Trying to keep children’s wonder alive year-round

For many, the Friday after Thanksgiving is a day for holiday shopping, reserved for getting the best “deals” of the season. But, for my family, that Friday is the start of the Christmas season.

Despite the dreary gray skies and the drizzle settling in to make the day overall a miserable one – at least weather-wise – my husband and I decided that we would continue our tradition of Christmas tree hunting. We piled the kids into the car and prepared them for our adventure.

Hardly anyone was there, which meant that we could take our time. With three kids, ages 4 and under, that’s important. Ollie was excited for the trees – “a big one” – but Pip was less than impressed. It could have been that he was recovering from a cold, but he seemed less enthusiastic. He was more content to run around and play with the puddles forming or make faces at his younger brother – until he saw the lights.

Strings of Christmas lights had been placed in the pavilion, lighting the way toward Santa and his sleigh. Pip didn’t care about the jolly old man waving at him; he smiled widely and pointed up toward the lights.

I should have known. All through October, as our neighbors decorated their homes for Halloween, the kids were mesmerized by the light displays that had begun to appear.

When the decorations vanished, they were upset. And now, as the holiday lights start to reappear, the excitement returns.

That afternoon, we took our “big” tree – proudly chosen by Ollie – and set it in its stand.

As we unearthed the tree lights and ornaments, I watched as Pip’s excitement grew. He started jumping and dancing around. He couldn’t keep still. Holding the bundle of lights, his face screwed up into the brightest smile as my husband lit the lights.

Dancing around the tree, Pip “helped” to string the lights. Then, he lay down under the tree – content to gaze up and look at the colors dancing on the walls and the floor.

While our youngest attempts to grab the “balls” – ornaments – from the tree, the 4-year-old twins come home from school each day and eagerly wait for the lights to come on.

On the mantle, I put some twinkling battery-operated tea lights under a set of wooden houses. After the tree lights up, they ask for the overhead lights to be turned off so they can “see” the flickering lights up on the mantle.

This is the magic of Christmas. It’s the unbridled joy at the smallest of things. It’s finding wonder in aspects that light up the darkness. And, it’s hard to see that innocent happiness without wondering inwardly – where did that excitement go? When do we lose that wonder?

Everyone tells me that these are the best years of childhood; there’s no asking for presents, just a general curiosity and excitement. It’s going to be my mission to maintain that, to foster it, to create that magic not just during Christmas, but always.

It’s not only the magic of Christmas; it’s the magic of children.

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