Before the days of motherhood, many of us had visions of a Norman Rockwell-style of Christmas that could easily fit the pages of Better Homes & Garden magazine.
The decorations would be beautiful. The tree would be perfect. And the children would be playing happily (and quietly) by a crackling fireplace. With all the Christmas to-dos done, mom and dad would sit back on the couch and enjoy the magic of the season. Ahh Christmas. Does that setting sound familar to any of you?
Me either. Other than the almost-laughable thought that Christmas could be so picturesque and peaceful with small children.
Christmas these days has taken on a somewhat different tone over the years. While it may not be what I had envisioned in my earlier, more youthful days, the imperfectness of it has added a certain richness. The bubbling energy of children around this time of year is contagious and bright. Handmade ornaments crafted by little hands (and full of beautiful imperfections) have become treasured decorations. If you’re like me, you wouldn’t trade the messy, energetic hubbub of Christmas for anything. In fact, you may wonder whether the magic will last in those post-childhood years when your living room, at last, looks like a page out of that Better Homes & Garden magazine.
As we celebrate the season, I thought you would enjoy Heather’s ideas from Faithvillage.com in her article, “5 Tips for Enjoying Christmas with Young Kids.” Take a look and see if you can find a few ideas that may suit your family as well.
And, what would Christmas be without those handmade crafts? Here are 10 ideas that are simple (a must for mom) and beautiful as well.
Lastly, remember that magic can happen without a busy, scheduled activity during the holidays. It can happen when families are home together playing games, reading books and making treats. Perhaps your family will find a new favorite game from these ideas.
We hope you enjoy this beautiful time of year with your family. Merry Christmas!