‘Twas the night before Christmas

When all thru the abode

Only one creature was stirring

And she was in cleaning mode.

The stressful season of finals has finally passed and the long awaited time of Christmas break is here. Students have fantasized of stockings hung with care, and the dreams of sugarplums dancing in their heads are becoming a reality. Finally, we get to come home, spend time with our families, eat good food and put our feet up. What students sometimes fail to recognize is who is making all of the Christmas cheer and good will among men possible. While we are taking a long winter's nap, our mothers are slaving away endlessly trying to deck the halls so that we can celebrate the Christmas cheer.

When you return home after your long drive, the second you walk through the door, you immediately smell food cooking. Of course, you come home for more than the food, but no starving college student is going to say no to a home cooked meal. Once you get past the overwhelming sense of food, you look around long enough to realize that the house has exploded with decorations from Christmas past. Everything is put up, but you see a few bare spots where she is waiting for you to arrive to complete special traditions as a family. The stockings are indeed hung with care, and you see a plethora of presents under the tree that you insisted you didn’t need. Everything is perfect and even if there is not any snow, saying that the house is a winter wonderland would be an understatement.

While you and the rest of your family are lounging on the couch, out of the corner of your eye, you notice your mother scrambling around the house trying to make everything perfect for when the company arrives. She is busier than Santa’s elves and a lot more graceful, too. A little while later you realize that you have forgotten to get your dad a present. To this news, she laughs and hands you a card to sign. Once again, your mother is one step ahead of you, and you can add another thing to the unending list of debts you owe her. You don’t think she could possibly be magic, but the twinkle in her eye tells you otherwise.

On Christmas day, the house is spotless, even after the gift-opening extravaganza that burst all over your living room that morning. When people finally start to arrive, she is the perfect hostess and when she leaves the room, so does the conversation. Although she works for days on end, the smile on her face when everyone she loves is in one room is something that you will never forget. Sometimes she may feel like her work is in vain or that she is unappreciated, but you hope that the extra smile you flash her way on Christmas morning expresses more than words ever could.