Long before I knew exactly what I was committing to, I started a Christmas tradition by accident.
We like to call it Harry Potter Christmas. That’s right Harry Potter. Not one or two films mind you. There are eight movies. Currently, on day one of winter break, I’m hearing “You’re never going back to that school!”-Mr. Dudly, Chamber of Secrets. For all of the people who might not know what that means, that’s movie number two.
This is our third or fourth year repeating this tradition.
So how the heck did this happen?
I’m want to blame the amazing J.K.Rowling. But honestly, I’d rather be thanking her. This accidental tradition is something my teen looks forward to every year. She goes so far as to plan out the movie schedule so that we can also fit in Fantastic Beasts before school starts.
Now, are there things that a busy mom should be doing. Heck yes! But childhood memories don’t just make themselves people. It doesn’t matter to me that I should be doing other things. I have priorities and my teen is on the top of that list.
You can’t walk into becoming a parent and assume that being around is enough. Hoping that your children will have great memories is akin to fishing without a hook and hoping for fish. Kids remember the times when you stopped everything to do something with them. Sometimes you have to put a hook on the line to make great memories.
As parents, we have great excuses for why we don’t have the time to do A, B or C. Because of this we justify our time that we spend doing all the other things in life. Guess what parents, it’s not all about you.
From the moment you became a parent, you made a life choice to do what was best for that child. It’s time to rearrange your priorities. Not because of J.K.Rowling(although that’s a great reason), but because if you care about something you make time for it.
Your child’s memories are largely in your hands. Will you hope that they will have great memories? Or will you make great memories with them?
Kids remember the times when you stopped everything to do something with them.
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About Christine Bofenkamp
I am Murphy’s law in action (if you doubt that, ask my husband). I like to say I'm a classy lady when in reality I put on red lipstick and run around in my pajamas. I’m a parent to a teen, wife to an exceptional husband and dog mom to two unruly doods (Rumple and Rosie). I try to swear less, sometimes this cannot be avoided, and captain cuss word shows up (this usually occurs directly after Murphy's law has kicked in, it's a vicious circle).
