When my now 25 year old son was young, I would be obsessed with creating the "perfect" holiday experience. I'm so grateful there was no Pinterest back then to make me feel even more stressed about my lack of creativity and execution. I tried, I really tried.
One year I made a boot stencil and then sprinkled baking soda to make what I thought was a good replica of snowy footprints. When my three year old pointed out it wasn't wet or cold... I knew I was in trouble! I stayed up late assembling the "it" gifts that just sat there while he played in the box for hours. I'm pretty sure my dad played with the trains more than he did. I'd spend time wrapping trees in lights and on a ladder trying to reach the gutters until the year he told me he was tired of helping to take them down. Enough said.
So over time I learned that the holidays aren't what I saw in magazines or on the Hallmark channel. They became more about the funny stories and time together instead. I changed from buying things to finding experiences. Sometimes I picked well and some of those I will get grief about forever. We have learned to make the most of where we are at any given time... stranded in an airport, with my dad in SC or in the home of strangers one time when I was young.
My wish for you and your family this year is to give yourself grace and enjoy the memories. The ones that go wonky this year will be the ones that make you belly laugh down the road. The story you create this year is a chapter in your book. Snuggle up and enjoy!
Have a safe and happy holiday... see you on January 9th!
Melissa
