Beautiful Decorations

There was an interesting article on the Today Show site about being a fun vs. a no-fun mom.

I have many great memories of decorating for Christmas.  These include the world’s ugliest tree (from my adult perspective).  It had huge multi-colored lights, handmade and unbreakable ornaments, a few gorgeous ornaments that numbered fewer each year, a glob of tinsel on each branch, and an angel at the top.  This angel appeared as though she had questionable origins with her see-through chiffon and multi-colored lights underneath.  The funny thing is that every year as we begin to decorate,  I miss that ugly angel.  She represents a time of little complication in my life.  A time where my brother and I eagerly anticipated all that Christmas had to bring and did not feel at all pressured or rushed.  These were truly magical Christmases.

My brother died one December when I was young, but my Mom still decorated.  We were searching for a new sense of normal as the days moved on without him.  The house was decorated not because she felt in the spirit of the holiday, but because we needed it. We needed to know that it was o.k. to keep living and celebrating.  Not the same feelings, but it fills my heart with such gratitude to look back on that year and see the effort.  Only Christmas magic could have accomplished what it did that year.

Still more years later as I began being involved in more at school and my Mom opened her own business, there were years when I had to push to decorate.  These years were also special. I can look back and remember my parents sitting on the couch and looking at the tree with a smile on their face.  I know that I had helped bring a little Christmas magic back into their lives.

As life progressed, the tree and decorations got more sophisticated. The angel was put aside. White lights ruled the roost.  We began to add details such as lace and baby’s breath.  Those were beautiful trees.

For me, every year I have ever been blessed to put up a tree- it has been beautiful to me.  I think it is because I was always a part.  I can never remember a year my parents decorated without me.  I got to be part of bringing Christmas into my home.  That was magic and beautiful rolled into one.

These years our trees have multi-colored lights, candy garland, and a Santa hat is at the top.  We decorate with the kids.  My husband and I can look and see that there are probably prettier trees to some people, but there are none more special.  If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, anything you do with your kids to celebrate the season is a beautiful thing.  Share the magic with your kids – one day you may need them to return the favor.