I’ve always loved the holidays. As a child, my parents decorated my house from top to bottom. I would wake up before the sun and sit in awe of the Christmas tree every year on Christmas morning.
It didn’t change too much as I grew into an adult. I still loved the magic of the season. I relished in decorating my first apartment and then my first house.
But nothing prepared me for the incredible magic of the season with little boys. My sons are six and four. Every single thing about this time of year is magical.
Waking up to fresh snow. Twinkling lights on houses. Being the first person to turn on our Christmas tree lights in the morning. The joy of opening the daily Advent calendar drawer.
As a parent, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the image of the season. We want to ensure each year is more spectacular than the last. That every moment is jam-packed with social media worthy moments. We want to prove we’re the best parents during the holiday season.
Do our kids care about all of that? Absolutely not. So, this year I’m renewing my promise to focus on the things that truly matter to my sons.
Sledding down the hill in front of our house.
Building a snowman.
Snowball fights.
Decorating Christmas cookies.
Reading the Night Before Christmas.
Visiting Santa and seeing the giant Christmas tree in town.
Watching our favorite holiday movies.
Do you know what the common thread in each of those activities is? Time.
That’s what our kids truly care about this time of year, and all year long. They want to have our focused attention in a world where they have to constantly fight for it. And if we take the time to be present with our kids, we’ll get something beyond our wildest dreams in return.
We’ll get the privilege of seeing the magic of the holiday season through their youthful eyes.
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