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Nothing… On My Christmas List?

ByDiane Henkler Updated:

I was going to post a kitchen makeover update with you today, but yesterday my good friend, Neve posted something on Facebook that resonated with me so much that I wanted to share it here on my blog with you today instead. I will post the kitchen update next week.

If you are a mom, and one with older children, I know you will love what my friend shared, too. It will make you smile, it will make you cry. It will have you saying to yourself.. “Wow, exactly my thoughts, wish I wrote it” and something you will want to share with your kids when they ask you….

…”Mom, what do you want for Christmas?”

the best gifts ever...my kids

I have everything I need…and am not in want for much. My dream came true last year when we moved to live along the shores of a lake. I am quite happy and content. Most of what I want these days is stuff from the home improvement store, but this is what I will tell my daughters this year when they ask me….

What Do You Want For Christmas Mom? 

I want you. I want you to keep coming around, I want you to bring your (future) kids around, I want you to ask me questions, ask my advice, tell me your problems, ask for my opinion, ask for my help. I want you to come over and rant about your problems, rant about life, whatever.

Tell me about your jobs, your worries, your spouses, your kids, your fur babies. I want you to continue sharing your life with me. Come over and laugh with me, or laugh at me, I don’t care. Hearing you laugh is music to me.

I spent the better part of my life raising you the best way I knew how, and I’m not bragging, but we did a pretty darn good job. Now, give me time to sit back and admire my work, I’m pretty proud of it.

Raid my refrigerator, help yourself, I really don’t mind. In fact, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I want you to spend your money making a better life for you and your families, I have the things I need. I want to see you happy and healthy.

When you ask me what I want for Christmas, I say “nothing” because you’ve already been giving me my gift all year. I want you.

Proud mom

I don’t know who the author is of the above words, but if you know, I would love to credit them for writing exactly my thoughts so beautifully.

What are you asking for this year for Christmas? Is nothing the best from your children, too?  :-)

My favorite post:  The Best Two DIY Projects I Ever Made

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31 Comments

  1. glenn larson says:

    where can i buy a wooden sign for Christmas with your words printed on?
    that is the best saying and response to that yearly question

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Glenn – I am not sure where you could get a wooden sign with the saying on it. You could make one, but that is a long saying. :-) I would put these words “create a wooden sign online” into a Google search and see what comes up. One company I saw was called Plaque Maker.

      Reply
  2. Christine Gowing says:

    Yup! Tears streaming down, I can hardly type!
    Where’s the Kleenex?

    Reply
  3. Patricia Wilson says:

    Like you, Diane, all I want for Christmas is my children and grandchildren, our own furry babies and theirs. Nothin’ better at Christmas or at any time of the year.

    Reply
  4. Mary ann howat says:

    Your article was so well said. I am trying to downsize my stuff as too much of it is cluttering up our space. We love our family’s visits more than things.

    I love to read your blog. You are such a people person. Envy your energy.

    Reply

  5. Thanks for posting this. I plan to write it out for our 3 kids, tweaking it a little here and there. As I copied it from the post, I was thinking about how blessed I am to have my 89 year old Mom and brother coming for Christmas. May just have to tweak it a little further for them, too.
    I guess I really wouldn’t mind a pair of microwave booties, too. :o)

    I love the pictures of you and your daughters!

    Abundant blessings to you and your family during this Christmas season and throughout the New Year!
    Merry Christmas, Karen from Oregon

    Reply
  6. Neve Hennessey says:

    Diane ~ thanks for the shout out today! Was it not the words written on each of our hearts? I couldn’t believe it when I read it and couldn’t wait to share it with all Mom warriors out in FB land. Something else I read today that resonated with me on the back of that sweet post was “mommin’ ain’t easy”… these too are true though horrible grammar… the nuns of the nuns would hate the grammar, but the sentiment ~ so true. Time the only thing that matters, along with their noise, their chatter, their love …. it is great beyond measure to be a Mom, but so so hard too, especially as they sprout their wings and start to make pans to fly the coup. Isn’t it amazing how those words written so perfectly resonated with so many… words have power! Thank you my dear friend for the shout out… and I hope we learn the identity of the scholar of the moms heart that penned these mighty words, so we can all give him/her the gratitude dually deserved. Have a wonderful lakeside Christmas with Eddie & the girls ~ lots of love sent to from here to there xoxo
    Neve

    Reply

    1. Being a mother-best job I ever had!

      Christmas hugs to all, Karen from Oregon

      Reply

  7. Hi Diane!! These are my sentiments exactly!!! All I want is time with my girls and their families! Like your daughters, mine want to buy me gifts too! Love them!!
    I love the fleece wrap!!! My sister and I have had them for 2 years and it is a dream! I wear it all the time!
    Thank you for this post!! I am going to forward it to them!
    Blessings and Peace!
    Nancy

    Reply

  8. Oh Diane, I knew I followed you for a reason, and today’s post just proved it again. I love that my girls are between 15 minutes away to 1 hour away. I can see them pretty regularly. But I still have been “Making memories” for Christmas with my family instead of lots of big presents (we still have some small, funny things to open on Christmas). From Ziplining to mudbaths to Front room seats for the New Year’s Fireworks!) the memories are so much more fun than stuff!

    Reply
  9. Gail Vernali says:

    Diane, this had me reading thru tears, and yes I wish I had written it. It so beautifully puts into words just what I have asked for Christmas every year!
    Happy Holidays .

    Reply

  10. Love this so much! Thank you very much, for all you do and for your inspiration!

    We’re the same age, and with most blogs I feel somewhat disconnected. I’ve learned so much from you, nodded in agreement from this side of the screen many times, and enjoy the ‘friendship’ that our experience affords us. Hoping you’re able to spend the holidays with your girls, and create lots of wonderful memories!

    Reply
  11. TerriC/HoustonLady says:

    Hi Diane,

    Awww I love this..Thanks for sharing : )

    Have a great day!

    Reply

  12. Diane, thanks for posting all of this. I love the poncho and just ordered it in black and sent the link to my daughter because she asked me what I want for Christmas (hopefully she can get the gray). I also love the letter to our children and plan to send it to them through email. Have a wonderful holiday season and keep writing your blog – it is the best.

    Reply

  13. A lovely post on this sunny Thursday morning. I so totally agree. Thanks for sharing. XO Susie from The Chelsea Project

    Reply

  14. Thank you for sharing your friend’s beautiful words.

    Reply
  15. Christy Jordan Keyton says:

    I could just hand this list to my kids- including the first part- because this is a perfect post!! Except I already have those white scissors and I love them! ?

    Reply
  16. Sabrina Free says:

    Exactly. Here’s a little tale from my family:
    My girls both live far away from me, one 11 hours, one 24 hours (give or take, depending upon breaks). We are not big on any holidays anymore, but this November we were feeling the strong need to be together. They were here for Thanksgiving.
    I have never done anything musical in my life, but am all of a sudden taking ukulele lessons. One day I sent them a video of me singing and playing the ukulele (no, you do not want to see it) and they both broke down crying. They want a video every morning at 7 am. Problem is, a soprano ukulele is just not a good fit for me, I needed a different one than the one supplied by my friend who is teaching me.
    The girls went to the grocery store, under the guise of “You didn’t get half the stuff we want to eat” and showed back up with a tenor ukulele for me – bought in the grocery store parking lot from a guy on Craigslist.
    I’m working hard on a big surprise for them at 7 am. Christmas morning.

    Reply

  17. Diane,

    This is so sweet and so true. I want nothing but you to come over and tell me about your life. Oh my, I’m all choked up. Merry Christmas and have a bless New Year.

    Reply

  18. Perfect words…love it and so true!!!

    Reply

  19. Very emotive words. Thanks for sharing Diane.
    From Barcelona (Spain)
    My best wishes for all of you

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Yolanda all the way from Spain.:-) The internet is truly amazing that it connects us all with a few keystrokes. One day I hope to get to Spain, my sister took a trip to Europe a few years ago and said that traveling through Spain was the best part of the trip. Happy holidays.

      Reply

  20. I’ve enjoyed your blog for many years, and have learned to be slightly creative (not my natural style). This post is amazing, on a different level. Yes, smiles and tears, such wisdom to share. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Thanks Linda – I have been blogging for so long now that when I see something that moves me, no matter what it is, I want to share it with my readers. This was just perfect and so timely. It makes me happy to hear that you enjoyed it, too. Happy Holidays. Thanks for reading.

      Reply

  21. Just copied, pasted and sent to my 3 children. Very well said. Thank you for expressing my feelings.
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Teri – Isn”t it written so well, covers everything us moms are thinking? When I read it yesterday, it made me stop in my tracks and say…wow! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and happy 2017.

      Reply

  22. Couldn’t have said it better myself! My mom used to say…buy me a memory. In other words…spend time with her, take her to run errands…even the mundane things can be made special. What do I want for Christmas…a day with my family and some good food! ;)

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Donnamae – Love that…Buy me a memory. That is the best! I am going to start saying that to my girls. Thanks for sharing Donnamae XO

      Reply

  23. Thank you so much for sharing this. As a mother of two “almost grown” twenty something’s, that have moved out of state I can really appreciate this.
    Merry Christmas. Enjoy your children!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Lorraine – It is hard when our kids move out of state. Mine are both 6 hours away. Enjoy your two. XO Merry Christmas.

      Reply

  24. My sentiments exactly, Diane. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply