At this time of year, I often hear that “Christmas is about children.”

Not always.

Sure, it has been fun to watch my niece and nephew wildly tear into shiny wrapped packages, but I get just as much pleasure watching my mom open a necklace from my sister and me, or my husband get that weather station he’s wanted all year.

Christmas may be about the kids if you have them, but for those of us who don’t, it is about being with people you love.

My husband and I have plenty of holiday traditions of our own that make the season enjoyable. We always have a Christmas party for our closest friends, where we put out our finest Christmas dishes and make our yummiest recipes to share with our guests. We look forward to opening our home every year, planning the menu, and creating a festive atmosphere.

We love trimming our tree, taking out each ornament and recalling where we were when we bought it, or who gave it to us. Our tree is full of wonderful memories from our past together.

Every year, we hop in the car and drive around town looking at Christmas lights. We know the best neighborhoods to see the finest – and craziest! – displays, and we look forward to seeing them every year.

This year we have started a new family tradition together. Chris has played the piano for over 25 years, so I am treated to many live “concerts” all year long. A few years ago, Chris bought me a violin, which I played long ago in high school. This year I got up the courage to play Christmas carols with him, and we have had a blast making music together. (Can’t say our cats enjoy it much – they hate the violin!)

I have no doubt that some of our friends and co-workers feel sorry for us this time of year, because we don’t have children to “add joy to the holiday season.”

But as I’ve said many times before here at MNK, our lives are complete just the way they are.

We enjoy sitting in our living room with the lights down low, listening to Manheim Steamroller Christmas carols, snuggling on the couch. We don’t worry about snooping children finding gifts from Santa, or staying up too late on Christmas Eve putting bikes together. Our home is an oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of the season.

We have more time to focus on each other, and the real meaning of the season.

To us, that means reconnecting, sharing in the joys of Christmas, and creating traditions of our own.

Anyone who thinks our lives are not complete because we don’t have kids doesn’t really know us that well at all.