Another Try

Dear Addie,

For most people, holiday traditions just... happen.

Trick-or-treating? Umm, yes please. Costumes, candy, spooktacular decorations, say less.

Fourth of July? Grilling in the blazing heat, popsicles, and fireworks. America understood the assignment.

Christmas? Lights on everything, a very special birthday, Santa Claus and all things Grinch (if you know, you know), presents, cookies, Mariah Carey, honestly, what's not to love?

For many of us, these traditions are just part of life. We don't really question them. But then there's the beautifully literal, matter-of-fact brain that asks... "Wait... What… Why?”

Halloween: "So... we're supposed to walk up to random people's houses, knock on their doors... but not actually go inside? Then they hand us candy, but apparently we can't eat it yet. Also, why are we dressed as dinosaurs, witches, and bananas? Is there some sort of meeting later where all this makes sense?"

Fourth of July: “It's 100 degrees outside, so naturally the solution is to stand around an open flame cooking hamburgers. Then, after dark, we celebrate our freedom by launching loud, colorful explosions into the sky. On purpose!”

Honestly... when you say it out loud, it sounds like a terrible risk assessment.

Christmas: “Every year we bring an outside tree inside. Then we wrap it in tiny glowing lights that we're specifically told not to leave unattended, yet we all take that as a mere suggestion. We place breakable decorations all over it, put presents underneath, and somehow expect the children and pets to simply... respect the system."

Makes perfect sense right?!

And while everyone else is caught up in the fun, someone with a different sensory system may be busy wondering why the music is so loud, why the lights have to blink, why every store suddenly smells like vanilla & cinnamon, and why that scratchy holiday sweater is considered "festive."

There's a lot happening all at once…the sounds, the lights, the crowds, the textures, the smells, the endless parade of "isn't this magical?!”

Holiday traditions are funny when you really think about them. Looking at them through a literal lens just reminds us that what most people accept without question is actually pretty hilarious.

Sometimes the best part of seeing the world differently is getting everyone else to stop and realize... "You know what? Bringing a tree into the house is kind of weird." And honestly, whoever decided we should celebrate by eating cookies for breakfast once a year may have been onto something. I mean seriously, side note: I'm here for that one.

All of this brings us to last weekend, when we settled in to watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

Every year, it's the same. There's a little voice in our heads saying, "Exposure is key,"while another reminds us, "Within reason... have an exit strategy!" We think through every possible scenario, only to realize we've probably forgotten the most important one…that everything might just be okay.

Beach fireworks, headphones, an easy exit... let's do this!

Every year we give it another try, and every year is a little different. Sometimes it's evidence of growth, and sometimes it's simply a reflection of how we're feeling that day. I remember when we'd be alligator wrestling on the sand just to keep you out of the water, and now you sit patiently. I remember when even with headphones on we'd have to leave before the fireworks were over. This year, we were able to slowly slip the headphones off, and we even saw smiles staying right til end!

Will it be the same next year? There's no way to know. But this year, we were so proud and overwhelmed with joy watching you enjoy the moment.

Addie, we can't predict how any event in life will unfold. That's what makes moments like this so special. They remind us that progress isn't always loud or linear. Sometimes it looks like sitting on the beach, watching fireworks light up the sky, sharing smiles, and simply being together. And those are the moments we'll treasure forever.

Love you baby girl!

Mom