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Holiday on the Road: Honoring My Mom with New Traditions and Pink Cake


Grief has a way of shifting the ground beneath your feet. When someone as central and irreplaceable as my mom passes, the days feel heavier, and the future feels uncertain. Since she passed on October 16, I’ve been learning to live in a world that feels quieter and less bright without her. With the holidays looming—Thanksgiving and Christmas, two of my mom’s favorite times—it’s hard not to feel the ache of her absence even more profoundly. These moments, once filled with her laughter, warmth, and traditions, now feel like daunting reminders of what’s changed.

Nevertheless, as I reflect on how to move forward, I keep coming back to lessons she taught me—lessons not just in words but in the way she lived. One of those lessons was shared through her love of simple, meaningful things. She taught me to look beyond the surface, to savor the authenticity and imperfections of life, relationships, and experiences. As I face the holidays without her, I realize that her wisdom holds the key to navigating this season.

The Challenge of the Holidays

Thanksgiving and Christmas were times when my mom’s presence was larger than life. This year, it’s tempting to avoid the festivities altogether. However, while neither my dad nor I are at all ready to celebrate anything, I know she wouldn’t want that. My mom believed in embracing life fully, even when it was imperfect or difficult.

The holidays will be different, yes, but they don’t have to be devoid of meaning or joy. The challenge is learning to honor her memory while allowing myself to still experience happiness. Guilt can creep in, whispering that enjoying the holidays without her feels wrong. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that she would want me to find bright spots, even in her absence.

Embracing the New Normal

Instead of recreating the holidays as they were, I’m learning to create a new normal. This means finding small, meaningful ways to keep her spirit alive while making space for my own healing.

This year, to celebrate Thanksgiving, I plan to take my dad on a day trip. It’s a way to spend time together, step away from familiar routines, and honor my mom’s sense of adventure. While it won’t look like the Thanksgivings we used to share, it will still be meaningful.

Letting Go of Guilt

One of the hardest parts of grief is learning to let go of guilt. It’s okay to feel joy during the holidays, even when I’m missing her. My mom wouldn’t want me to dim my light because of her absence; she’d want me to shine even brighter, carrying her love and lessons with me.

This holiday season won’t look or feel like the ones we shared together. But its value lies in its authenticity. It may be bittersweet, but it will be real, and that’s what she would have wanted.

Moving Forward

Adjusting to this new normal won’t be easy, and I know the holidays will bring tears as well as smiles. But in every moment, I’ll carry her spirit with me. My mom taught me to live fully, to embrace imperfection, and to find joy in unexpected places. This year, I’ll do my best to live out those lessons, honoring her memory and making space for my own healing.

As the holidays approach, I invite you to join me in finding bright spots in your day, however small they may be. Whether it’s a shared laugh, a cherished memory, or a moment of stillness, let’s allow ourselves to experience the sweetness of life—even when it’s not the same. Because in the end, that’s what my mom, any mom, would have wanted.


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