Jannie, I don't think that memories are ever more poignant than at this time of year. I so miss my mom and grandma, both of their birthdays are in the last part of the year as well, so I start heading into a funk in October each year. My mom and dad divorced when I was young, 12 or so but most of my childhood it was just mom and I. She worked so hard all my childhood that I spent a lot of time with my grandma, she taught me to cook and the love of cooking. When mom married my stepfather I went from an only child to having 6 siblings, I was a junior in high school.

I miss mom every day of my life, she died July 29 2009, very unexpectedly. It seems like years since I have heard her voice yet the pain feels like I just lost her yesterday.

My dear father is here with us to celebrate Christmas, and we are really missing Mom. She left us on January 29, 2009. I am so thankful that I still have my father--he will be 90 in May.

One night a friend of mine said to me 'Is there something wrong with me. My mother has been gone for years and I still think of her every day. So I will say to you all what I said to her......Count your blessings that you had such a wonderful relationship with your mom that the memories last forever. No it's not wrong or weird that you think of her every day, it's beautiful. Some of us, for whatever reason were not that lucky. Merry Christmas and relish the memories with great joy, not sadness.

Wow, Lynn, you and I have a childhood a little similar.

Mom and Dad divorced when I was 21 Months old, and my brother was 3 months old. We lived in Calgary, Alberta, and she moved back to Ontario.

We moved in with her parents, and Mom worked in factories to raise us. Our grandparents looked after us while Mom worked.

Mom and I were extremely close and my brother and I were also close to our grandparents. Nan just doted on DB :).

Mom died this past August, got sick suddenly and spent the better part of 2011 in the hospital. Nov 2010 to August 2011.

I still cry every day for her. Lynn and Jannie, Luckygardnr, Paula_PA, and others....God Bless you in your memories and possible sorrow today. Keep our chin up; she is looking down on us, I just know it, and smiling!!!

Hugs, Jasdip

I got teary at church last night listening and singing to my mother's favorite carols . We weren't that close ,but Xmas brings back all the GOOD memories.

I have a nativity set that my dad bought my mom in 1984. I also have a handful of Christmas balls that were on our tree at home. The first ornament to be put on my tree and the last to come off every year is a Hallmark Christmas ball my Dad bought for me himself in 1980, my last Christmas at home before getting married the following Spring. It says Christmas Love.

We had a wonderful childhood, with fantastic parents. My Dad died July 31, 1986, it was a Thursday, I found out the next day I was pregnant with my daughter.

My Mom died in my arms August 18,1998, 3 days after my birthday.

So, 25 years and 13 years later I still miss them so much it makes me cry. I can control it, but sometimes, like at Christmas, it sneaks up on me. I talk about them everyday, I think about them and miss them everyday.

Merry Christmas everyone, to those who are with us and those who are not.

My mother passed away last summer. She'd been sick for quite a while, so I'd been praying that she'd go quickly - I hated to see her suffer. So when she died, it was a relief. I did okay with her passing, but now that it's Christmas, I'm realizing how I miss her...maybe I also miss having the security of the family home - the house is sold, so I no longer have the house or my parents as a fall back...ah, well - this holiday season will soon be over. The first is always the most difficult, they say.

My mom died in Feb 2008 when she was only 47 and I was 25. I still miss her every day and find myself thinking "Oh I need to ask mom such and such" and then I remember I never can do that again.

The saddest times for me are little things, like watching the "Say Yes to the Dress" a few months ago where it was saying one of the most important mother-daughter moments is when the daughter is picking out the wedding dress and I realized I'm going to have to go alone. She won't see me get married or her future grandkids. It makes me sad.

I had a family dinner last night that I enjoyed so I'm planning on sleeping most of today away.

I'm so fortunate to still have my Mom, and we spent today together at my house; surely a wonderful gift. But I miss my dad, my best friend. He's been gone for 7 years and it seems like yesterday. Mom and I had a nice few moments of rememering today.

I'm missing my mother too. She was the best cook and never used a recipe. She made all of our clothes on a tredle sewing maching because an electric went too fast. If she ever sat down she was snapping beans, shelling peas, picking out pecans, sewing by hand.

I asked her how to make white gravy and she said it depends on how big your bowl is.

My Mother has Alzheimer's and has no memories of our past.

I'm sorry for all of the losses, mom, dads, children and spouses. The feelings are magnified at holiday time.

Gladys, it seems the first year is passed that way, at least mine was.

Jasdip, I hope your day was passed peacefully.

Chi83, the little things that sneak up on me are the bad ones. Seeing something at a store and thinking Mom will like that....and then correcting that to a past tense can bring a wave of sorrow. But know that your mom will share in all your special days, she made you the woman that you are.

Kim, that is such a hateful disease, it takes the person twice. One of my friends is going thru it with her mom, she said that nothing can hurt as much as when her mom didn't recognize her. I am so sorry about the road you are on and hope you know that we are here to help you along the way.

Oh, I'm so comforted by all the kind words and thoughts here. My husband knew I had a close relationship with my Mom and he encouraged me to phone her daily. I was very conscious of the passing of time. She was very bright and with-it to the end. She was my best friend and confidant. I knew I was lucky to have her for so long-she was 87 when she passed. I have wonderful memories. We had many wonderful times together. The time we drove to the Corning NY glass factory and store. She bought some casserole dishes. I bought big glass salt and pappers. That was about 20 years ago. we had a blast. she loved Christmas and always made it special for me. I feel her love for me and she's looking down from Heaven. She's with Dad.

Both my wife and my parents are gone. They passed away several years ago. We remember the good times; we remember that their last years were not the best; and we confort in that their aches and pains have been banished forever.

I miss my mom every day. I wanted more of her and know she loved me as I worshipped her. She decided to leave this earth when she couldn't take my brother's mental condition anymore. My father had learned to be afraid of him too. She left me a letter saying how she knew the family would need me and to make sure I remember the Christmas traditions we shared when she was alive and to someday take them into my own home.

She missed almost my whole life as I tried to live up to her hopes that I could carry the family without her and make things better. For her sake I am glad she is gone. That's how much I loved her.

Ellie I'm so sorry, that's heartbreaking.

Ellie, your mom must be so proud of you.

It will be a year on Dec.29 since my mom died. This was the first Christmas since she, my sister-in-law and HER mom all passed away. This has been a rough 12 months!

I miss them all.

I just can't share my story right now, I am too emotional, but, thank you for this thread, I really miss my mom.

lynn, I understand about hearing your mom's voice. I wish I could remember it. I know you hurt. Kim when you wrote the word Alzheimer's my breath sunk. I know you work so hard to keep her dignity. Everyone feels badly for your constant suffering. Yes, I agree, 2 deaths. I can feel that for you.

des, my girlfriends are as attached to their mothers as you and I and others here were to ours and still have them to enjoy. It seems to be a special connection. Even my mother in law was so dear to me and said I was the daughter she never had. After her son and I divorced she wanted me to bring my new love interests to her home. And I did. She was wonderful and she worried about me.

jemdandy, I am so glad you have a healthy attitude to keep you going in spite of your loses. From the time I first learned that parents die, I cried myself to sleep. I don't think it's anything children should learn too early. Most learn at their grandparents' funerals and I think that is a bit to harsh for little ones. I was 9 when I saw my grandfather at his funeral. I had nightmares after that and slept with my light on.

Jannie, My mom 'came around' at the oddest times after she died for the first year. I wasn't looking for her. Now, if I have this right, at least in my mind, she and my dad have moved on to that place of peace that you talked about and they are gone from me.

My Mother passed away this past June, she was almost 98 years old. We thought of her this Christmas and how she would have especially enjoyed being with us as we had Alyssa with us for her first Christmas. We had happy memories of her and knew she was in a better place.

Sue