Traditions are hard to change, and even harder to let go of.  The Italian kid in me has often been resistant to altering the way things are done.  It’s tradition, my mind says, and I dig in my heels. It’s easy to equate change with loss.

Up until about 10 years ago, we waited until after midnight to open presents on Christmas Eve (technically the first hours of Christmas Day).  I stubbornly insisted it continue that way, even as the family expanded and circumstances changed.  To allow that adjustment felt as though we were allowing our traditional Italian home to be overtaken by strangers; except we were the strangers.