When December arrives, a day is reserved for my sister, my cousin, and me to go to my grandparent’s house and we spend the day baking cookies with my grandmother. There are a lot more people in my family, but we all go at different times so it is valued more by spending time with more interactive groups, and so the kitchen is not so hectic! This recipe was made by my grandmother’s grandmother who had come from Italy, and it had become a tradition that is yet to be broken! We make the cookies, bake them, and decorate them, then leave them to not be touched until Christmas day, but we all sneak a few! When Christmas day arrives, all of the kids compare who’s cookies look best, it’s always a competition! My grandparents don’t live far, but I still don’t get to see them as much as I would like due to both of our busy schedules, so this time of the year is very important to me because I appreciate the time she makes for us and I admire the tradition and the bonding time it fosters. However, I know it won’t last forever, which is why I value the time so much more, even though I plan to carry out the tradition with my future family.

– NJM

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant