Happy Holidays

I really have to be honest... I absolutely love this time of year. I am a true child at heart, and every year I seem to catch that holiday cheer. It doesn’t matter how horrible my life is going (and I have had some doozy Decembers), I cannot help but love the holidays. I honestly feel that the holidays have helped me survive some of my darkest moments, and all it takes is an old Christmas carol to get me looking forward to a fabulous holiday season.

In addition to the fun and cheer, this is also a very busy and sometimes stressful time. Often times adults, including myself get wrapped up, no pun intended, in all the things we have to get done, that we sometimes forget to stop and enjoy the magic that comes around this time of year.

This time of year is busy with activities, rushing around, and lots of “To Do” lists. For some, it can turn the merry and cheer into grumbles and “bah humbugs”. However, I have found that the best way to snap out of a grinchy attitude is to make an effort to spread holiday cheer and stop to see the world through a child’s eyes.

We as parents, especially of young children, are really lucky this time of year. If we stop to live through our children’s eyes, we can immediately feel just a little bit merrier. Everything is so magical to them! The Christmas tree that Train Depot and the snowmen figures in our front yard delight my daughters every time we pass them. Any temper tantrum can easily be remedied by doing something holiday related. Of course, we as parents now have the excuse to spend hours in toy stores without our children and not be deemed crazy! I find myself feeling like a kid again just by spending time with my little ones, or thinking about them, particularly at this time of year.

For those of us with children who are a little older, it sometimes takes a little effort to slow down, be silly, and find that magic again. It can comes from the simple act of watching the first snow fall and getting woken up at daybreak from kiddos so excited that school is canceled; or pulling out the holiday decorations and picking out a tree to adorn your home.

Again people may find this a bit cheesy, but I do feel that there is something magical about walking through rows of trees, imagining the perfect fir in your house, and then finally deciding, hoping that the tree will look exactly how you imagined in the house without minor (or maybe more than minor) modifications with a hand saw.

Allowing ourselves to laugh at the minor mishaps, the ugly holiday sweaters, and stop to throw a snowball or sled down that hill, even if we are just a little to old to play in the snow.

Sometimes, for the grumpiest of grumps, or the most Grinch inducing tasks, we may have to bring the full force out to spread holiday cheer. I have a great friend who despises shopping at the mall.

However, she really needed to get a gift, so she grabbed a handful of candy canes, drove herself there, and forced herself to smile and hand a candy cane to every person who looked grumpier that she, and guess what? By the end of the night, she had a thoughtful gift in hand, and a much happier mood.

Isn’t that what this holiday season is all about: to be thankful for those who have touched our lives, and to remember fondly, no matter how hard it is, those loved ones we have lost? To look for that magic, that youthful joy.

For me, my children represent that shining light; a catalyst for spreading joy, a bright future to look forward to, and a reminder to find and celebrate that magic however I can. I’m lucky that I have a two little reminders everyday that Santa Claus is real and stars are made for wishing on.

My family and I wish you a magical holiday season and a fabulous 2014!

Justina is a local mother,

photographer, lactation consultant and parenting advocate. She may be contacted at http://www.growinglovingfamilies.com or [email protected].