NANA SAYS EMBRACE THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

Okay parents make the magic. Being Santa and making sure the children have their favourite request from the big guy is the magic. Having some fun ideas to show Santa came to the house can be creative. One person I knew put a boot print in her fireplace! One of my magical Christmases was the year my oldest was 4 and wanted a bride doll! When she saw it Christmas morning with a smile ear to ear, I recaptured some of the magic. As a grandparent, the magic is one step removed. Without little children in the home all the time, Christmas is enjoyed differently. Although we grandparents offer to be more involved it is often difficult for parents to include us in everything. Babysitting is always good during the season to allow for shopping and wrapping. Going to the Christmas concerts or Holiday events is always fun. Making the big dinner helps so the mess is at the Grandparents' house. Helping children to enjoy the simple moments. Walk around the neighbourhood to look at the Christmas lights. The proverbial picture with Santa is always a favourite. The year my mother-in-law died I took my adult girls for a picture with Santa to break the mood of grief. Love that picture. Parents could include the extended family as desired. Not every family system is functional so sometimes excluding the downers works too. But in our family everything is good so events with us all involved are enjoyable. Noisy but enjoyable. So some magic of Christmas is just children being a little wild and over excited. Finding ways to help them burn that energy may need a magic wand!