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New Year’s Eve

By on December 31, 2014

Ours was a different kind of New Year’s Eve. For the first time in 23 years (Talia was only a few months old at the time), we ushered in the New Year without our children. Chloe wasn’t born until Talia was 8 years old and by then, being together as a family for New Year’s celebrations was a ritual. Whether with extended family or friends, there were always young children around – nieces, nephews and friend’s children. Sometimes (when they too young to know any different), we pretended that New Years arrived around 10pm, after which we went our separate ways so that the adults could get their kids to bed before they brought in the New Years quietly as their children slept soundly upstairs. But things have changed. Our older daughter chose to spend the evening with friends downtown and our fifteen year old, who wasn’t in the least bit interested in hanging out with adults (even with friends around) made other plans too.

For those of you with young children, who had to organize a babysitter and wishing that you could stay out longer than your responsibilities allowed, I can hear you thinking “Is this woman crazy? She has the opportunity to hang out with other adults, no children, and she’s complaining?” Truth is that for me, the hype has always been about being together on New Year’s Eve – with or without other family or friends – and counting down to midnight with our children. Even in the company of others, it was nice knowing that they were only an arm’s length away – even, as they got a little older, and were hugging their friends before they got around to us. Something special about being with them as the clock struck midnight and we brought in a fresh new year, alive with goals and hopes and dreams.

Despite my appreciation at not having to rush away from our gathering with friends, I couldn’t help but wipe away a tear as my fifteen year old texted me at midnight sending us her love and I reminisced nostalgically about the end of an era of New Year’s gatherings as we once knew them. So, if you have young children and spent New Year’s Eve with them, enjoy and cherish these times. Because years move forward too quickly and before you know it, you too will be wishing your kids happy new year over the phone rather than as you hold them in a warm embrace.

From my family to yours – wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!

About Sara Dimerman (aka HelpMeSara)

Sara Dimerman has been an individual, couple and family therapist for over twenty years. She is one of North America’s most trusted parenting and relationship experts and the author of three books - 'Am I A Normal Parent?', 'Character Is the Key' and a book for couples – ‘How can I be your Lover when I’m too Busy Being your Mother?’ Learn more or listen to advice from Sara and her colleagues by searching for ‘helpmesara’ podcasts on iTunes or by visiting www.helpmesara.com. Check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/saradimermanhelpmesara or follow Sara on Twitter @helpmesara.