Happy November my friends. This has been a week of reflection and gratitude and boy do I have a lot to be grateful for. This year has brought growth for me in many different ways and while sometimes growth can be difficult and painful, I am grateful for all of it. Here's a glimpse of my November Gratitude List:
- On November 1st I became an aunt again to a beautiful, healthy little girl.
- I am so grateful for what babies bring out in my children, especially my son.
- My husband earned a well deserved promotion at his job
- my husband has been doing really well on keto and in turn feels better about life in general
- I'm grateful for the really cool experiences and opportunities my family has had this month as a direct result of Macaroni KID
- I'm grateful for my friends, old and new, and connecting with some of them on a deeper level over the past few weeks
- I'm grateful for good health
But along with the gratitude, this month has held some struggles and sadness.
The most difficult thing I had to endure this month was the day my daughter almost stopped believing in the Magic of Christmas.
It was a Friday afternoon when my daughter came home from school and curled up next to me on our big round chair that we lovingly call "Snuggle Island." She seemed off as she wrapped her arms around me... quiet and a bit somber. She looked up at me with confused eyes and said, "So-and-so told me that her parents told her Santa wasn't real. Is that true Mom?"
My heart sank, and I hugged her fiercely as I choked back tears. Even though my daughter was going on 10 and a half and I knew this moment was going to come eventually, I was really hoping we had one more year of the innocent wonder.
But because I knew it was coming, I was prepared. I told my daughter I needed a minute to pull up a blog post I read years ago by Martha Brockenbrough called The Truth About Santa. I remember it speaking to me, aligning with my beliefs as an adult who believes in the magic and I knew if the day ever came that I needed it, I wouldn't be able to say it any better.
Tears were shed by both of us as my daughter grew up a little more that day. It's been difficult for her to get into the Christmas spirit since then, but I am determined to help her find the magic again. In the meantime, I am going to be grateful.
Grateful for the opportunity I had to intimately bond with my daughter.
Grateful that we are able to discuss hard things.
Grateful that she identifies trust with me on a deeper level since I shared this truth with her.
Grateful for the 10 wonderful, magical Christmas holidays we have already experienced together.
Grateful for the holiday magic we will create together in the years to come.
