Is it too early to start talking about Christmas? Maybe it would be any other year, but with all we have had to deal with in 2020, I will take all the Christmas magic I can get. Bring it on.
This year, chances are you won’t be packing yourself onto the Polar Express with tons of screaming kids, and you may not be lingering in the Santa line at the mall. But that’s OK because there are so many beautiful new traditions we can make that are totally safe. I have a few ideas:
A Front Porch St. Nicholas Day Exchange: Many families around town celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6. We never have, but I think it’s a beautiful celebration of selfless gift-giving. My kids and I decided to start a new tradition and celebrate the day in our own special way this year. I am asking a few of our friends to leave their kids’ boots on the front porch on Dec. 6. That day, my #crumblycrew and I plan to make secret front-porch deliveries of special cards and treats to let our friends know we love them. I believe this is the year to teach my kids the joy of giving, and I know making special secret deliveries will do just the trick. Of course, they will come home to little surprises in their own shoes. To read more about St. Nicholas and kind “Nicholas Deeds” you can do with your kids, head to stnicholascenter.org.
Rent a Limo for a Magical Christmas Ride: Sure, you can take a quick drive through the Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park to see the gorgeous lights and head home. But what if that was just your first stop, and instead you rented a limo, got hot chocolate, and dressed up for the occasion in Christmas jammies? You could continue the limo ride all around town to the best Christmas light spots, such as Candy Cane Lane or The Teddy Bear house in Crestwood. To focus on the real reason for the season, my family is taking our trip to see baby Jesus, the beautiful nativity scene and over a million lights at The National Shrine of Our Lady of The Snows’ Way of Lights. For information, visit snows.org
Operation Christmas Child: Growing up, I always got to participate in Operation Christmas Child through my church. Packing up a special box with some of my favorite toys for a little girl my age was one of the coolest things. It drove home the true meaning of Christmas. This year, you can order all the supplies for your kids to participate in the Samaritan’s Purse initiative to send extra-special packed Christmas boxes to kids in need. The boxes packed are shipped “outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease; and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.” You can order supplies and find out more at samaritanspurse.org.
So here we are, at the end of a really intense year with an opportunity to make it extraordinarily special by focusing on others. I hope this gave you a few ideas for new traditions to make with your family.
Katelyn Young is a local mom of three (her #crumblycrew) who shares real moments of motherhood as it relates to fashion, food and fun! Follow her on Instagram @katelynyoung or follow her blog at kyleandkate.com.
