The best gift for your kids
Christmas is coming. I see lights and decor everywhere, many homes already sparkle from the Christmas tree. The mile-long to do list is in your mind (or in better case on your calendar) already. I love Christmas. I also love the Advent period how this expectation and preparation period leads to the Holidays. I have very nice and warm memories from my childhood. Our parents and grandparents (who lived with us) made Christmas a truly magical event. We went for a walk on 24th afternoon and then to the church to the nativity play. When we arrived back home it was already dark and we heard the bells ringing from the back of the garden. I cry now just from the vivid memory: my grandpa was walking silently with those bells every year so we could believe the angels just flew away.
However when I think back to memories when I was already older and didn’t believe anymore that it’s Jesus and the angels who create magic that night, Christmas didn’t only become less magical but also more stressful.
I remember every single time the scenario was the very same:
conflict about the tree that it should be already inside, so my dad spent at least half of the day escaping to the garden and handle the tree
then it was about the festive lunch, my mom never prepared anything in advance so it was always a rush and some stress to prepare everything by lunch
then every single time it was the same: we wanted to start the celebration around the tree and my mom just started wrapping the presents…
then we needed to rush with the celebration so we can have some dinner before we go to the church
I still loved Christmas, I still was excited for the holidays every year, but these stressful parts were inevitably the part of it. Nope, I’m not sharing these as painful or bad memories… but it fundementally shapes the way I’m preparing for the holidays and for Christmas Eve.
Because honestly… your kids probably have it ALL already. They don’t need that new toy or dress, what they need is THOSE MAGICAL MOMENTS WITH YOU to create memories for the rest of their lives.
Dr Gabor Máté sais that:
“The greatest gift a parent can give to a child is her/his own happiness”
Just take a moment and let it sink in.
How can you specifically apply this to this time of the year?
The biggest gift I can give to my children is that I don’t stress about the tiny details, that I prepare some things in advance so we can have a slow and peaceful Christmas day, that I connect with them and I also enjoy the time together.
For that…
I need to recharge myself
I need to slow down and create my own moments of peace
I don’t need to spend hours in busy shopping centers
I need to buy/order the presents in advance
I only prepare one dish for Christmas
We bake the cakes, the gingerbread together and in advance
AND I let myself go with the flow.. if things go sideways… it’s gonna be OK
It’s me. This is how I prepare for Christmas.
So what about You?
How would you like to prepare for Christmas?
What would make you HAPPY? We know it’s your thoughts… so what do you need to think to FEEL happy? What do you need to let go? Where can you release expectations or pressure?
How can You enjoy the prep phase?
How would you like to enjoy Christmas Eve?
I think these are the most important questions you wanna consider and use advent for preparing yourself of this experience intentionally.
You can buy presents and decorate your home, enjoy the smells and sparkling of Christmas… these are all amazing. But don’t forget that the greatest gift to your kids is your light, your joy, your very present presence.
Happy Advent season! 🎄✨