The mom being different might be to reflect changes in the family dynamics or to create more drama and interest in the plot.
It could be to show character growth or development over time. Or perhaps to introduce new elements for a fresh take on the Christmas theme.
Maybe the mom had other commitments or the plot didn't require her presence this time around.
Maybe she had other commitments or was out of town for some reason.
It could be that the focus of the story shifted away from the mom this time around. Maybe the creators wanted to explore other characters or storylines and didn't have much space for her.
Sometimes, the portrayal of the mom in Christmas Story can differ. Changes might be made to add new elements or to give a fresh take on the character. But in some cases, she could remain largely the same.
Maybe there were scheduling conflicts or creative decisions made by the filmmakers. It's hard to say for sure.
It could be for a variety of reasons. Maybe the story needed a new dynamic or there were scheduling conflicts. Sometimes creative decisions are made to give the story a fresh twist.
The mom might not have returned for A Christmas Story Christmas because of travel difficulties, or maybe she wasn't in the right frame of mind for the celebration. Another possibility is that she had to take care of something important elsewhere.
Maybe the actress wasn't available or the director wanted to go for a different casting choice.
It could be that the story focused on new characters and storylines, so the original mom wasn't necessary. Or perhaps there were scheduling conflicts with the actress.