Make Your Own Traditions - Dear Kid

Dear Daniel

During this holiday time it seems like everyone assumes you celebrate the custom of Christmas and all the comes with it, that Santa dude, the presents and the belief system. At school they tell you Christmas stories and teach you Christmas songs. On television they expect you to watch the Christmas movies and make a tradition out of it.

But what happens when you come home to me? Do I pressure you with Christmas? No. Because I do not celebrate Christmas. Never really have. See where I come from our holiday traditions are different. It's not about this mystery man who judges you for being "naughty or nice'. No I was raised with a different view of Christmas. But then I was born in another country and raised with another culture.

But what about you? You were born here. Is Christmas to be your culture?

Many people say your missing out or that I'm neglecting you in some why by not celebrating Christmas with you. I don't agree but still I've struggled with the question for the last 2 years. In the end I've decided...it's not up to me to decide.

This is your life and you have the choice to define what you want to do, be and celebrate. From what I know about you I don't think your a fan of Christmas or of Santa but who knows if that will change. As you grow you'll have more peer pressure to confirm to what others think this time of year should be and how you should act.

As your mother, I hope to counter that pressure with alternative in case you want them. I hope to share your different cultures with you so you know there's other traditions you can celebrate. Just between you and me Koreans don't really celebrate Christmas either.

Love you always,
Your Umma

Never Stop Learning - Dear Kid

Dear Daniel

I'm always amazed at how fast you can learn something. One day you don't know your ABC's and then the next day you do. One day you don't know how to say you name, then the next day you know how to say, spell AND write your name. You are always constantly learning and it's a wonderful thing.


This morning as you sat writing your letters, which seems to be your latest obsession, I watched as the letter changed from unclear scribble to clear defined shapes.

Yes the letters took up most of the space on the paper. Yes you wrote on all sorts of angles instead of straight across but what you wrote is clear.

I can see the A, I can see the M, I can see you figuring out how to make the lines match the shape you know the letters should be.

You want to know something? You've always been this way. Always trying to learn, always trying to do, always trying to connect what you "think" with what you "can do".

From the moment your little mind finds something of interest, it's drives you to achieve some inner goal. I sometimes wonder if that's something I passed on to you. I've been known to have tunnel vision when I want to accomplish something.

Anyway, whether this need to learn is something I passed to you or something that's just all you, I hope you remain this way...always striving to learn and achieve.

Love you always,
Your Umma

Fall leaves - Wordless Wednesday

My son plays with the fall leaves before the winter snow comes.

I love these simple moments of wonder and joy.

After breakfast gaming

After a cup of oatmeal, 2 pancakes and juice, my son kicks back in bed for some gaming.

Ah what a life