Drabble:119
The Belikovs had a little New Year's tradition that they continued till Vika, the youngest of the clan, became 8 and her older siblings, in their teens, decided it was too lame to continue.
Well, according to their little practice, every New Year's morning, the family (except Yeva, who'd already have started on her rounds of social visits or something) would assemble in the kitchen and drink hot chocolate with/without marshmallows and chocolate sauce (both Sonya and Karolina were in their 'sugar will ruin my figure' phase then, so they did not appreciate the excess calories) and eat cookies, pie and pretzels and some cake even, if they managed to have some left over from the night before (meaning if Dimitri managed to leave something after his midnight pilgrimage to the kitchen).
So, why-might you ask-would Olena allow her children to overindulge on the first morning of the year this way? Well for several reasons. Firstly, after the commune's New Year party (where her children did more socializing and running around than eating), they were bound to be in need of some recharging, and what better way was there than spending a morning bonding and bantering with your family? Moreover, it gave an opportunity to Olena to give her children helpful life-lessons and advice, along with little gifts that she managed to buy them with her meager savings. And every year, her children surprised her with some small present (a scarf, a sweater, a new copy of her favorite book, mittens, etc) that the older three chipped in for, along with a handmade card from Vika, which would inevitably make her shed a few tears and envelop her children in a warm group hug.
But that wasn't the best part of the New Year's morning at the Belikov household or Olena's favorite. No, it was the tradition which was (secretly) the most favorite part of the day (other than the big dinner Olena cooked every Jan 1 night, which-thankfully-continued for years and years to come) of all the Belikov siblings.
Because that morning, every year, the siblings and their mom would sit around their kitchen, bundled up in winter clothing, and share their new year's resolutions with one another. Sonya, because of her elegant lettering, would be entrusted to write down the favorites of the family (selected democratically, by discussion and voting) on a piece of paper, which Olena would pin to the fridge, where her children could get to them easily.
Vika's list was understandably gibberish, filled with the imaginative ideals of a kid. Sonya's on the other hand, bore the distinct signs of being penned by an ambitious dreamer. Karoline's list was a tad bit more sensible than Sonya's, but crossed-through several times and scribbled and doodled in. Dimitri, from the year he turned 13, began penning minimalist lists, which though the most practical, lacked the personal flair that his sisters' multiple-page entries displayed. Olena's, as usual, were not only handy, but also filled with such warmth and intelligence, that more often than not, her entire list made it onto the aggregate list that Sonya penned on New Year's mornings.
After the lists were discussed and the new list pinned on the fridge, Olena would prepare breakfast as her children helped her in the kitchen and teased each other and squabbled. After breakfast, they'd exchange gifts and drift apart for the day, hanging out with their friends or watching TV or sleeping in or reading, etc. Over the morning, she'd make sure she personally spoke to her children and commended them for being the wonderful people they were on the road to becoming while gently instilling in them common sense and goodness. She'd also brush a kiss against their forehead (Sonya and Dimitri-taller than her-had to lean down for it) and hug them tightly for a moment. And really, that was the personally favorite part of the morning for the Belikov siblings.
Last drabble of the year, lovelies! And a very merry happy New Year to all you beautiful people! So do you guys make New Year's resolution-lists (and follow them)?
Cheers!