always “creative,” items like ketchup or pickles and always Q-tips! In fact, I am just finishing my stockpile of Mom-gifted Q-tips two years after she gave me the last package (it’ll be hard to buy them from now on without thinking of her)! As I got older and was living on my own, Mom enjoyed buying us things she felt we needed, even when we’d specifically told her we didn’t want them! For example, there was the bag phone (and one year of service), which I threw a fit about because I wanted a 35mm camera. Then she insisted that we needed a microwave, DVD player, AAA membership and so much more. Of course, most of the time she was right, and her gifts ended up being things we absolutely couldn’t live without! All to myself In 2020, less than two years before she passed away, my brother-in-law was exposed to COVID at work and my sister insisted that her family not expose Mom, who had COPD. Mom came to our house instead of my sister’s that year, and my sister and niece brought my niece’s new baby over to visit with Mom, yelling and smiling through a closed window. It was a poignant way for them to spend their first (and next to last) Christmas together. But after the three of them left, I had Mom all to myself. We exchanged gifts. We chatted as I made baked spaghetti for her and my husband. We cuddled up and watched a movie together. Selfishly, I remember that Christmas as my all-time favorite Christmas because I didn’t have to share her attention with anyone. I’ll honestly treasure that day forever. Final yuletide Our last Christmas, in 2021, my husband and I had moved to a new state, and we visited Mom and her partner, Martha, a few days after Christmas. Sadly, I don’t remember any specifics about that visit, only that Mom greeted us with her usual delicious snacks after our drive and later she modeled the elf hat I had crocheted for my husband. And I only remember that because I snapped a picture of it. Finally, it was clear why Mom took all those snapshots of us years ago. You never know when a holiday, an event or just a visit will be your last! More holiday memories of family: How to Make Even a Virtual Holiday Visit Memorable My Mother’s Christmas Decorations More memories of family from Terri L. Jones: How She Made Her Second Chance Count Read More Terri L. Jones Terri L. Jones has been writing educational and informative topics for the senior industry for over 10 years, and is a frequent and longtime contributor to Seniors Guide.