The Magic We Make Together
There’s something about Christmas lights that softens the whole world. The other night, as the glow from my tree sparkled across the living room, I felt that familiar tug of nostalgia, the same warm pull I used to feel when my own kids were little, racing into the kitchen on December mornings to see what surprise their advent calendar held.
Back then, I poured my heart into creating a magical countdown to Christmas. Every day from December 1st to Christmas morning, a clever clue and a gift or surprise waited behind a handmade tree with numbered ornaments. It took planning, preparation, creativity, and coordination; more work than I ever admitted at the time, but oh, the joy on their faces. The wonder. The anticipation. It made every late-night crafting and planning session worth it.
When my children reached their twenties, I tucked the advent calendar lovingly away, knowing deep down its time would come again. And lately, as my granddaughters grow a little older, Emery at 3½ with her boundless imagination, and Autumn at 18 months with a spirit that bursts out of her like sunshine, I’ve been wondering if we’re getting close.
Maybe not quite there… but almost.
Last weekend, I had the girls overnight, and instead of the full advent experience, I decided to create a different kind of magic. Something age-appropriate, something playful, something that reminded me that connection doesn’t always require elaborate planning, sometimes it’s simply about being fully present.
I gathered matching Rudolph jammies, found the softest Christmas blankets I could, and transformed two oversized boxes into gift-box movie seats, complete with holiday wrapping paper, bows, Christmas pillow, and a sprinkle of whimsy. I filled tiny snack buckets and set the stage for a cozy Christmas movie night.
Emery, bless her little heart, settled right into the moment. She’s at that sweet age where her eyes widen at every scene, every song, every sparkle. Autumn… well, Autumn was more like herding 100 kittens.
Up, down, up, down, snack bucket spilled again and again and tiny hands exploring EVERYTHING.
She was absolutely delighted with her own discoveries, creating her own fun, reminding me that at this age, the magic isn’t in sitting still, it’s in being alive in the moment.
Honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I found myself juggling blankets, snacks, kisses, and laughter, and somewhere between the spills and the squeals, I felt that old familiar Christmas joy rising up in me again. Not because everything went smoothly (it didn’t), but because we were experiencing something together. Something real. Something messy and perfect in its own way. Something I hope some day they’ll remember our time together.
The next day, I had planned to make and decorate Christmas cookies with the girls, a tradition I’ve been waiting years to share, but Emery wasn’t feeling well. Instead, we cuddled and rested.
The cookies can wait.
The moments that matter can’t.
What I love most about this stage of life is the freedom to let go of expectation and just be with the people I love. Watching the girls’ eyes shimmer when they saw their gift-box movie seats, hearing their giggles, seeing the way they wrapped themselves in their soft blankets was pure magic to my eyes.
It reminded me of something I’ve always known but sometimes forget: magic doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from presence. And the wonder in their eyes? That’s the real gift.
As we move into this holiday season, here’s what I wish for you:
Slow down.
Savor the sparkle.
Let go of the pressure for things to look a certain way.
Create moments that feel good, not moments that look good.
And remember, the magic we long for isn’t something we have to find, it’s something we make together. Because this year and every year the magic we make together is what they’ll remember most.
xo, Sheryl
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