It was a gift-less night of Chanukah tonight. Late nights and laundry to
be folded and an inescapable resistance to adding to an already
cluttered space, and before I knew it, we were sitting around the
menorah, singing, without packages in front of us to follow.
I had a "bad Mommy" moment. While Chanukah is never an extravagant
holiday at our house, I am generally pretty good about coming up with at
least a little something each night--this year, even things left in the
morning some days when I'd be working late. But tonight, when I'd been
essentially home all day, my gift-giving had just dried up.
And there we sat, around the menorah, singing. And when the singing was
over, I expected "Why?" and "Aw, man, Mom," and the looks of
disappointment that a parent knows all too well. What I got was a
continuation of life. After a chuckle or two over our quirky way of
lighting the menorah, and a brief playing of a musical gift one of the
kids had received one of the other nights, we all returned to our
evening. The homework got finished, and the laundry got folded, and we
moved on. In the timeless words of Dr. Seuss, "It came without ribbons! It came without tags!" For just a moment in time, Chanukah was about
sitting together, enjoying the candles, and listening a little before
returning to our respective chores and interests.
I guess sometimes Chanukah (thanks again, Dr. Seuss!) "perhaps...means a little bit more."
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