The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...
I really do believe Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year. But, what I’ve learned in my 34 years is this: the wonderful doesn’t just happen. You must look for it, create it, and slow down enough to savor it.
As a child I did this innately. As I’ve grown, it has come less naturally. There have been years I’ve done it well and years I’ve missed the mark, with the hardest Christmases being ones where my expectations went unmet without warning, and the magic of childhood Christmases felt like a distant memory.
In my adult life, I’ve assumed if I had to work for the magic—by looking for it or trying to create it—then it wasn’t really magic. But this year, I’ve embraced my role in finding the wonder wholeheartedly, and it’s been nothing short of magical.
Influenced by my own feelings and things I was hearing others talk about, I adopted a motto for this holiday season:
You get to choose.
It was barely December 1 when I started feeling like the holidays were slipping through my fingers like sand held too tightly. I was overwhelmed by all the things I wanted to do or thought I should do or that other people were doing. I felt like I was missing the season before it had even started, until my newly-embraced mantra, “you get to choose,” set me free.
I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to do what other people do, and I don’t have to hit some imaginary quota of cups of hot cocoa drank, Christmas movies watched, lights viewed, or local activities accomplished. I get to decide what is right and what is magical for my family this season, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.
The whole point of this conversation is that it’s going to look different for everyone, but sometimes sharing our own stories helps each other along. So here are the few things I’ve done that are tailored to what’s important to us to make this holiday the right kind of wonderful for the Woodcock family:
I picked out the local holiday activities that were most appealing for us right now. In order to allow room for each one to be special, I tried not to crowd in too many. This year, our activities are taking Fox to see his first movie in a theater, The Polar Express in IMAX (which required a babysitter for Mae), and taking both kids to Christmas on the Farm at Pursell Farms. These events both seemed like they’d be special and memorable, and I’ve been looking forward to them so much. I think I’ve had room to anticipate and savor them because I haven’t overcrowded our schedule. With two young kids, it can get exhausting fast, so margin is imperative in this season of our family.
I didn’t use all my Christmas decorations! In the past, I’ve almost felt obligated to use everything I have. This year I just focused on making our home look beautiful and special, and once I reached that point, I stopped, and I’ve been thrilled with the results. It feels intentional and unique to Christmas 2019, and I love that.
I made space for two of the things I love most at Christmas time: wrapping presents and sending Christmas cards. I have an unquenchable love for both of these things, and I intentionally worked ahead of schedule to give myself time to savor them this year. For me, this meant buying my wrapping paper in November and not spending weeks searching for the perfect look. It has also included making a “wrapping basket” with all my supplies so it’s easy to wrap when I want and easy to clean up. And of course it meant shopping somewhat early so I had things to wrap! With just a little forethought I’ve been able to stay on top of this process this year, and I’ve really enjoyed it. The same goes for Christmas cards. I worked ahead as much as possible (not quite as early as I wanted, but I still got them out several days before Christmas unlike some years!) and they should be hitting mailboxes as we speak! While I’ve wrapped presents and stuffed Christmas cards I’ve been extra festive indulging in a few Christmas movies on Netflix. The Princess Switch, A Christmas Prince, and A Christmas Prince Royal Wedding being repeat favorites, and The Holiday Calendar and Christmas with a View being new favorites. Also, disclaimer: if you don’t do cheesy, predictable movies just for fun, no need to bother with a single one of these.
I’ve continued traditions that are important to us like hosting our annual Cookie Swap and hosting our dear friends, the Coffeys, for brunch and gift exchange a couple days before Christmas. I’ve also added a new tradition of making gingerbread men with Fox (which will grow into baking with Fox and Mae when she gets a little older!).
We’ve prioritized communication with family about plans so everyone knows what we’re doing and when we get to see each other, and that puts me at ease! We’re also spending our first Christmas Day in our home this year, which might be the thing I’m most excited for. As our children grow, making our home the place where they experience their own Christmas magic is really important to us, and with Fox about to turn three, this feels like the perfect year to start.
So, you see, it’s not rocket science, and it’s certainly specific to each person and family and season of life. But, the overall moral of the story for me has been to focus on what is important to us and think ahead with some planning and intention so that we can savor those things. Also, to remember that sometimes less is more, and we’re better able to see the magic and the wonder when we leave some space to breathe and experience the season on our own terms.
I’m writing this so that I can return to it in future holiday seasons, and I hope it’s a helpful thought for you, too. Merry Christmas, friends!
