Tell your kid's nativity story

"Most children don't come into the world celebrated by angelic hosts and astronomical wonders," writes Mary O'Connell in the December 1997 issue of U.S. Catholic.

"But the beginning of each ordinary life is still a once-and-for-all extraordinary event. Telling the stories is a way to tell children just how special they are in our lives and in God's creation - and to give them important clues about themselves."

The day O'Connell was born, her grandparents took her father to the racetrack where he won big on the first race.

"Resisting the temptation to play out the streak, he collected his winnings and went directly to the hospital, gave the money to the cashier, and said, 'This is to pay for my baby daughter.' The story tells me something that makes me smile: that to my father at least, I was a lucky child."

In this Christmas season, as you tell the story of Jesus' birth, don't forget to share with your children the details about the day they were born.

Was your son born in a cab on the way to the hospital? Let him know. Was there a freak snow storm in April when your daughter was born? Tell her. Did Dad have to hitchhike from boot camp? Was there worry, joy, danger, hilarity? Tell the story.