Magical holiday memories

With the Christmas season fast approaching and schedules jamming with holiday events, parties to attend, gifts to shop for, and rooms to decorate, it’s easy to forget the magic of the season. I’m pretty sure my happiest memories of the holidays are primarily due to one person, and her name is Mom (with a little bit of Dad thrown in).

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I’m not sure how she managed with three kids, a husband, a dog, volunteer work and multiple part-time jobs. Somehow, she managed to get a tree and house decorated, cookies, pies, and countless other baking baked, and a fabulous turkey dinner, complete with all the trimmings, onto a festive Christmas table, singlehandedly. Not to mention wrapping a ridiculous amount of presents that burst from underneath the tree. My Dad, brothers, and I sure appreciated it, although in hindsight I don’t think we really showed it enough.

From watching my Dad attach a not-so-straight Christmas tree to the wall with a nail, hammer, and some sort of rope, to delaying Christmas dinner so she could drive someone home from work, Mom took it all in stride. There wasn’t any complaining, judgments, or recriminations. Last minute guests were welcomed with open arms and Dad made sure drinks were poured. All this was created with a cheerfulness that turned out to be the glue that held our family gatherings together. If something needed doing, she got it done with a stoic acceptance I wish I could replicate.

Dad did his part since he was border-line obsessed with ‘twinkie’ lights. Inevitably he waited until the coldest day in December (somewhere around 20 below) before deciding he was ‘in a bad mood’ enough to merit hanging lights outside. I had so much fun stringing lights with him in the freezing snow, joking around, and replacing burnt out bulbs with frozen fingers.

Nothing was as warm and comforting as coming inside to a bright, warm house where Mom would make Irish Cream hot chocolates topped with whipped cream. Everything was right and good in the world.

I’ve adopted many family traditions – the legacy of keeping family close to your heart when they are far away. Family rituals, from tobogganing to touring Christmas lights together, give us a sense of belonging and peace that rarely occurs after leaving your childhood home. Integrating your favourite rituals from childhood can be both calming and sustaining.

Now that those days are gone, they hold a warm, special place in my heart. They bring a smile to my face just thinking about them. I always knew, from a young age, how precious family time was and how deeply I would miss them when things, as they inevitably do, change. Perhaps Mom didn’t know how profoundly felt her actions of creating Christmas magic meant. Now I hope she does.

Whatever you do this holiday season, no matter how chaotic, crazy and dramatic things get with your family, make sure you pause in wonder at the magic of it all. Tell someone you love ‘Thank you’. Bless the magic of Moms (and Dads) everywhere. In case you were wondering, our hearts are filled with gratitude.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.