I hear the groans when the countdown to Christmas begins.
Christmas decorations are in stores as early as late summer. Get-togethers are planned well in advance. I decorate the house, put up the Christmas tree, bake some favourite treats, come up with thoughtful gift ideas … The inevitable obligations are endless. I also realize these obligations are self-imposed.
The joy of children in our lives
We have the privilege of spending time with our grandchildren. Their joyful spirits and seeing life through their eyes makes everything more fun, especially at Christmas.
We go for walks in our neighbourhood, at night, to check out Christmas lights. We bake cookies and watch Christmas movies. They are excited about planning wish lists for Santa. I get it. As a young girl, I recall drawing a circle around the Easy Bake Oven in our well-worn, dog-eared Sears Toy Catalogue. Grandchildren remind me that Christmas is a time of magic and dreaming.
The birth of a new tradition
Three years ago, my husband and I were racking our brains trying to come up with thoughtful Christmas gift ideas.
We handed a letter to each of our grandchildren. “Grandma and Grandpa love spending time with you. Your Christmas gift this year is Yes Day: Select a fun activity, a movie and a park. Choose a favourite meal. Pick out an item or a toy within a budget. Please be reasonable with your requests. We greatly look forward to our date with you! Love from Grandma and Grandpa.”
The “Yes” days took place throughout the year, usually at spring break or during summer vacation. One granddaughter chose a movie, with a moving seat called a D-Box, which creates a lifelike experience. On the way home, we picked up ingredients for her favourite meal. She taught me how to make poutine—a dish with fries, cheese curds and gravy. Hard to believe this was a first taste for me (and I call myself a Canadian).
Another granddaughter’s suggestion was an Escape Room. Tons of fun, lots of giggles and somewhat stressful to escape in the recommended amount of time. Afterwards, we drove to her favourite park, along the water, where she loves to climb on mythical sea-creature sculptures.
This Christmas will be the third year for Yes Day gifts. One granddaughter, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, has already sent me a picture of a cruise ship. I remind her about the “being reasonable” part of the gift. I admire her for dreaming big.
A Celebration of Life
I attended a funeral for a dear loved one recently. Even when expected, the shock and finality of death make our moments together even more precious.
At the funeral, we shared memories of simple moments of time together with our loved one. We talked about standing on a chair and doing dishes together. We reminisced about making donuts that rivalled the Pacific National Exhibition mini donuts. We shared a favourite song that our family loved, “You Are My Sunshine.”
No one spoke about the Christmas gifts they had received.
“It will always be the little moments, with someone you love, that you will remember and treasure forever.”
Moments and memories
I feel overwhelmed, at times, with the thought of Christmas just around the corner. I realize my to-do list is filled with self-imposed obligations.
Yes days remind me that I do not need to be in charge and plan everything. A Yes Day is a selfish gift. My husband and I cherish and value the time we have with our grandchildren. We share and appreciate the joy of small, simple moments.
We leave our grandchildren with the best Christmas gift of all … a legacy of new memories and unconditional love, all year-round.
“It will always be the little moments, with someone you love, that you will remember and treasure forever” (by Erica Henault, shared at a recent Celebration of Life).
Our Little Secret: Every day is a Yes Day when grandchildren come to visit.
